Apple Snail Shell Corroding

[Hels]

Hi All

I have a golden apple snail and its looks like its shell is corroding... I’ve heard this is a problem in soft water areas but where I live the water is hard...does anyone have any ideas? Do I need to change its diet?

Thanks

Hels

 

[xanthedc]

Hi there, There is a difference in water hardness and ph, can't remember what it is though at the mo. So you might want to be checking the ph of your water as it is better for the snails if it is at least a ph of 7 or more. If they are in water that is below ph7 then that is where the corrosion is coming from. The acid is eating away at the shell. I had put my snails in a tank that had bogwood in it which lowered my ph to 6.6. I now have a seperate tank for my snails and luckily my tap water sits at 7.
Giving them some blanched greens, cucumber especially will help. You can add liquid calcium but I think the jury is out whether it helps or not. Cheers Xanthe

 

[Lynz781]

So bogwood can make your water turn acidic. I have the same problem really. The water is normally around pH 6.0 and the water is soft up here. But always wondered what made the water turn acidic. I have both bog and drift wood. Interesting......

 

[littleme1969]

Yes bogwood over time will reduce the PH of your tank . You need a buffer of some kind to help with this if you have a lot in your tank. I used Crushed coral it can be found online and in most good fish shops. You can add a bag to your filter, and I also add alot to my gravel. This acts as a buffer to counteract the effects of the bogwood, and over a period of a few weeks will help level the PH in your tank. In the mean time I recomend lots of water changes to bring the PH back up to 7 and over if possible.

 

[Lynz781]

Problem is I need the wood for my clown plec. Great excuse to get another tank though.

 

[xanthedc]

I have used coral sand but didn't find it that effective. It didn't raise the ph level at all. I even tried using ph7 stabiliser but that didn't work either. I think until the tannin in the bogwood leaches out it will lower the ph continuously. I found buffering to little effect. Hope it does with yours but if not a wee snail tank is just the job. Cheers Xanthe

Yes bogwood over time will reduce the PH of your tank . You need a buffer of some kind to help with this if you have a lot in your tank. I used Crushed coral it can be found online and in most good fish shops. You can add a bag to your filter, and I also add alot to my gravel. This acts as a buffer to counteract the effects of the bogwood, and over a period of a few weeks will help level the PH in your tank. In the mean time I recomend lots of water changes to bring the PH back up to 7 and over if possible.

 

[Hels]

Sorry i havent replied sooner...its been a v busy week!!

Thanks for the great help! I hadnt realised that bogwood could be a problem and i do have quite a large piece in that particular tank...

Thanks!

Hels