Trochus snail mortality

jeff williams

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I seem to have more problems with trochus snails than any other type as far as dying after acclimation! Has anyone noticed this as well? I will usually lose 1-3 after acclimated to my qt and then once qt time is up and transfer to my dt I will again lose 1-3 and my dt and qt run pretty close parameters. I can add fish and other inverts straight from my qt to dt without acclimation
 

vetteguy53081

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Snails are really sensitive to Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates, and major changes in those can cause death. They also need hard water to live. Hard water contains calcium and they need this to keep their shells hard and strong. Without it, their shells will turn white and begin to errode, killing the snail.
A pH of 7.7 and higher is required. A food source is very much needed and if you have a sudden drop in the nutrient levels you can have a lot of snails starve and die off.
 

nick_md

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I've noticed a similar pattern for some Trochus snails I've gotten compared to other types of snails like Nassarius, Margaritas, and Ceriths. I'm curious how long you acclimate your snails for? I admit I vary the time quite a bit depending on my patience level at the time...

I would definitely try a very slow drip acclimation and see if they have a better outcomes (if the water chemistry is within normal ranges of course, like mentioned above).
 
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jeff williams

jeff williams

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Ya me as well on acclimation sometimes I drip other times I float and add a small amount of water to the bag. But my qt and dt run same Sg temp alk. Ph might vary a little and calcium as well with all my other critters it’s pull them out of qt and straight into dt but not with trochus anymore
 

Acros

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I have lost 30 torchus snails in the last few months. They all die (1 survived) within 48 hours of introducing to the tank. I float them in the sump and drip acclimate for about 45 min.

I recently heard that they are really bad shippers and not buying them anymore for a while.

All my fish and LPS are fine.

Edit: I never had issues with them earlier last year.
 

Mogwai

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I seem to have more problems with trochus snails than any other type as far as dying after acclimation! Has anyone noticed this as well? I will usually lose 1-3 after acclimated to my qt and then once qt time is up and transfer to my dt I will again lose 1-3 and my dt and qt run pretty close parameters. I can add fish and other inverts straight from my qt to dt without acclimation
In the beginning i had issues with Dying trochus snails dying after acclimating them (Temp and Salinity) Now for my snails (Trochus, Turbo, Nassarius) I only temp acclimate them for 15-20 minutes then pop them bad boys into my tank. Seems to be working just fine for me now.
 

Acros

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I have lost 30 torchus snails in the last few months. They all die (1 survived) within 48 hours of introducing to the tank. I float them in the sump and drip acclimate for about 45 min.

I recently heard that they are really bad shippers and not buying them anymore for a while.

All my fish and LPS are fine.

Edit: I never had issues with them earlier last year.
This was when I had no clue about acclimating anything to a reef tank. Happy news, I have snail babies now.

3C3DDA39-EA77-452F-8887-3FF4CE5BFE28.jpeg

CBB99A40-965F-4EA1-A8C1-2635F9D7B133.jpeg
 

weemanno1

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This was when I had no clue about acclimating anything to a reef tank. Happy news, I have snail babies now.

3C3DDA39-EA77-452F-8887-3FF4CE5BFE28.jpeg

CBB99A40-965F-4EA1-A8C1-2635F9D7B133.jpeg
What did you do to overcome it .. I have the same problem I have 4 and they’ve been fine for since I put them in 3 weeks ago! .. all 4 have stopped eating but my tank is only 3 monthe old and has diatom and film algae only.. not decent green stuff just really pale film algae.. I’m buying nori tomorrow to give them a go but I think it’s to late 😒
 

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What did you do to overcome it .. I have the same problem I have 4 and they’ve been fine for since I put them in 3 weeks ago! .. all 4 have stopped eating but my tank is only 3 monthe old and has diatom and film algae only.. not decent green stuff just really pale film algae.. I’m buying nori tomorrow to give them a go but I think it’s to late 😒
I was really bad at acclimating snails in the beginning. I haven't lost any snail or fish since I started drip acclimating.

Are you sure it is diatioms and not dinoflagellates? I have only ever noticed snails stop eating when I had dinoflagellates.
 

weemanno1

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I was really bad at acclimating snails in the beginning. I haven't lost any snail or fish since I started drip acclimating.

Are you sure it is diatioms and not dinoflagellates? I have only ever noticed snails stop eating when I had dinoflagellates.
i am unsure looking at the algae if i leave it.. its orange dust but its slowly developing bubbles in it.. i had zero phos and nitrates for a good week. and its not getting better... would explain why the snails are starving. shall i black the tank out?. for a day or so? and see how it goes
 

weemanno1

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I was really bad at acclimating snails in the beginning. I haven't lost any snail or fish since I started drip acclimating.

Are you sure it is diatioms and not dinoflagellates? I have only ever noticed snails stop eating when I had dinoflagellates.
im slowly starting to think dino's... my tank is only 3 months old and i had a baacterial bloom which zero'd my nutrients. the bubbles seem to be far worse of an evening that a morning. i'm fed up already of fighting to keep stable parameters.. i'm dosing nitrates and phos to keep them at 0.05 and 5 currently..and keep dusting the macro algae and 3 corals i have. best get a microscope and check
 

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