snails dropping like flies
- Thread starter PaulH
- Start date
4-8 hours???!!!???!!!
I knew GARF was worng...I ordered a clean-up crew from them, and when I called them upon arrival of the snails, I was told to not acclimate them and simply drop them into the tank in a pile.
I'll quote: "Just drop them in and wait two days....the ones that crawl away are alive, then others are not".
After 1 week, I have pulled about 20 snails that do not appear to be alive anymore. I didn't expect them to be shipped with no water (just a damp paper towl in each bag), and then I certainly did not expect the acclimation instructions listed above. I had heard good things about GARF, but I must say I am not impressed with the results of my $150.00 order. And the "GARF grunge"????....A waste of money IMO
Dave
I knew GARF was worng...I ordered a clean-up crew from them, and when I called them upon arrival of the snails, I was told to not acclimate them and simply drop them into the tank in a pile.
I'll quote: "Just drop them in and wait two days....the ones that crawl away are alive, then others are not".
After 1 week, I have pulled about 20 snails that do not appear to be alive anymore. I didn't expect them to be shipped with no water (just a damp paper towl in each bag), and then I certainly did not expect the acclimation instructions listed above. I had heard good things about GARF, but I must say I am not impressed with the results of my $150.00 order. And the "GARF grunge"????....A waste of money IMO
Dave
It's very surprising that someone would tell you not to even temperature acclimate an animal. It sounds like since they are cheap, they told you just to see what makes it. I acclimated my snails for about 2 hours with a drip and still lost a lot of them, but some lived a long time. Definitely just drip acclimate your next batch and then "drop them in". I think that they should definitely have been shipped in water. mine were when I ordered online.
4-8 hours? Ive never heard anything like this. I have always dropped mine in the tank strait from the store with no problems. Maybe you should buy them from your lfs if it is possible. Dont acclimate them for 8 hours just drop those guys strait in. :lol:
So they send snails and crabs one wet paper towels? I believe you that it works, it's just surprising. It's good to know in case I ever decide to order from them. I will most likely order my clean up crew when I start my new tank. What have other people's experiences been like.
I personally think that acclimating will never be a mistake for someone, it's not too hard, and I don't see how it would hurt the animals. However, if they come on a wet paper towel, there's really no acclimation you can do, I guess you could slowly soak the paper towel with your water, but my guess is they've got a better chance being dropped in the tank.
I personally think that acclimating will never be a mistake for someone, it's not too hard, and I don't see how it would hurt the animals. However, if they come on a wet paper towel, there's really no acclimation you can do, I guess you could slowly soak the paper towel with your water, but my guess is they've got a better chance being dropped in the tank.
yup, astrea/turbo snails will die during a brown algae bloom. they cannot handle the toxin/ bi-product of the algae..... You need to remove the dead snails so they do not feed the bloom.
do not do any water changes. let the bloom run its course
brown slime.agae is also a form of dinoflagelates
hth
info from Julian sprungs Algae Book
do not do any water changes. let the bloom run its course
brown slime.agae is also a form of dinoflagelates
hth
info from Julian sprungs Algae Book
Sigh.....this has been an ongoing battle for over 3 months...
I bought the snails in an effort to combat the algae! When the folks at GARF asked what type of algae I had, I told them specifically that it was dinoflagates, and they sent me astreas snails (about 30) as well as other types.
OK.....so that explains the die-off.....I know that there must be some toxins from the bloom, I can smell the stuff in the water! I mean, when I do a thorough cleaning, the smell goes away, but returns as the slime does.
I really wish I could get the upper hand on this stuff...
Dave
I bought the snails in an effort to combat the algae! When the folks at GARF asked what type of algae I had, I told them specifically that it was dinoflagates, and they sent me astreas snails (about 30) as well as other types.
OK.....so that explains the die-off.....I know that there must be some toxins from the bloom, I can smell the stuff in the water! I mean, when I do a thorough cleaning, the smell goes away, but returns as the slime does.
I really wish I could get the upper hand on this stuff...
Dave
The only method I use to acclimate snails is to hold them just under the waterline in the tank until they attach. That way they acclimate themselves and go deeper into the tank when they're ready. It can take a couple of minutes for them to attach. Most of them actually crawl almost out of the water for the first hour or two.
This method has worked well for me. I added 10 snails awhile back and didn't lose any
This method has worked well for me. I added 10 snails awhile back and didn't lose any
LA Lawman,
yeah my snails are turbos and astreas!! And yes I do have brown algae bloom, that's why I bought these snails, they ate the algae for about an hour and then drop off the glass and eventually die. Will other types of snails die from this as well?? What about nerite and nass snails??
yeah my snails are turbos and astreas!! And yes I do have brown algae bloom, that's why I bought these snails, they ate the algae for about an hour and then drop off the glass and eventually die. Will other types of snails die from this as well?? What about nerite and nass snails??
I would recommend that you do a search on GARF and draw your own conclusions as to whether you want to follow their advice.
Inverts are rather sensitive to changes in water chemistry. I've got close to a hundred snails, 4 crabs, and a few shrimp in my tank, and never lost a one to acclimation. It was either DOA, or died weeks/months after it was put in my tank (excluding predation).
Inverts are rather sensitive to changes in water chemistry. I've got close to a hundred snails, 4 crabs, and a few shrimp in my tank, and never lost a one to acclimation. It was either DOA, or died weeks/months after it was put in my tank (excluding predation).
I just bought about 20 turbos for my fuge, I acclimated them for 4 hours and all of them sruvived (drip method), about 6 months I bought about 20 more and acclimatted them for 1/2 hour, result: half of the snails dead.
Better aclimate them for 4-5 hours, 2 hours seems to fast.
Better aclimate them for 4-5 hours, 2 hours seems to fast.
FWIW I just got 120 astrea, 120 Nassarius, 120 Blue legs and 2 serpent stars from www.reeftopia.com for 130$ delievered. That price is unbeatable if you can find a better price for that amount Id be amazed.
I acclimated them by floating the bags in the sump for 1/2 hour then slowly drip acclimated them for anouther 1/2 hour all lived but they were all shipped in water.
HTH
I acclimated them by floating the bags in the sump for 1/2 hour then slowly drip acclimated them for anouther 1/2 hour all lived but they were all shipped in water.
HTH
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