Large Snail...how Do You Know If They Are Dead?

[aquariagirl1976]

Hi all! I am new here, but have been reading posts here for a while. This is my first post so be gentle!

I bought a snail last week, I guess he is considered jumbo as he is about an inch tall, maybe a bit smaller. The first few days I had him, he was happily stuck to the side of the tank and was all over the place. Yesterday I noticed him on the bottom of the tank tucked inside his shell. I checked on him this morning, and same deal. I took him out, and his flesh feels hard when I expected it to feel soft. My question is, how do you know if a snail is dead if he doesn't come out for a couple days? I don't want to toss him if he is alive. Any suggestions???

Thanks in advance!

P.S. He is in freshwater...sorry if I posted in the wrong section...

 

[YoungFishBreeder]

Hi all! I am new here, but have been reading posts here for a while. This is my first post so be gentle!

I bought a snail last week, I guess he is considered jumbo as he is about an inch tall, maybe a bit smaller. The first few days I had him, he was happily stuck to the side of the tank and was all over the place. Yesterday I noticed him on the bottom of the tank tucked inside his shell. I checked on him this morning, and same deal. I took him out, and his flesh feels hard when I expected it to feel soft. My question is, how do you know if a snail is dead if he doesn't come out for a couple days? I don't want to toss him if he is alive. Any suggestions???

Thanks in advance!

P.S. He is in freshwater...sorry if I posted in the wrong section...

Yes you posted in the wrong section, One of the mods will move it soon.

Well first off, when my snail died it came out the shell, and some freshwater snails such as the (trapdoor snail) have a "trap door" to protect them from predators. Without knowing exactly which snail it is, or without pictures we cannot really tell.
What is your stocking in the tank?.

All the best

 

[severum boy]

If you pick up the shell and muscle tissue falls out, leaving you with an empty shell, its dead. If its not coming out, its alive.
Also, what size is the tank? In small tanks you can see the water is cloudyer than normal wich means death is not far away.

 

[Galedav]

its insides normally fall out of its shell when irs picked up

 

[vancouver]

You should find the round piece of skin that the shell sits on in the tank if it's dead.

That's always how I could tell.

 

[GoldLenny]

Live snails just smell a little fishy. Dead snails stink to high heaven. You would know if it was dead. Apple snails and Mystery snails (and a few others) have trap doors where they can close up inside their shell. I've seen them close up for up to two weeks. Some will even add some air to their shell and float around on the surface of the tank. Once again, if you pick it up and it smells horrible, get it out of your tank and do a series of PWC's to improve your water quality.

 

[aquariagirl1976]

Hi again all!

Thanks for all of the answers, and sorry it took me so long to get back on here, I was having trouble with my account I couldn't post any replies at all.

First off, I just wanted to let you know that my snail IS in fact alive! He decided to come out of his shell today to stick to the side of the tank for awhile but is now back in his shell. So that's a relief.

I am however interested in knowing what kind of snail he is, I am new to having a snail. Here is a pic of him. Sorry about the quality, do the best you can with it.

Thanks again! So far I am finding these forums quite friendly and helpful.

Jennifer.

 

[GoldLenny]

It could be a black mystery snail, part of the apple snail family. Take more pictures of different angles of the shell. It does have the operculum (trap door)... right? I think this thread has information to help you determine if it's an apple snail or relative. http/www.fishforums.net/Snail-species-t75554.html