Its shell erosion due to the water, I have trouble with that as well, especially with older snails :\
I'd offer a solution but I don't have any lol
I'd offer a solution but I don't have any lol
snails snacking on snails?
I started my 5 gal planted months ago. Water levels are finally levelled out and happy. Ghost shrimp are thriving, bettas blowing bubbles, snails reproducing like mad...My tank keeps overgrowing and I've had to trim it back alot. I was supposed to move back in June and have a large tank to move everything into but wanted only to move a 5 gallon versus trying to move a large tank so I never switched up....well....contractors I hired for the 2 week job of just fixing up some minor cosmetics (in June) have trashed the house...beyond belief so I still am not moved, and now I am dealing with legal action against them (they had a license, but turns out it was expired and all sorts of illegal crap on top of peeling paint, crumbling walls, crooked windows....) ANYWAYS....that is why I am still working with this tiny tank....I had dreams of my perfect 55 gal but so far...
During my trim today I noticed by big mystery snail had parts of his shell that look eaten away and some of the larger common pond snails are showing the same thing...I've seen them all over him at times and have seen smaller snails on the larger ones. My water is not showing anything odd. Maybe ever so slightly acidic but that is it...
Am I starving them and are they eating each other's shells? little worried about my big guy because it is near his center spirals and some spots look worn almost through. I wasn't sure if snails can regenerate parts of their shells or not? Or is there something in the water that is eating away the shells...smaller ones are not showing it, nothing odd with the fish, no shrimp dying, alot of loose plants leaves floating and some yellowing that I have not had before, but my java fern is covered in offspring....but the cheap bulb onion plant doesn't look as happy as it once was and is not growing like it did....
Any thoughts or suggestions?
During my trim today I noticed by big mystery snail had parts of his shell that look eaten away and some of the larger common pond snails are showing the same thing...I've seen them all over him at times and have seen smaller snails on the larger ones. My water is not showing anything odd. Maybe ever so slightly acidic but that is it...
Am I starving them and are they eating each other's shells? little worried about my big guy because it is near his center spirals and some spots look worn almost through. I wasn't sure if snails can regenerate parts of their shells or not? Or is there something in the water that is eating away the shells...smaller ones are not showing it, nothing odd with the fish, no shrimp dying, alot of loose plants leaves floating and some yellowing that I have not had before, but my java fern is covered in offspring....but the cheap bulb onion plant doesn't look as happy as it once was and is not growing like it did....
Any thoughts or suggestions?
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snails need calcium in the water or diet. Or something. Not sure the best way to get that but the problem is probably due to a calcium deficiency.
This forum suggest calcium supplements:Its shell erosion due to the water, I have trouble with that as well, especially with older snails :\
I'd offer a solution but I don't have any lol
http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/invertebrates/mystery-snail-erosion-5393/page2/
The Calcium deficiency makes sense because shells are made of calcium so they would snack on one another for that mineral and the idea of it being something with the water and only older snails makes sense too because they are a larger source of calcium for the little guys to adhere to and munch....and it would take months of them snacking to start showing....I"ll have to start googling and seeing what to do!
It's a common problem wit snail. It probably comes from soft water. Try increasing your hardness and see if it gets worse. (It doesn't heal....ever) I don't know if this is true or not, but I've read that snail calcify their flesh when the shell gets eroded away to protect themselves from greater damage.
I'd recommend adding some crushed coral to solve this, but it might change your water parameters.
I'd recommend adding some crushed coral to solve this, but it might change your water parameters.
I use crushed up cuttle bone to solve my problems. It's like 90 cents at walmart. Can't get much cheaper than that!
Wow, great link had lots of good info! I'll head to get some cuttlebone tomorrow and try some different things!Thanks so much!
Glad to be of service!Wow, great link had lots of good info! I'll head to get some cuttlebone tomorrow and try some different things!Thanks so much!
I need to figure out if this calcium dosing is ok with shrimp too.
Adding calcium and raising the pH will help the snails, but is probably not good for many shrimp. Acidic water and low calcium levels means the snails make weaker shells, and the acidic water eats them away.
Research your shrimp, see what is the maximum GH and pH they can tolerate. It varies with the species.
Research your shrimp, see what is the maximum GH and pH they can tolerate. It varies with the species.
Thank you!Adding calcium and raising the pH will help the snails, but is probably not good for many shrimp. Acidic water and low calcium levels means the snails make weaker shells, and the acidic water eats them away.
Research your shrimp, see what is the maximum GH and pH they can tolerate. It varies with the species.
I have only 2 amanos now and am planning to add Painted Fire Reds or Red Cherry Shrimp.
My water is 7.8-8.0 out of the tap.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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