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The best of the discussion board
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The discussion board appears to be a great success.
Many people participate in the discussion and exchange knowledge and experiences
to help each other.
As the discussion board moves on, older topics gradually move to the bottom
of the list or simply have to be removed to make space for new ones. However,
some of these topics return frequently as a new question, while they have been
answered and discussed many times before in older treats.
On top of that, some topics are simply explained that well or some idea's are
that brilliant that I believe they deserve a permanent
place on this website.
Therefore, I've compiled a "best if discussion board". While it's
not intended to replace the 'FAQ' section on the site,
it will (hopefully) be a good addition and perhaps even better than the 'FAQ'
section itself. In fact the 'FAQ' section is a bit old and not very well structured.
Ultimately, I will probably merge these two separate texts into one large FAQ.
Besides this page, also check out these pages that contain practical information:
Index
Food and feeding
- Ideas - suggestions for snail food
- Snail eating the plants in the tank
- Snail eats fish
Shell related topics
- Holes/pits/wormholes in the shell
- Shell cracked
- Snail out of shell/snail lost shell
- Snail lost shell door
- Hairs on the shell
- Algae on the shell
Water quality
- Water preparation - sources
- Water testing
- Adding salt
Reproduction, eggs and babies
- How to distinguish male and female apple snails
- Mating: how long
- Snail deposits eggs
- When will the snail deposit eggs
- Will the eggs hatch
- Keeping the snail babies alive
- Moving the babies to separate tank
Snail activity / dead snail
- Snail is inactive and/or floats
- Dead snails
Snail tentacles
- Short tentacles / fish nipping at tentacles
Snails and fish
Fish disease treatments
Parasites and possible dangerous diseases carried by apple
snails
- White worms in the tank
- Hairs / fungus on the snail
- Dangers of apple snail parasites for fish
- Dangers of apple snail parasites for humans
Food and feeding
- Ideas - suggestions for snail food
Suggestions
Watercress, fresh from the grocery, wash it, trim the ends and let it
float, or weight it down, my guys love it. The only tank I would not put it
in is a very warm one; I find it goes gooey very fast at 80 degrees. My other
tanks are all around 72 degrees.
Frozen Fresh Romaine lettuce or Spinach leaves. I suppose any lettuce is fine:)
Again wash it well. Then I pat it dry and lay it flat in the freezer for at
least 15 minutes. Once it is frozen I put it into zipper bags and keep it
in the freezer so I can pull out a leaf when I want. To feed the leaves I
just use an aquarium vegetable clip to keep them from floating into the filter.
Sinking fish food. Just about any sinking food is well received. My guys seem
to like the catfish discs, but they'll eat almost any leftovers they find.
Frozen bloodworms seem to be another favourite along with "Emerald mix" frozen
food.
They even enjoy the newt food leftovers and the occasional dead cricket.
As you can tell my guys have a varied diet,[...] They grow well and seem healthy.
Pam on May 01, 2001
Frozen peas
Our snails positively DEVOUR frozen green peas! But, only if they sink.
We have a nice sword amazon plant they like. The actually prefer the peas
(helping to save the plant -grin-) I drop in one for each snail, and than
a couple for the goldfish. The goldfish REALLY like nibbling at them (the
peas, that is).
Additional note: when we first put the peas in, we thought they didn't like
them. Each snail nibbled at their first pea or two. Than, after they got use
to them, they devour them! I rinse them off (but don't thaw them). Since our
water is high in chlorine, I tap them dry, than drop them in.
Carol on May 30, 2001
- Snail eating plants in tank
Pothos not eaten
My Pomacea canaliculata's
are not fond of Pothos. They will still nibble at it, but if I keep them well
fed on stuff they like they usually leave it alone.
Pothos (a common house plant) is an emergent, it needs to have at least one
leaf sticking up above the water, I use the little suction cups for holding
airlines to hold the stem of the plant if it's not long enough to reach the
top of the water, you can lower it as it grows to keep just the one leaf sticking
out. If you really want live plants it's worth a shot.
