foreshadowing my snails demise

[Lucky Lefty]

I have roughly 20 snails in my tank right now. Made up of turbos, nerites, ceriths, and a handful of nassarius.

Every single day, throughout the day, I'm constantly finding upside down turbos and nerites, just waiting to be rescued, or die.

I just booked a vacation for the near future, and at first I completely panicked realizing I will be away from my tank for a solid week for the first time, and then panicked some more when I realized that even if I get someone to do some of the mandatory things (feeding, clean glass with mag float, empty skimmer cup and top off tank) I don't think anyone is going to pay enough attention or be able to save any of my snails.
It's hard enough for me to rescue them.

I'm anticipating disaster...

Just wanted to share.

[ChimolaFish]

All of those snails should be able to right themselves if they flip.... any reason they can't?

[m0nkie]

I have nerites, ceriths, and nassarius. They can all flip themselves over.

I heard Mexican turbos can also flip over

[animalkingdom]

its time to let Darwinism take its tole on your snails. If they are too dumb to flip over let them die. It sounds like a hassle to keep righting them anyway. The dumb ones dying will make for a much more manageable/enjoyable tank.

[Lucky Lefty]

The turbos def cannot flip themselves. Nerites I've found several times upside down, witnessed a nerite reaching, trying to flip but couldnt. Ceriths have never had a problem, and it is awesome watching the nassarius whip there bodies and flip over.

The turbos were my first snails, along with the ceriths, I really hope they don't croak while I'm gone.

It is indeed a PAIN constantly flipping them.

Every single time I approach my tank, I'm immediately look for overturned snails, and 9 out of 10 times there is at least 1, most times 2. Such a Buzz Kill

[tc2007]

How does it work in the ocean? I wonder

[Lucky Lefty]

You know I thought that too.. a lot. I don't know if it's purely survival of the fittest, and there are a large % that don't make it.
I really have nonidea, but have read many many times over that the turbos can't flip themselves over.
Can anyone debunk this with first hand experience of a turbo flipping itself?

[oh207]

In my tank if they flip over they become food...especially for my hermit crabs.
Some of the ones you listed should be able to flip over by themselves.

[kurt_n]

Only ones that can't really flip over, in my experience, are astreas. And dumb turbos. (I've witnessed mine flipping over, so I know they can.)

[ChimolaFish]

The reason astreas can't flip themselves over is because they come from rocky parts along the shore where when they fall it's almost exclusively into a position they can recover from.

As for what you should do, I'm in agreement, just enjoy your vacation and let the ones that will die, die. Replace them with trochus snails. As fast as turbos, as small as nassarius, and as versatile as astreas, all with the ability to flip themselves. They also look rather legit. If you have a large tank, you can also get some whitefoot trochus, which are tectus snails. Act the same way, but instead of being primarily nocturnal, they come out more during the day and their shells are white.

[Lucky Lefty]

Originally Posted by ChimolaFish

The reason astreas can't flip themselves over is because they come from rocky parts along the shore where when they fall it's almost exclusively into a position they can recover from.

As for what you should do, I'm in agreement, just enjoy your vacation and let the ones that will die, die. Replace them with trochus snails. As fast as turbos, as small as nassarius, and as versatile as astreas, all with the ability to flip themselves. They also look rather legit. If you have a large tank, you can also get some whitefoot trochus, which are tectus snails. Act the same way, but instead of being primarily nocturnal, they come out more during the day and their shells are white.

Def will check out the torchus snails. I guess my nassarius will have plenty to eat while I'm away.

[Spyderturbo007]

Check your Magnesium level. I've found that high Magnesium causes issues with the snail's ability to stay attached to things. They shouldn't be falling off that much. Rarely do I ever have to right one of my snails.

[Lucky Lefty]

Originally Posted by Spyderturbo007

Check your Magnesium level. I've found that high Magnesium causes issues with the snail's ability to stay attached to things. They shouldn't be falling off that much. Rarely do I ever have to right one of my snails.

I will have to check my magnesium level. I do not have that test kit but am looking to buy a bunch of new kits soon.

I've actually just come across a big turbo that fell to the bottom after sliding across the top front edge of the glass.
He can't reach the glass or the rock next to him, and the aragonite sand is just getting scooped up from his body trying to push off of it to turn around.
Here is some shots of him trying. As of now, after watching for about 5 minutes, he's still stuck Upside down. He's trying again now, trying to desperately reach the glass. I feel bad watching but I have to see what's going on here.
Here's some shots

[Lucky Lefty]

Another shot

[Lucky Lefty]

And another shot of his attempts

[Lucky Lefty]

Attempting to push off the sand

[Lucky Lefty]

And now completely covered in aragonite bits.. Looking tired and defeated

[Lucky Lefty]

He's getting close! ....... And VICTORY. He has successfully turned himself over.

This is actually quite a relief. Pretty awesome that I experienced the answer to my question first hand within a day.

I love this hobby