Snails

[Tempestuousfury]

A few months ago, I had a "golden mystery" snail in my tank. It actually did pretty well in there for a week. However, I went to my tank one day and saw the shell turned upside down w/o anything in it. I the looked at the other fish and found my goldfish feasting on the snail.

Do you have any idea how did this happened? (The lady from Walmart--she seemed to be an aquarist with some experience-- couldn't tell me what happened)

 

[Inchworm]

I think it was most likely that the snail died and then the fish ate it.

These big snails have sturdy shells, which they can close up tight, to protect themselves from predators. But, once it dies, its muscles relax and the shell opens giving the fish an opportunity to eat it.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

But are they known to leave their shells of their own accord? I don't think that it fell out after death, because it seemed pretty active and young, and the body was in a cave that was inches away from the shell.

 

[Inchworm]

No, snails do not leave their shells. But after it died, the goldfish could have pulled it out.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Ok. Thanks