Shipping snails

snarkes · 04/03/2007, 08:49 PM

I was just wondering how many have had astrea snails shipped t them. I ask because my order came in from saltwaterfish.com today and they ship snails without water. Now I've never had an issue with orders from them before, but the snails have been in the tank for over four hours and they still havent come out of their shells. Is this normal?

reefshadow · 04/03/2007, 09:00 PM

Pretty much. Alot of times they will be shipped with a damp paper towell.

I'm not sure why.

snarkes · 04/04/2007, 04:09 PM

Next question.... They've been in the tank for over 24 hours at this point.... yet still not moving?! Are they dead? I'm surprised that they havent been tipped over and eaten by my nass snails, conch or hermits at this point.

papagimp · 04/04/2007, 04:14 PM

If they were dead, they would probably be getting overrun with hermits and bristles by now. Pick up a few shells and make sure something is still in there. Otherwise give em a little time to adjust. Did you acclimate them or just throw em in there?

shag26272 · 04/04/2007, 04:21 PM

did you drip acclimate them?

snarkes · 04/04/2007, 04:35 PM

Well, Normally I would have drip acclimated them, but then I'd never ordered snails online before and they arrived without water. Their instructions said to float them (eventhough they didnt have water which I didnt understand) and then put them in the tank. Their instructions specifically said to put them straight into the tank. Only the items shipped in water needed to be drip acclimated... which I did and all are doing well. I figured they'd been in the saltwater shipping business longer than i've been a reefer, so I followed their instructions.

shag26272 · 04/04/2007, 04:36 PM

yeah I see what you mean, I would ask for a refund

Bambalam · 04/04/2007, 05:59 PM

FWIW, when I acclimate new snails I get their temp stable then hold them against the glass above the waterline (make sure where you place them is free of any saltcreep). Once they adhere to the glass, just let them decide when they want to get in the water. I've had Naccarius snails go straight for the sandbed, but have also had Astreas stay out of the water for quite a while. HTH

FLReefGirl · 04/04/2007, 06:31 PM

Don't laugh but... pick one up and sniff. You'll know if it's dead.
It's the worst smell I've ever come across. Even after 24 hrs they will have a stench if they're dead.

I hope they're not dead.
Mine sometimes just stay in one spot all day and then start moving around at night, I think they get lazy sometimes.

04/03/2007, 08:49 PM	#1
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	Shipping snails I was just wondering how many have had astrea snails shipped t them. I ask because my order came in from saltwaterfish.com today and they ship snails without water. Now I've never had an issue with orders from them before, but the snails have been in the tank for over four hours and they still havent come out of their shells. Is this normal?

04/03/2007, 09:00 PM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Pretty much. Alot of times they will be shipped with a damp paper towell. I'm not sure why. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

04/04/2007, 04:14 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	If they were dead, they would probably be getting overrun with hermits and bristles by now. Pick up a few shells and make sure something is still in there. Otherwise give em a little time to adjust. Did you acclimate them or just throw em in there? __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

04/04/2007, 04:21 PM	#5
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	did you drip acclimate them? __________________ .

04/04/2007, 04:36 PM	#7
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	yeah I see what you mean, I would ask for a refund __________________ .

04/04/2007, 04:09 PM	#3
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	Next question.... They've been in the tank for over 24 hours at this point.... yet still not moving?! Are they dead? I'm surprised that they havent been tipped over and eaten by my nass snails, conch or hermits at this point.

04/04/2007, 04:35 PM	#6
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	Well, Normally I would have drip acclimated them, but then I'd never ordered snails online before and they arrived without water. Their instructions said to float them (eventhough they didnt have water which I didnt understand) and then put them in the tank. Their instructions specifically said to put them straight into the tank. Only the items shipped in water needed to be drip acclimated... which I did and all are doing well. I figured they'd been in the saltwater shipping business longer than i've been a reefer, so I followed their instructions.

04/04/2007, 05:59 PM	#8
Bambalam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OH Posts: 688	FWIW, when I acclimate new snails I get their temp stable then hold them against the glass above the waterline (make sure where you place them is free of any saltcreep). Once they adhere to the glass, just let them decide when they want to get in the water. I've had Naccarius snails go straight for the sandbed, but have also had Astreas stay out of the water for quite a while. HTH

04/04/2007, 06:31 PM	#9
FLReefGirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 514	Don't laugh but... pick one up and sniff. You'll know if it's dead. It's the worst smell I've ever come across. Even after 24 hrs they will have a stench if they're dead. I hope they're not dead. Mine sometimes just stay in one spot all day and then start moving around at night, I think they get lazy sometimes.