Suicidal snails?

Jscwerve · 02/10/2016, 07:40 AM

***???!?

Since I move my cuc into my 125 I've had to be on daily "snail death watch". First I thought it was a fluke and found one of my Astraea snails upside down about two weeks ago. Flipped him back over, but I think he'd been that way for too long or a hermit got to him, He moved just a little and then died.

A few days later, see one of my zebra turbos, same thing.

Again a few days later with another turbo.

Yesterday I got home from work and do the daily snail death watch and THREE snail were upside down!!!! Two turbos and an Astraea.

For the most part, I've been finding them toward the front middle third of my tank, where I have my powerheads aimed (RW-8s). I'm guessing they try to get in front of one of them and get blown halfway across the tank. I did witness one of these idiots attempt to cross the front of one of my loc-line returns and spray water all over the place.

I really like the turbos (astraeas not so much), but if they are gonna be trying to off themselves every day I may have to reconsider.

Is this a common problem?

scooter31707 · 02/10/2016, 08:00 AM

They cannot flip themselves over, so if they fall on their back, yes they can die. Also, hermits are known for killing snails for their shells.

Jscwerve · 02/10/2016, 08:06 AM

Well, I'm pretty positive that my pea sized hermits are not attempting to kill my golf ball sized turbos, not yet anyways!

It's just happening SO OFTEN it's ridiculous.

RocketEngineer · 02/10/2016, 08:12 AM

Be careful, you may actually have something killing them. I found a flatworm inside the shell of a newly dead snail.

Here is a picture:

After I got this thing out of my tank my snail deaths decreased dramatically.

thelawnwrangler · 02/10/2016, 08:19 AM

mine get on my powerhead and get bucked weekly lol

I just plop them on some green I want worked, and the quickly ignore it to repeat the process lol

Jscwerve · 02/10/2016, 08:22 AM

Wow, that's interesting.

I'm finding them on their back in an open part of the tank with no rock work, and away from the glass. How big are those flatworms?

I've only lost the one snail. All others take off after they've been flipped back over.

Jscwerve · 02/10/2016, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelawnwrangler

mine get on my powerhead and get bucked weekly lol

I just plop them on some green I want worked, and the quickly ignore it to repeat the process lol

I'm hoping that is the case.

A.Astore · 02/10/2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelawnwrangler

mine get on my powerhead and get bucked weekly lol

I just plop them on some green I want worked, and the quickly ignore it to repeat the process lol

Glad you got all the thrill seeking snails! Mine are all boring but at least get the job done so I probably shouldn't complain

whosurcaddie · 02/10/2016, 03:28 PM

Get you some Trochus snails and you'll never have to worry about this again. They also mate very easily, I started with 20 I now have over 100.

Jscwerve · 02/10/2016, 11:29 PM

When I got home today, one of my turbos that I flipped yesterday hadn't moved since then. He was toast.

I hate that. He was a nice looking turbo too.

Tonight I was watching the tanks and literally saw one get bucked. Perhaps if I change my powerhead configuration, they may stop flying off the glass.

I've got two RW-8s that are basically mounted in the back corners of the tank, in about half depth, both pointed toward the front middle of the tank. Creates a TON of turbulance (heads are at about 40-50%). Front and center is where they have been getting thrown. Saw it tonight, one Astraea was up toward the surface one minute on the glass, next his *** was in the dirt (so to speak). Flipped him of course, but ***.

02/10/2016, 07:40 AM	#1
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	Suicidal snails? ***???!? Since I move my cuc into my 125 I've had to be on daily "snail death watch". First I thought it was a fluke and found one of my Astraea snails upside down about two weeks ago. Flipped him back over, but I think he'd been that way for too long or a hermit got to him, He moved just a little and then died. A few days later, see one of my zebra turbos, same thing. Again a few days later with another turbo. Yesterday I got home from work and do the daily snail death watch and THREE snail were upside down!!!! Two turbos and an Astraea. For the most part, I've been finding them toward the front middle third of my tank, where I have my powerheads aimed (RW-8s). I'm guessing they try to get in front of one of them and get blown halfway across the tank. I did witness one of these idiots attempt to cross the front of one of my loc-line returns and spray water all over the place. I really like the turbos (astraeas not so much), but if they are gonna be trying to off themselves every day I may have to reconsider. Is this a common problem?

02/10/2016, 08:12 AM	#4
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	Be careful, you may actually have something killing them. I found a flatworm inside the shell of a newly dead snail. Here is a picture: After I got this thing out of my tank my snail deaths decreased dramatically. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

02/10/2016, 08:00 AM	#2
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	They cannot flip themselves over, so if they fall on their back, yes they can die. Also, hermits are known for killing snails for their shells.

02/10/2016, 08:06 AM	#3
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	Well, I'm pretty positive that my pea sized hermits are not attempting to kill my golf ball sized turbos, not yet anyways! It's just happening SO OFTEN it's ridiculous.

02/10/2016, 08:19 AM	#5
thelawnwrangler Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 863	mine get on my powerhead and get bucked weekly lol I just plop them on some green I want worked, and the quickly ignore it to repeat the process lol

02/10/2016, 08:22 AM	#6
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	Wow, that's interesting. I'm finding them on their back in an open part of the tank with no rock work, and away from the glass. How big are those flatworms? I've only lost the one snail. All others take off after they've been flipped back over.

02/10/2016, 03:28 PM	#9
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Get you some Trochus snails and you'll never have to worry about this again. They also mate very easily, I started with 20 I now have over 100.

02/10/2016, 11:29 PM	#10
Jscwerve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 309	When I got home today, one of my turbos that I flipped yesterday hadn't moved since then. He was toast. I hate that. He was a nice looking turbo too. Tonight I was watching the tanks and literally saw one get bucked. Perhaps if I change my powerhead configuration, they may stop flying off the glass. I've got two RW-8s that are basically mounted in the back corners of the tank, in about half depth, both pointed toward the front middle of the tank. Creates a TON of turbulance (heads are at about 40-50%). Front and center is where they have been getting thrown. Saw it tonight, one Astraea was up toward the surface one minute on the glass, next his * was in the dirt (so to speak). Flipped him of course, but *.