Nerite Snail Behavior

[FISH-FRY]

I picked up a Tracked Nerite Snail last night and before taking it out of the bag and after acclimating the snail it was stuck on the bag (alive). I used the water in the bag to move it into a fish net while over a bucket and then gently placed it on the substrate. Not too long after the snail was trying to turn itself since it was upside down. It didn't look like the snail could do it so a little assistance with the net and off it went.

The snail climbed the tree stump and headed for the underside where it vanished (this was after 10:00 p.m. when I put it in). I looked for it around midnight but couldn't find it since it was lights out. I got up around 6:00 a.m. (lights still out but some daylight creeping in) and thought I saw it on the front of the trunk but wasn't sure since it was still a little dark. I went back to bed and got up again at around 10:30 a.m. (still lights out) and I found the snail hidden on the back side of the trunk just stuck there.

It's been about 4 hours since I've seen the snail in the same location. Should I be worried? I never had snails and want to make sure it's okay being a new addition to the tank. If it were dead wouldn't it just fall down? How long would it go without moving from the same place?

 

[Tortea]

My snails will hide for gays before i see them again, how big is your tank and how many plants?

 

[ian]

My snails will hide for gays before i see them again, how big is your tank and how many plants?

mmm an Homophobic snail!

anyways, i wouldn't worry. When a snail dies they smell rank and totally relax.

 

[FISH-FRY]

My snails will hide for gays before i see them again, how big is your tank and how many plants?

It's a 16 gallon and have eight plants with some bits of duckweed that hitched on with one of my latest plants.

 

[FISH-FRY]

My snails will hide for gays before i see them again, how big is your tank and how many plants?

mmm an Homophobic snail!

anyways, i wouldn't worry. When a snail dies they smell rank and totally relax.

That was funny.

So would the tank stink or would i have to take the snail out and take a whiff? Guess if it dies it will relax and drop to the substrate.

I took a gamble with this snail because all the others appeared dead (except one other) but the fish in the tank seemed okay. There was no algae in the tank so maybe they ate it all and then starved to death? I took the chance because no one in the area had any Nerites in the area.

 

[ian]

has it moved yet?

 

[FISH-FRY]

has it moved yet?

Well, I haven't seen it move myself but it was in two different locations today. It sure likes that trunk.

Thanks for asking.

 

[FISH-FRY]

I'm seeing less of this guy although he's sometimes visible on the inside of the tree trunk. Unfortunately there's plenty of blind spots where I can't see what's inside.

I guess Gary (my little one calls him that after Sponge Bob's pet) is active at night based on the following pictures. I'm assuming these are his tracks since it's on the inside. I had to angle the camera (the reason for the weird angles) to see them since you probably would not see them with a direct shot.

I am curious as to why nothing has touched a green algae spot I have that's almost in the center of the tank and a quarter way up from the substrate. Should I assume my algae eating critters are busy with other stuff and have enough to eat since they're overlooking this one spot?

I think he's an artist. It looks like he's drawing leaves.

Do you see a head facing left?

I like the patter on this one.

I like pictures. Can't you tell?

 

[FISH-FRY]

I am curious as to why nothing has touched a green algae spot I have that's almost in the center of the tank and a quarter way up from the substrate. Should I assume my algae eating critters are busy with other stuff and have enough to eat since they're overlooking this one spot?

Guess something must have read this post because that spot is now gone. I'm not sure what cleaned it, but I thank them.

 

[FISH-FRY]

I finally got some better views before lights on today.

May be crawling away due to a few flash pictures

Here's a front view

This was after lights on and he's still about

In action

 

[Essjay]

Nerites do like to draw abstract patterns. I used to have a filter in my 60 litre that had a flat black front, and it got covered in algae. I don't know why I'd never put a nerite in there, so I took one from my 125 litre. It 'drew' some wonderful patterns during the 3 or 4 days it took to clear the algae. I wished after that I'd photographed its progress.