Pam on June 04, 2001
- Snail eats fish
empty
Shell related topics
- Holes/pits/wormholes in the shell
Add calcium
To improve the growth of the shells, you can add some powder out of eggshells
into the food two days per week. And maybe you can find in your local petshop
some stones for turtle-houses. They add the calcium and some minerals to the
water.
My snails have had this problem in the beginning too. Now the new parts of
the shells are smooth and healthy. And the older damaged parts are looking
much better. Annette B. on March 03, 2001
Calcium sources
First... you need calcium in the water.
This can be achieved by adding powdered egg shells, weekend fish feeder blocks,
plaster of Paris blocks (be careful that the plaster doesn't contain other
chemicals), pieces of cuttle bone (the kind you get for birds), oyster shell
(like farmers give to chickens to harden the egg shells), chicken mash (feed)
with calcium added (as a food source for the snails), someone else mentioned
coral, and I have also heard of using seashells, but I would be very careful
with that as they can leach out other chemicals and minerals.
That being said, you have to be aware of the effects of the harder water and
additional food etc. on the water quality of your tank. If you have fish that
can't deal with hard water maybe your snails should find a new home.
Pam on March 21, 2001
Test calcium
You can test the amount of calcium in your water with a "General Hardness"
or "GH" test kit. This measures the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium
in the water. (Make sure you get the "GH" test not the "KH" test. It measures
the amount of carbonate/bicarbonate in the water, it's useful if you have
fish, but not what you're after here.)
Pam on May 19, 2001
Repairing pits in the shell
[...] In order to tell my male and female diffusa apart I put red nail
polish onto the female's shell. I took her out of the tank and placed her
in about 1/2 inch of water in a plastic tub. I dried her off a little with
a paper towel and then paint a red dot on the tip of her shell. I gave her
some spinach and let her wander around in the tub until the nail polish was
hard. Then I gave her a thorough rinse (she had closed her shell at this point)
under clean running water for a few minutes and rubbed the painted area to
make sure it wasn't going to come off. Then back in the tank she went, and
has been very happy ever since. [...] Now for the interesting side effect...Where
I painted the shell some small pits filled in nicely, and since the nail polish
is hard it seems like a possible solution for pitted shells. Red may not be
your colour, but clear would probably work as well. I used one of the "durable"
types of polish that are sold to last. [...] A word or two of caution...Don't
put the nail polish where it will come in direct contact with the snail's
body. Don't use anything you are not certain of in your tank. [...]
Pam on March 21, 2001
- Shell cracked
Isolated snail
The same thing happened to my snail a few months ago. His crack was/is pretty
big. I isolated him from fish that started to pick on him, and he's been doing
well. He seems to enjoy the solitude! At first he wouldn't eat, but he's eating
healthily now.
Lisa G on May 03, 2001
Repaired shell with glue
Ouch... I had a snail do a header onto the carpet and knock a chunk out of
his shell recently. I managed to glue an old chunk of shell over the hole
with crazy glue. First I cleaned the area around the hole with a damp paper
towel (if there is a lot of guck on the shell you might want to try the scrubby
side of an aquarium sponge, very gently). Then I put the snail in a plastic
tub with just enough water to cover his body, but not his shell, when he was
crawling around. I broke a piece of an old shell just a little larger than
the hole and made sure it was also clean and fit well. I removed the snail
from the water and dried him off, making sure his shell was closed. Then I
put some crazy glue on a piece of cardboard and used a toothpick to put it
around the hole in his shell, being careful not to glue his skin. With a pair
of tweezers I placed the new shell over the glue and held it down with my
fingers. I took him to the sink and ran him under clean water for a few minutes
then made sure the new shell was secure. I added more water to the tub and
left him in it for a few hours to observe him and see if the glue had any
ill effects. He went back to his tank after one final rinse and survived for
a couple of weeks, until he decided to escape again and I didn't find him
in time. His tank mates (a male Beta and another albino snail) didn't suffer
from the glue and are still going strong.
Pam on March 21, 2001
- Snail out of shell/snail lost shell
Cannot survive without shell
The chances of survival for the snail that lost its house are almost zero.
