Losing snails

[Alexxn]

For some reason after only a week I've lost 3 Trochus snails and I can't figure out why. The only thing I can think of is I found them on their side - could they have fallen off a rock and not been able to right themselves ? All my other snails (fighting conchs, nassarius, and red banded trochus) plus my hermits, emerald crabs and shrimp are all fine.

Water looks good -

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 2ppm
PH - 8.3
Temp - 79
SG - 1.023
Phosphates - 0.03

Any ideas ?? Or do they just not last very long ?

Thanks !

 

[digitalreefer]

Hermit food is my guess!

 

[Domboski]

Alex,

I have found turbo snails are a bit more difficult to keep alive. In fact, I don't keep any turbos in my system. They almost always died.

They do have trouble getting themselves upside sometimes and that could kill them too.

HTH

 

[Alexxn]

Alex,

I have found turbo snails are a bit more difficult to keep alive. In fact, I don't keep any turbos in my system. They almost always died.

They do have trouble getting themselves upside sometimes and that could kill them too.

HTH

Ahh gotcha...thanx for the info !

 

[duke62]

ive had my turbo snails fromthe start of my old system only 1 died when i switched because it was upside down on the sand bed and i didnt see it.maybe something in your tank knocked it over onto sand bed

 

[ScottK]

Where did you get them from? How long have you had them? How old is the tank? Was all the clean-up crew added at once?

 

[LeslieS]

I have found turbo snails are a bit more difficult to keep alive. In fact, I don't keep any turbos in my system. They almost always died.

ive had my turbo snails fromthe start of my old system only 1 died when i switched because it was upside down on the sand bed and i didnt see it.maybe something in your tank knocked it over onto sand bed

According to Marine Invertebrates, A Pocket Expert Guide, Turbo snails and Trochus snails are not the same thing.

 

[Domboski]

According to Marine Invertebrates, A Pocket Expert Guide, Turbo snails and Trochus snails are not the same thing.

I stand corrected! I learned two things on this thread:

1- I suck at keeping Turbo snails
2- I can't read!

 

[marki24]

I would guess your hermit crabs ate them.

 

[reefs4life]

What kind of fish do you have in it? That could also be a problem......especially wrasses.

 

[LeslieS]

2- I can't read!

:smile: I just didn't want anyone to get confused. I have actually been to a fish store where whatever snail they get that week goes in the tank marked "turbo".

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Temp - 79

Have you considered this parameter being high for this snail?

 

[Domboski]

:smile: I just didn't want anyone to get confused. I have actually been to a fish store where whatever snail they get that week goes in the tank marked "turbo".

TRUE!! That goes for a lot of animals....

 

[Alexxn]

Where did you get them from? How long have you had them? How old is the tank? Was all the clean-up crew added at once?

1. I got them all from House of Fins in Greenwich, CT

2. Tank is 5 weeks old, started with all fully cured Live Rock from an established tank, didn't even go through a cycle.

3. Clean up crew was all added at once.

Thanks !

 

[Alexxn]

What kind of fish do you have in it? That could also be a problem......especially wrasses.

No fish yet

 

[Harif87]

Have you considered this parameter being high for this snail?

I think wingo has a point. Snails dont tolerate higher temps so well. Also, is your tank 79 degrees all the time? You sure the temp doesnt go a degree or 2 up/down?

My guess would be either too high of temps or a hermit attack. Was the snails body whole or was it ripped up at all? Is another hermit wearing his shell? Those would be the things to look for if it was a hermit attack.

 

[Reefer420]

were the rocks cured? if not have you heard any clicking noises? i started losing snails before I realized i had a mantis shrimp in the tank... :theyareon

 

[duke62]

can it be they are dying of starvation

 

[meschaefer]

IME, they became the main course in a Hermit Feast.

 

[ScottK]

There are a lot of possibilities, but when several of just one species die out of a group of many different animals, that narrows them down a bit. The temp might be a cause. Also, you might not have acclimated them well enough, or they could have been a sick group from the lfs. Have you done any major water changes recently?