:( Snail Troubles

[juliethegr8t]

The Gold Mystery Snail I bought yesterday is already dead. He's been a little out of his shell for most of the day and hasn't moved, so I finally picked him up, and there's no resistance on his trap door. He doesn't pull back or anything when I touch his foot. *sigh* I was already really enjoying having him in my tank, so I'm rather upset. I don't know what would have killed him. My water parameters are fine - nitrates a little high (I'll do a water change), nitrites and ammonia at 0. pH is 7.4. I know the snail was alive last night, but he never did come all the way out of his shell. Would it be a bad idea to get another snail when I bring back this one? There was only one other, and he was laying on the bottom shut in his shell, as was mine. I don't know if this is a bad sign, and I shouldn't get another, but I'd really like to. I just don't want to bring home another snail only to have it die. Anyone have a clue? Thanks.

 

[Braddah]

i would not get another till the store get more in...do you use salt or does the lfs...

 

[nene]

Are you sure he is dead? I have a a Golden Inca snail and periodically she will close her trapdoor and seem dead but then wakes up or whatever and is fine. Seems like I read somewhere that periodically some snails will go into like a short hibernation. Anyway, you might want to put him in a separate container and watch him for awhile.

 

[juliethegr8t]

Yeah I'm sure it was dead . I read somewhere that a snail is alive when their trapdoor is shut and they'll resist you pulling on it, but when they die, the muscle that holds it shut relaxes, so part or all of the snail will come out of the shell. My snail was about a third of the way out for the whole day, and when I finally brought it up to check for sure, there was no resistance when I pulled on the trapdoor, and no response when I touched the foot. It's in the freezer now, I'll hopefully get another soon.