Hello,
My new apple snail, Midas, has been acting sick since yesterday and I think its my fault. He was happy and active, acting like a normal snail, until I gave him some lettuce. I had washed the lettuce for a minute with running hot water before putting it in the tank. Once he came out of his shell, Midas quickly got onto the lettuce. However, he did not eat it. In fact, he retracted a bit and became very still. I thought this was strange but watched him for a few minutes. He remained in that half-open position as though dead. I pulled the lettuce out, fearing that maybe it had pesticide and that I did not get it all off, and did a partial water change. After remaining in that same position for a while, he retracted fully into his shell.
I ran out and got him algae wafers and he eventually came out of his shell a little but remained floating. This morning, he was still floating and hanging out of his shell. I thought he was dead and lifted him out of the water and got no reaction. I poked his trapdoor gently and got no reaction. I put him back in the water and after a few minutes he wiggled his antennae out but he won't move much otherwise and will not stop floating. He is alive, though, because I waved my hand above him and he retracted quickly and then slowly came out. He has not eaten his food.
His water is mostly fresh. I used Prime water conditioner to remove metals and chemicals from the water. He is in a critter keeper, about 1/2 gallon or more. I have no salter or anything else added to his water aside from Prime. He occasionally releases slime off his body. Today there seems to be more slime than normal.
Please help me save Midas. I don't know if this is normal or if the lettuce did harm him. I have had him only for two days and cannot bare to lose him.