Trochus snails mysteriously dying.

[MeanGull]

I got some snails in QT. A handful of ceriths, about 10 trochus and 2 tectus. For the first month, everything was fine. Then suddenly, the first trochus just died. I've checked everything I could think of and came up with no ideas. Few days later, another perished. So I went back to looking and looking and looking until I found a single aiptasia dangling in the current. I took the rock out, chipped the piece where the anemone was away and put it back in. I couldn't find any more, but they're more than likely hiding.

Today I go to look at the snails, another one is dead. This one looked different in that it had what looks like blood leaking out. I can't see any other aiptasia anywhere.

Any ideas?

 

[FangsAndGames]

Normally die when exposed to copper or maybe parasite. They can’t handle freshwater to well either

 

[MeanGull]

That's just it. No meds were ever added to the QT or the display. I also use the water from the display tank for water changes in the snail tank. Snails in DT are thriving and have been for years. In fact, these 3 trochs are the only casualties I've had since entering the hobby. That makes me feel even worse.

Also, if you look at this picture, you will see the bruise. The first two did not have that.

So it's either aiptasia stinging them, or I may have a whelk among the ceriths. At the same time though, wouldn't a whelk want to have a few bites and hang around the dead snail?

 

[FangsAndGames]

Old age? Don’t live for very long...

 

[MeanGull]

Wouldn't explain the bruise. Also, three of them dying days apart rules out the old age. They're quite small to be at the end of their life cycle. Any other ideas?

 

[DSEKULA]

That tank looks pretty clean, have you been feeding them?

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Snails are pretty finicky sometimes. What are your water parameters? How did you get them Local or Shipped? I've had snails get stressed after being shipped and then die off weeks later.

 

[andrewkw]

Any possibility of stray current? If that was the case they wouldn't be moving much.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I don’t see any in your pics but have you ever seen pyramid snails anywhere in your tank?

 

[Potatohead]

I don't have much luck with trochus either. Only about 1/3 I add seem to live more than a couple weeks, I really don't know why. Of course some of the ones that have lived are now several years old and huge. I have better luck with ceriths.

 

[MeanGull]

Water parameters are good from what I can tell. Temperature is at 75. I've even added a clump of chaeto before any died, for good measure.

Checked for stray electricity, nothing. Snails are all very active, until they aren't at all.

Got them locally, 30 minute drive.

Pyramid snails, none that I could see on the glass or snails themselves. Will keep looking.

As for food. I do drop a ¼ of an alage wafer in there every few days. Ceriths are the only ones who seem to eat that. I also leave nori for them, not sure who is eating it though. When ever I look no one seems to touch it, and then suddenly next time I'm downstairs it's completely gone. Any other food you could suggest specifically for trochus snails?

There is also a fuge light over the QT that's on for 5 hours a day.

On the bright side, copepods living in there seem to be thriving.