Without the shell the mantle cavity will collapse and the lung and the gill
won't work any longer, thus suffocation will be a real danger for the snail.
Secondly: the snail will have a hard time to keep its internal fluid balance
in balance. Loosing valuable minerals and excessive osmotic fluid uptake are
another threat for this snail.
I can only advice one thing: Put the snail in the refrigerator. This way the
snail will die without suffering too much.
It simple isn't possible to put the snail back in its house. The columellar
muscle that connects the snail with its shell is broken and cannot be repaired...
Stijn on May 27, 2001
- Snail lost shell door
empty
- Hairs on the shell
empty
- Algae on the shell
Use toothbrush
I don't know if the algae damages the shell, but I have seen quite a few
snails covered with it at the pet stores and they seem fine.
Personally I don't like it so I use an old toothbrush and get rid of as much
as I can without taking off any of the shell. A quick rinse under the tap
and back into the tank they go. My snails are over eight months old and are
fine. Less light and more live plants will give you less green algae too.
Pam on March 21, 2001
Water quality
- Water preparation - sources
Rainwater
You can use rainwater or melted snow also (depending on how polluted the
air in your area is). Put it in a container and let it come to room temperature,
by then the sediment should have settled to the bottom. Remove any floating
debris with a strainer. Carefully siphon or pour the clean water off into
another container, leaving any dirt and a little water on the bottom of the
first container, which you can get rid of.
Pam on April 05, 2001
Aging water
Aging water gets rid of the gaseous stuff... like chlorine. Copper is a metal,
and cannot evaporate.
The type of water is a good thing to think about. I use a mixture of 2/3 bottled
water, and 1/3 tap water. The tap water here is not very good, so I age it
and only use some, and the snails and fish are fine. If you use bottled water,
you should make sure there is enough calcium as well.
Snailbert (Andrew) on June 07, 2001
Aging in suitable containers
Make sure you use food grade plastic containers to age your water. Other
plastics can leach chemicals into the water.
Well-rinsed milk jugs should be fine, just don't fill them right to the top,
so they have more surface area for the exchange of the gasses.
Pam on June 08, 2001
- Water testing
General quality testing
You should take the water to your local fish or pet store for testing.
You can buy kits for testing various water conditions, but they are usually
expensive and the pet shop has a larger selection of tests on hand.
If you do want to buy one a simple pH test kit is (in my opinion) the most
useful. Rainwater is usually acidic (the pH will be under 7) ask for this
to be checked, or check it yourself with a pH testing kit. Snails do well
around a pH of 7 (which is neutral).
Rainwater is also "soft"; again ask your pet shop to check this out. It is
usually a good idea to add calcium to the water. You can just throw one of
the "weekend feeder" blocks in to fix this.
Pam on April 05, 2001
Calcium test
You can test the amount of calcium in your water with a "General Hardness"
or "GH" test kit. This measures the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium
in the water. (Make sure you get the "GH" test not the "KH" test. It measures
the amount of carbonate/bicarbonate in the water, it's useful if you have
fish, but not what you're after here.)
Pam on May 19, 2001
- Adding salt
Salt in snail tank
My Pomacea diffusa and canaliculata both live in a 48-gallon tank with
my goldfish. I use at least 3 tablespoons of aquarium salt to each 5 gallons
of water in the tank. The trick seems to be making sure the salt is completely
dissolved before you put it in the tank. I guess that answers the feeder goldfish
question too.
My goldfish have been in with the snails from the first day I got them. 9
months ago they were only 1 inch long and they are now almost 10 inches long.
They need lots of filtration and I add aquarium salt to keep them healthy.
You can get a "hydrometer" to test the salinity, but I don't think it's really
necessary unless you need to maintain a certain value for specific fish. I
hope that answers your questions.
Pam on May 19, 2001
Reproduction, eggs
and babies
- How to distinguish male and female apple snail
empty
- Mating: how long
At least hours
Some of my snails stay together for several hours. The female may move
around and drag the male with her. He does not give up.
