Oh Lord ... the snail is dead

[akestler]

My apple snail is so dead. I've never had a snail before, and I don't know what happens when they die, but this one has got to be dead. He's always either buried in the gravel or sticking to the tank wall or one of the plants ... he is now lying on his back, with the brown thing (maybe the shell door or something) over the shell opening. When I left earlier, he was fine, happily buried in the gravel, but then when I came back a few hours later, he was like this. I have NEVER seen him lying on his back like this before. Like I said, he's always either buried in the gravel or stuck on something. Also, my betta, who has thus far taken absolutely NO interest in the snail, never pays it a bit of attention, is all of a sudden very interested in it. Hanging around it, checking it out, poking at it, etc. I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not, I just thought it was something odd that could be of significance to my question. I know a picture would be helpful, and I tried and tried to get one, but due to the positioning of the tank on my desk and the positioning of the snail in the tank, it has proved to be impossible.

Is the snail dead?? What do I do with it? I am seriously really freaked out right now.

[amanichen]

So has the snail moved since you last checked?

[akestler]

The snail has come back to life!! Sorry, false alarm! LoL sorry about that, but he definitely was the deadest-looking snail I have ever seen.

So can anyone tell me what happens when these apple snails DO die? I'd really like to know since I think this thing is dead about once a week, although last night, I was SURE. Shows how much I know.

[amanichen]

Snails on their back, with their trap door closed usually get freaked out and fall off the glass, or whatnot.

Snails that have a trap door (that's most of them) have it for protection, and will keep it closed.

If a snail dies while out of its shell, it'll obviously be lifeless and won't respond to any stimuli. If it dies inside of its shell, it won't move anywhere. I assume things like this would be fairly obvious...

[akestler]

yes amanichen, these things are pretty obvious. Thanks for making me feel even stupider. LoL I was just wondering if they float or something like that because my snail is not a big "mover" ... hence, why I think he is dead all the time. haha Thanks!

[twoluvcats]

dead snails can float, but not all floating snails are dead. (tho out of 20 i've had, i've only had 2 live snails float for any reason)

If the snail is alive you WILL NOT be able to open the trapdoor, or if you are able to move it, the snail will suck it right back in. Dead snails will ususally oooze out of thier shell, and there is NO resistance on the trapdoor if you wiggle it. Or you will lift a corner of the trapdoor and OOOO THE SMELL!!! you'll know!!!

But ya, on its back with trapdoor closed means it prob fell off (or was bumped off) the glass.

[Flurry]

I just have a random question about snails that I'd like to stick in here.

I tried having snails in my small tank. About a year ago (before my Betta) I bought a ramshorn snail. He was fine for three days, and on the fourth day, he was dead.

Then came along Rupert, my mysterious little pond snail that came from nowheres. He was in my tank for... five monthes? But I removed him once for a week, while I was medicating my betta. When my Betta's medication was finish, and I was positive that it had not taken effect, did a 100% water change, plopped him back in a few days later, next thing I knew, he was burried in the gravel, dead.

Then I tried another snail from our LPS (black shell, not sure what kind), dead after four days.

I'm kind of scared now of getting really sensitive fish for my tank when it comes time, like ottos. I hate to kill things off.

[amanichen]

Flürrÿ said:

I just have a random question about snails that I'd like to stick in here.

I tried having snails in my small tank. About a year ago (before my Betta) I bought a ramshorn snail. He was fine for three days, and on the fourth day, he was dead.

Then came along Rupert, my mysterious little pond snail that came from nowheres. He was in my tank for... five monthes? But I removed him once for a week, while I was medicating my betta. When my Betta's medication was finish, and I was positive that it had not taken effect, did a 100% water change, plopped him back in a few days later, next thing I knew, he was burried in the gravel, dead.

Then I tried another snail from our LPS (black shell, not sure what kind), dead after four days.

I'm kind of scared now of getting really sensitive fish for my tank when it comes time, like ottos. I hate to kill things off.

So uh, what exactly is your question?

[Flurry]

Haha. I apologize. Any idea to the cause of the snail's deaths? Unless our LPS has poor quality snails.

[amanichen]

Flürrÿ said:

Haha. I apologize. Any idea to the cause of the snail's deaths? Unless our LPS has poor quality snails.

I could speculate, but without more information about water quality, water chemistry, food, temperature, etc. I won't be able to give you a solid answer.

There's also problems with the way that many snails are shipped -- in bags with paper towels. Many of them end up with cracked shells, and many are DOA, and the ones that do survive may have health problems.

[twoluvcats]

snails from petstores are starved...they are usually not fed...they just have to scavenge for any algae they can find...so its not a surprsie that the ones you get from the pet stores die quickly.

Also, judging from the size of the apple snails that I've seen in pet stores, they are "old" A healthy apple snail will only live ~12-18 months at 80 degrees...and a quarter size apple snail is 6-8 months...so if you pick up one that big from a pet store, you are getting a "middle age" snail.

[Flurry]

Thanks for the information. I have just recently gotten test kits, so, lol, I have no clue what the parameters could have been back then. I'll keep what you guys said in mind