Problems With Snails

[renaldz]

Ok guys about 1 week ago i wnet out and bought 10 turbo snails for my tank as i was in desperate need for some! After looking in the tank this morning i find i only have 2 left and the rest are empty shells on the floor!!
Has this happened to any one else?? if so what caused it??

cheers

 

[SkiFletch]

Are there any other invertebrates or crabs in your tank? Sounds like somethin ate them...

 

[renaldz]

all i have are hermits......roughly about 8 of them at the moment! could that be the problem!

 

[Opcn]

Are the Hermits all wearing brand new turbo shells homes? thats useually a bad sign. However, the two biggest causes of unexpected snail death are heat and starvation, since it hasn't been long enought for them to starve I'd like to know what you have your heater set to.

 

[Donya]

10 Turbos is a lot...some crabs will just eat snails for the food, not necessarily the shells. Do you know what hermit species you have? 1 week seems a bit quick for starvation unless the tank was bare to begin with...plus the bodies being gone so fast sounds like they became munchies for the crabs. Dead snail bodies usually linger for a while in the shells if uneaten

 

[renaldz]

Well i have seen them exit their own shells and take up residency in new turbo shells yes but not for a little while now!
Ermm i think my temperature is roughly 27C i think!

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, thats warm but not too warm... Something definitely ate them cause I can speak from recent experience that if a snail dies from natural causes, it just sits there and decomposes (NASTY smelling).

 

[Aquascaper]

Was the tank brand new?

Turbo snails are very intolerant of copper and the slighest trace in the water can cause death. If you're unsure then i'd test for that.

 

[renaldz]

no i have had the tank running for almost 1 year now i think.
soo...guna check anyways!

 

[crazyelece]

turbos can't turn themselves over if they fall or get knocked onto their backs. I've had a few die that way. Personally I wouldn't have more than 2 in a tank anyway unless it is very large. I have 2 in my 120 and they do an awesome job all by themselves.

 

[xNOTLOCx]

i have 3 hermits ad 1 snail hes been in ther for a week in a half and hes doing gr8 better than my fish even everyday hes in a new location far far away from the last and he seems to never leave the live rock idno im sure there other algae, ide wait on getting so many next time u should just get 1 or two at a time every now and then if you want that many, i think its uneccecary tho.

 

[Opcn]

Turbos CAN turn them selves over, its astreas that can't.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Could it be a mantis? They take there prey back to their home, eat it, and leave the shells in a rather "clumped" collection near his hole. Thats a clear sign that a mantis is eating your clean-up crew.