Most often they just lay around and do not move at all.
Pete on June 02, 2001
- Snail deposits eggs
empty
- When will the snail deposit eggs
Impossible to say for sure
Take a look at the Reproduction
section of the website. Pomacea diffusa
(bridgesii) lay eggs above the waterline. There are some species
(Ramshorn for example) that
lay eggs under water, but yours will be above.
As to when the eggs will be laid, it is impossible to say for sure. I believe
you will find somewhere on this website where it says female snails may wait
up to 30 days. But read more on the website for all the info. Also, look at
the information specifically for the Pomacea diffusa
(bridgesii).
Snailbert (Andrew) on June 03, 2001
- Will the eggs hatch
empty
- Keeping the snail babies alive
Mortality rates
[...] They do have high mortality rates in the first month but the longer
they live the better their chances, they also can become victim to some fish.
I wouldn't give up hope on them yet, they are really good at hiding. ;-)
Pam on June 04, 2001
Food
I don't know if I'm exceptionally lucky or what the case may be, but out of
the first two batches of babies I still have over 150 and they are about the
size of a pencil eraser now (4 weeks).
I agree (with others) that a stable tank with algae is important. I found
my little guys hanging out around my newt feeding dish (a reptile watering
dish under the water, without much turbulence around it). I stick in frozen
spinach and lettuce leaves. To keep them on the bottom I place a small stone
on them. I also use sinking tropical fish pellets (Wardley Tropical Bites)
and reptomini sticks (squish them against the side once they get soft to sink
them); they get mushy in the water, but don't cloud it up too bad. I try to
make sure some of this ends up just outside the food dish, between the wall
and the dish, this keeps other critters from gobbling them up as fast. I would
try the simple stuff first, and make sure you leave the spinach or lettuce
in even when it goes slimy, they like it that way.
Pam on April 01, 2001
- Moving the babies to separate tank
Moving babies to separate tank
Although I have not yet bred snails, I do not understand why anyone would
move the babies out of the tank. Unless of course there is some danger of
them being eaten (only some fish will eat snails... and nobody should be keeping
them with snails anyway).
Moving them just because they are babies is unacceptable. They are not separated
in the wild, and they probably have predators there too. Not to mention the
stress on the snail by moving it back and forth.
I may be wrong about it, of course, so if anyone has another opinion, let
me know. I just say the less interference the better.
Andrew (Snailbert) on May 18, 2001
Unsuccessful moving of babies
The main argument in favour of moving babies is that they are too small
& you cannot clean out the tank without causing unintended deaths.
My little ones are 3wks old already; I have tried to move a couple to 'test
the water' but they did not survive. However despite my bubble filter I would
feel a lot happier if I could do a good clean out. Also I cannot guarantee
the food I put in for the sprogs isn't being gobbled up by the adults.
Having said all this they all seem to be doing well. I only had about 20 because
I relocated the eggs & expected large attrition; so far I think all babies
in the big tank have done well.
Derek on May 14, 2001
Balanced tank important
If you have happy and healthy baby snails you're doing everything right.
Since your baby tank is established you don't have to worry about them not
having the right thing to eat. Even if you do decide to move them out you
might consider keeping the tank running with a couple of snails in it so that
you have a place ready whenever you get babies. Just be careful you don't
pollute the water by feeding them too much, I did that and it's a smelly job
to clean it up. :} [...]
Pam on May 16, 2001
Snail activity / dead snail
- Snail is inactive and/or floats
Inactive and floating snails
Many of you are worried about the inactive snails floating like out of
control and without eating. For some snails it's natural behaviour. They have
a dormancy in the winter. Even if the temperature is the same over the year.
In captivity too, so they appear to have an innerclock.
In wintertime they slow down their metabolism to save energy for the next
reproduction season. Don't worry about your snails hanging in the water halfway
open (I know it looks sometimes like they are dead). Be happy because your
snails feel save. Why should they close the door when there's none eating
them ?
When my first snail showed this behaviour there was no internet for me and
I was going crazy. I woke her up and tried to feed her and so on. Finally
she died because her sleep was always disturbed.
