Mystery Snails from Petsmart

[jhays79]

I've tried two different times to keep mystery snails from Petsmart and each time they die within a day or two. I usually find them in there side half hanging out of their shells. Anyone else experien e this? They are the only things that die in my tanks.

[Ulupica]

I've never had that problem... I've had them actively mate and lay eggs. I've even hatched a couple batches of them.

[2Shi]

Possibly a bad strain in the snail. Some viruses that snails get will lay dormant for a period of time before affecting the snail.

Also, there's a possibility of copper poisoning. If your home has copper pipes then that could be the source of the excess (if there is any). You can try a copper test kit if you think this may be the cause.

[musician71604]

Mine have always done very well. I'd check for something in your water unless you have other snails/inverts that are doing just fine.

[TheDrake]

I was in one of their stores Monday, and every mystery snail they had (several dozen) were dead and hanging out of their shells. It's quite possible that the problem begins before they arrive in your tank.

[Sluuuder]

Ask and see when they got their shipment in. Snails sell fast and they could have just gotten there and the disease they had dint kill them until you got them into your tank. I have bought four and they mated and had over 100+ snails that I sell and have been breeding the same snails ever since.

But if it has happened more then once you may want to see if you have any copper in your tank. Only tow things that could really be the problem.

[wootlaws]

I've had the same problem buying snails from Petsmart. After they died I gave up. I ended up with some pond snails that hitch hiked from some plants I pucrhased and they are breeding happily and eating off all the algae from my tank. I haven't bought any from Petsmart since then and I would probably get them from the marketplace or vendors next time.

[AirstoND]

Mine died, with the exception of one, it could be due water conditions (temp change, dissolved Cu or F in home water)

[Sandybottom]

i asked one petsmart employee what they feed their snails and she said that they eat the algae from the tanks. if they have had them for awhile they may have starved. at petco they don't turn their nerites over when they are upside down, which is a death sentence.not sure if they are aware of the problem or if they just don't care.

[jhays79]

I will have to check for copper in my water.

[Ashnic05]

Originally Posted by Sandybottom

i asked one petsmart employee what they feed their snails and she said that they eat the algae from the tanks. if they have had them for awhile they may have starved. at petco they don't turn their nerites over when they are upside down, which is a death sentence.not sure if they are aware of the problem or if they just don't care.

I used to work at Petsmart a few years ago and associates are not trained hardly at all in the proper care of aquatic (or birds or reptiles/ amphibians or hamsters, etc.) life. My guess is they are unaware that this is a problem for the nerites. We were never told to give algae pellets to the snails when I worked there, but I snuck them some anyway. Management is a huge POA there for lower employees. Such a sad situation corporate pet stores have become.

[Sandybottom]

our petco gets fresh veggies donated to them by the chipotle restaurant chain for the reptiles. this includes romaine lettuce. they should be supplementing the fish with veggies too. next time i'm there, i will try to give them the heads up on the nerite problem.

[le0p]

I had a few from petsmart a while back that thrived. They mated constantly, I hatched a couple pods and had to give them away (had hundreds). The only reason they died was a persistent ph problem that slowly eroded their shells.

[Neatfish]

Not sure but I thought about buying one before but now I don't know. What is that yellow snail they sell?

[jhays79]

I'm thinking its not copper in my water because I have cherry shrimp in the same tank. I might try some different snails from my LFS and see how hey do.