Sick Snail

[lordofthesea]

one of my snails hasn't moved in days. i'm pretty sure he's alive, because the shrimps haven't eaten him. i'm really fond of him so has anyone got any ideas of why he's not moving?

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Have you actually picked him out to see if he is alive?

 

[lordofthesea]

yes. he doesn't smell and he moves his door when tapped

 

[betta fish]

Have you changed anything in the tank recently? how long has the snail been in there? is it filtered and heated if so what is the temp? I have had apple snails do this in the past where I have moved them from a larger heated filtered tank with fish into a smaller one with no fish a heater and just a sponge filter although temp was the same as in the other tank but they never seemed to recover and just stopped moving for a week then when I examined them 3 were dead have no idea why they didn't like the move I kept the water clean but they were not active like they were in the other tank, either way I don't think it is looking good for your chap any snail experts know what is going on here?

 

[lordofthesea]

i've changed nothing in the tank. he still shuts his door when i tap it. do sulawesi elephant snails hibernate?

 

[betta fish]

I'm not familiar with these snails I'm afraid as I have never had one, perhaps they are nocturnal? have you tried shining a light on it after the tank has been dark for some time to see if it has come out? I don't know what else to suggest, what is the temp of the tank? perhaps raising it a little will encourage it to move?

 

[ashemely]

I have quite a few Sulawesi Snails, and yes they sort of hibernate. I still haven't quite figured out what's going with the 'hibernation' period, but mine will just not move for a whiel. Give the snail a few days and keep an eye on it, just to make sure it has moved from one area of the tank to another. And continue to do the touch test to make sure it still moves. I had one 'hibernate' for a while, after a week and still no movement I touched it's head and it retreated back to it's shell. After more than a week after the touch test and went to do another test, but there was no head to touch, and low and behold it had died. That's the only one I've had die, and I have three left.

You might also want to try throwing a piece of veg (cucumber works well for my snails) into the tank, to make sure the snail is getting enough to eat. Another side note to these snails, they like protein. I've caught my snails eating everything that sits on the bottom of the tank be it flake, pellet, veg, frozen shrimp, a dead cherry shrimp it's all fair game as far as they're concerned.

Hope this helps.

 

[lordofthesea]

he does move around the tank... hopefully he'll be alright. anyone else have any ideas.