So please you all with sleeping snails: Don't trouble, let the critters dream
about large cucumber and masses of dead fish. In spring time they will be
fit and active again. [...]
My both snails are also sleeping. Sometimes they sleep a whole week without
any sign. When they float into the light, I still give them a darker silent
place. When I wonder sometimes if they are alive, I'll give them a tiny push
on the shell. If they act a bit, it's ok I know they are alive at all.
Everyone needs some time to slow down, so don't worry, wait till springtime.
Annette B. on March 21, 2001
Snail inactive for 3 weeks
[…]. It is important to note that snails have a dormancy period, and in
general can be very laid back.
I have seen a snail (not an Apple Snail) sit on the bottom of the tank for
nearly three weeks before it started moving around again. So, if it's just
a couple days, it may be nothing to worry about (more information on this
site as well).
My best suggestion to you is to read more (especially the Care,
Species, Anatomy,
FAQ). Not too long ago, I didn't know anything about
snails either... but read some more, and keep an eye on the discussion
board, and you will start to really enjoy your snails.
Snailbert (Andrew) on April 25, 2001
Simple test
Something like this (prolonged snail inactivity) happened to one of our
snails. I would just leave him alone for a day or so and see if he doesn't
come out of his coma like mode. If after that time his door is partly open
and when you touch him he doesn't pull into his shell and appears lifeless,
I would say he has gone to snail heaven […]
Susan on May 17, 2001
Two months inactive
I have a good story that may help with this or other situations similar.
My snail sat at the bottom of my tank for 62 days and didn't move. The only
signs of life I witnessed this entire time was a slight movement of his door.
Every other day I poked him on the door and he pulled it shut so I let him
be.
Well last night didn't he come out and start acting like his old self. I'm
really glad I didn't take the advice I was getting from most of my friends
and "put him out of his misery".
Gabriel on May 17, 2001
Snails like sleeping
This is a big problem with many people who are new with snails. As we
know from previous posts and information on this site, Snails have a dormancy
period, although I have never seen it with my snail. Just because a snail
is not moving does not mean it is dead. […]
So, the lesson to be learned here is... snails like sleeping. If they take
a few days or months to sleep, don't worry. You can always try to touch them
gently and if they move, they're alive.
Snailbert (Andrew) on May 17, 2001
After injury
[...] Once ago one of my snails was a bit injured by my fingernails( I
felt horrible about). He vanished in the woods and didnn't came out for days.
I thought I might have killed him. But finally he came out and was fine again.
[…]
Annette B. on May 17, 2001
- Dead snails
Too much copper in water
Half a year ago, three apple snails died at the same time and only the
two biggest were just alive but feeling very sick first time.
Because I've read snails need calcium in their water, I changed rainwater
to tapwater. And this water had killed the snails because there was too much
copper in it. So much, that 'Aqua safe' can't help. Pet stores can test the
water for you. [...]
Now I get the water for my tank out of good pond nearby. [...]
Annette B. on May 01, 2001
Snail tentacles
- Short tentacles / fish nipping at tentacles
Don' worry...
Don't worry about the tentacles. My little frogs came very hungry out
of the petstore and cut the snail's tentacle. She's a Pomacea lineata and
for her tentacles came back very soon. It lasted 2 days and it didn't harm
the snail really.
Sometimes there's the top of the tentacles missing- not often and a tiny piece.
The next day it's back again.
Annette B. on May 20, 2001
Ammonia levels?
My snails have lost tentacles when the water was cycling and had high
ammonia levels, you might want to check that. [...]
My goldfish also keep tentacles trimmed. If your snails were like that when
you got them maybe they just had short tentacles. As long as they can get
around and find food I wouldn't be too concerned.
Pam on April 19, 2001
Grow slow
My snails have been like this (short tentacles) for months, and they are
still short. They are slowly growing all the time [...]
Snailbert on May 20, 2001
Fish in tank?
Do you have any fish in the tank with the snail?
