What In The Water Kills Snails, But Not Shrimp?

[dizzied]

As in chemicals, or elements.

All of my snails have started dropping like flies. Mysteries went first, MTS also choked afterwards. I suspect that a piece of wiring I used for holding down moss could've released something into the water that's harmful to snails. My shrimp are still thriving though, so I doubt it's something like copper.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its posible that the shrimp are just more resistant to whatever is in the water than the snails are for now- i wouldn't have the wire in the tank though as it'll most likely rust sooner or later, which is bad for the tank.
Snails are not the most competetive of feeders so its also posible that the snails in your tank are just starving and the shrimp are surviving because the shrimp make much better and more efficient scavengers. What have you been feeding the shrimp and snails or do you rely on them to survive off scavenging alone in the tank?

 

[dizzied]

The wiring has already been removed.

The snails were in fact the most competitive feeder in my tank. If I drop a wafer down, they'll pretty much swarm it and block out everybody else. I've also crossed out the possibility that the shrimp are that much hardier than the snails.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Is the PH acidic? I think in acidic PH's it corrodes the snail's shell.

 

[dizzied]

Nope. I've looked at a lot of the possibilities, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to a snail-unfriendly, but shrimp-safe chemical, which is why I asked that question.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Hmm, well if there's an unwanted chemical in the tank you should do a water change and stick some carbon sponge in your filter to help remove it. Do you have any rocks in the tank or have done anything recent like change the substrate? What are the recent ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph stat results of the tank?

 

[Invader Xan]

Keep a close eye on your shrimp. If they start fainting (swimming for a bit and then seemingly losing consciousness and just falling), do a major water change and hope nothing eats them -- or if you don't have many, evacuating them to some clean water might be an idea...

 

[dizzied]

I appreciate the help, but what I'm trying to do is get an ID as to what chemical might've been leaked into the tank via the wire, nothing else. I've started running carbon, though it might be something unremovable by carbon.

 

[Invader Xan]

Oh... Wire?
It would likely be a metal ion from the wire itself, or some kind of chemical sprayed on the outside (flux, insulation, corrosion resistance... lots of wires have plastic coatings, some of which might contain plasticisers). Can't say more without knowing more... Can you tell us more about this wire?

 

[dizzied]

I guess that would be the problem, I've had the wire for a year and lost any packaging it came with. The only thing I can go with is "fish safe, plant safe, shrimp safe, not snail safe". I was assuming someone here had to know a list of chemicals that fit those properties.

Anyways, I think I'll just stick with running carbon a few months before introducing any snails to the tank. Seems like the only solution right now other than a total tank breakdown.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Just make sure the carbon hasn't been used for more than 6months as carbon sponges usually only work for a maximum of 6months before they stop working and then leak everything they've absorbed during that time out.

 

[dizzied]

I've only added it a few days ago when this problem arose, I don't use carbon normally. Do they really last six months? I've always been led to believe they're worthless after just one.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I've only added it a few days ago when this problem arose, I don't use carbon normally. Do they really last six months? I've always been led to believe they're worthless after just one.

Nope, they can be used numerous times. The length of time it lasts depends on the size of the carbon, but most should last up to 6months in use .

 

[colbat0]

if u rip a snails snail of it will die but shrimps dont have one i hope i was a massive help

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

if u rip a snails snail of it will die but shrimps dont have one i hope i was a massive help

What are you talking about ?