How Did My Snail Die?

[twodoctors]

Did another water change 3 days ago. The water change prior to that was about a week before. Unfortunately for me 2 out of 3 of my apple snails have died. The third one was pretty lifeless too. The two that have died was already rotting, stinking the place once out of tank. The fleshy bit was 1/2 hanging out and rotting.

I have no idea what they died. They only recently deposited some eggs on the hood, and some of the eggs have hatched. I have seen one or two baby snails since but I think they have been eaten by my fishes by now. All my other fishes survived the pollution from the snail, and all appears to be in good health otherwise.

I guess the only issues I have was a) the temp was up to 27C during the day according to the temp probe, b) I just put (treated) cold tap water in during water change, c) they were eating the paint off the vase in my tank (an aquarium decoration) which was covered in algae before. I guess it could be the temperature shock that made them sick or poisoning from the paint...

Adrian

 

[minnnt]

I lost a couple too recently. One was picked from it's shell by one of my Jade Eyes, the other i found sminged all over the rocks.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

My guess is the paint, i have hatched to date prob 1200 apples and there grow out tank it 27c and there in that for 4 months before moving tanks so temp should be fine. What did you feed them and what is your normal water stats?

 

[twodoctors]

It could be. They feed on the algae in my tank initially, competing with my amano shirmps. Once most of the algae is cleared they feed on leftovers, sinking tablets and algae tablets (I think). However I think my barbs get to the tablets first...

The vase is a proper aquarium decoration. I was surprise the snail took the algae and the paint off. Oh well, lesson learned.

More of the eggs are hatching. Anything special I should be doing for them?

Adrian

 

[Caprichoso]

The other snails may have died from the water being polluted from the initial dead snail. When an apple snail dies and it's a large one, it can kill off the entire tank if left unnoticed. But I'm sure the fact that they ate paint probably wasn't great for them either. That's really annoying because those tank decorations are supposed to be safe..but how can that be if the paint is able to get eaten off?

Anyway, good luck with raising your snail eggs

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Dead snails stink and stink bad so its a bad sign if your tank humms. Bit of a misconception that you dont need to feed apples, they are not great as a cleaning crew and will eat algae as a last resort. most owners that say i cant keep them for long are more then likly starving them to death. The algae in a tank is not whats in the waffers we buy and feed which contain, ash, protine , fat etc.

Drop them a waffer every 3 or 4 days and they should fine. I bake for my snails(no joke) takes about 2 hours to bake some snail cookieslol. Apple snail if care for should look like this with no pit marks a golden shell
This is one of my females, she is active all day and does laps of the tank, her current best in her 70L 54.3 seconds