I'm asking because when I put my biggest apple snail in my 20 gallon with
tiger barbs and phantom tetras, I noticed that over a couple days, he no longer
extended his tentacles (and he has some looong ones!) They looked really short,
but not damaged on the ends so I knew he must have been just holding them
in because he was afraid of the fish - the barbs were always hovering, although
I never saw them nipping at him.
Needless to say, I took him out once I noticed that he wasn't comfortable
in there and the first hour back in his old tank his tentacles were all the
way out again.
That's my only experience with "short" tentacles. I would say though, if he
seems fine otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't know of anything
you can do that would encourage tentacle regrowth if they were damaged but
not growing back. [...]
Sherie on April 19, 2001
Snails and fish
- Snail eating fish
Oscars not safe
Years and years ago my mother had an Oscar, and he really enjoyed having
snail snacks every time they would try and put any of the little guys in the
tank.
So my vote would be No on oscars.
Pam on April 27, 2001
Fish disease treatments
- Ick treatment
Ick - medication snail safe?
Long story. Bottom line, the snail tank has goldfish with ick.
We are going to separate the sick fish and put them in a sick tank (debating
on whether to just treat them all. But 2 look very healthy). […]
The guy in the pet shop insisted that the one med would be "safe" for snails.
It contained ingredients listed as not safe for snails: Formaldehyde & Malachite
Green. The other med I don't know about, it has "water soluble metronidazole
activity"; and it appeared very similar to another med that wasn't safe. Dunno.)
I noticed on this site, that certain parasites are innocuous to snails. Is
ick? Will the parasite eventually die off, without a host? Or will it lay
dormant in the gravel? I've heard both sides of the coin.
Is there a safe treatment for the tank, with the snails in it? Or, at least
one to kill the parasite without the goldfish in that tank, so I can reintroduce
them?
Carol on June 02, 2001
Medication without problems
I personally have not had to deal with "Ick" but I did have a fungal infection
shortly after I set up my tank. […]
I used Tetra "General Tonic" and salt. It does have some of the snail nasties
in it, but I don't use it on a regular basis. I had tried antibiotic treatments
that were not working and found the "general tonic". I had to try something
I had already lost all of my neon tetras and my goldfish were doing badly.
I followed the instructions that were included and the fish and snails all
made it. I only had to treat the tank for about three days.
The point... Anyhow my point is that SOME of the snail nasties in medications
are not fatal. If your snail is generally healthy... one time use, for a limited
treatment period, and then complete removal of the product through filtration
and water changes should be survivable.
Of course always better safe than sorry, but if it comes down to life & death
what have you got to loose? I would treat the tanks for "Ick" with a specific
product. Check to see if it states "not safe for invertebrates". Try and find
something that at least does not have that warning on it or in the instructions.
If you are not comfortable about treating the snails with questionable products
and can keep them quarantined for an extended period I would put them in the
isolation tank and treat your main tank & fish for the "Ick".
Pam on June 04, 2001
Isolate snails
I personally would prefer to play safe and isolate the snails in a separate
snail-only tank. After all ick as a parasite that cannot survive without fish.
Snails are not infected and certainly cannot replace the fish in the life
cycle of ick parasites.
Once you have separated the snails, you can raise the temperature of the snail-isolation
tank to speed up the life cycle of those parasites that might have come along
with the snails (on their shell and with some water). The infected main tank
can be safely treated with the common anti-ick products.
After the treatment is finished, you should do some partially water changes
in the main tank and the snails can be moved back after 1-2 weeks.
Stijn on June 10, 2001
Parasites and possible dangerous
diseases carried by apple snails
- White worms in the tank
White worms are PLANARIA
White worms are PLANARIA. I searched around and found this info on another
aquarium site. Apparently they are harmless and some fish will eat them, so
I am considering what type of fish I can put in my snail tank (that won't
eat the baby snails).
Also, the advice is to clean the tank right away, with a 25% water change.
I did a 50% change and they seem fine.
Susan on May 17, 2001
- Hairs on the snail
- Dangers of apple snail parasites for fish
- Dangers of apple snail parasites for humans
