Tropical Fish Keeping banner

My Mystery snail got out

9K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  MattD 
#1 ·
I found him/her on the floor after I got home from work yesterday. It must have crawled through the opening by the filter. My 2 year old daughter found it. That was a hard one to explain. I told her the snail was sick and I have to take it to the doctor.......I'll stop at the pet store on the way home today and I hope all will be well. It's too bad, we all liked that snail.
 
#3 ·
Cover all tank openings with tin foil if nothing else. I recommend plastic canvas mesh used for needlepoint. It's less than a dollar, flexible, easy to cut to fit; just tape in place.

If the shell is intact (and it's a type of apple snail that has a lung and gill) it can survive a week out of water tightly closed up.
 
#5 ·
Trishfish said:
Cover all tank openings with tin foil if nothing else. I recommend plastic canvas mesh used for needlepoint. It's less than a dollar, flexible, easy to cut to fit; just tape in place.

If the shell is intact (and it's a type of apple snail that has a lung and gill) it can survive a week out of water tightly closed up.
Thanks, but he was a gone. His "door" was open.
 
#6 ·
I am sorry for your loss. I have not had them climb out yet but have lost them due to poor care from the supplier so I knopw how it goes.

One thing though, again I have never had them climb out and I think there might be a chance that something is wrong with your tank. Did you test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? How about pH, KH and GH? Is just a shot in the dark but could be the reason the snail was looking for "cleaner water".
 
#7 ·
The big 3 are very good. 0,0 and 20. pH is high around 7.8. I haven't tested the other two lately. I do at least a 50% water change every week and vacuum half the tank while I'm at it.

One thing I did notice was my water level was high. I did a water change the day before and I guess I filled it up more than normal. It was almost touching the canopy....which might have given him access to the roof.
 
#8 ·
Well good job with the tank parameters. That shoulnd't be the reason unless the water is really soft. You might have just had a wanderer. Oh and I simply love plastic canvas. It is so easy to cut, so easy to fit into places and so versatile. Just a tip on using it, if oyu are worried about the sharp edges let when you cut it, use a lighter and run it along the edge and the sharpness will go away.
 
#11 ·
He was a wanderer. That snail was everywhere. He would ride the bubbles from the air pump up, then he would catch the current from the filter and he would float across the top and back down the front of the tank. Have you ever seen a snail do that? I swear he was part adrenaline junkie.

I can picture the poor guy lying on the floor thinking......, "Now what?"

I am sorry to see him go he provided a lot of entertainment. I did pick up a new one. Another Golden Mystery Snail. He/she's about half the size and a little less active, but he's still getting used to his new home.
 
#12 ·
to think of the little guy on the floor is awfull. :(
i had a very active snail once,but it died.
can't bring myself to buy another.
(i'm building up a record of killing things i think :squint: )
 
#13 ·
are you sure it was dead? once mine had crawled over the side and fell to the floor (not a long fall since its on a small stand) and i was on vacation. i came back 4 days later and found him and put him in his tank. turns out he just sucked in there real tight and was alive!! i was amazed. he unfortunatly died for no apparent reason a couple of months ago :(
 
#14 ·
Apple snails have an ability to seal their trapdoors and lock in moisture that can keep them alive for over a week. Evolved this method to sustain themselves during a dry spell.

I read that it's possible for them to survive out of the water indefinitely if the humidity is high enough. Wouldn't try it meself though.

:D :D
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top