Snail Shell Decay?

[Mustang5L5]

I have a problem with snails in my tank. They don't thrive well. I have a well planted tank stocked with fish. The fish have been healthy for about 2 years and my plants grow like crazy. I don't have water params, but everything other than snails thrives.

I've had mystery snails and MTS as well as pond snails.

I know the convict finished off a long of the pond snails, but i notice the shells of my MTS and mystery snails seem to get brittle and decay at the tips. WHat was once a healthy MTS population has been dwindled down to a dozen or so tiny snails yet and a lot of empty shells. Any snail alive now has the decay on it's shell.

Any ideas?

Also, if anyone has any MTS they want to get rid of, i am in need of some restocking. WIll also take some pond snails as well.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Mustang5L5

Here's an old thread that you might find interesting:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...5&hl=cuttlebone

I hope it helps your snails.

 

[SPLiSH]

It may be a lack of calcium and minerals in the water. Put some whole cuttlebone in your filter; it'll release calcium. Cuttlebone is the invertibrate 'skeleton' of the cuttlefish and they can be bought at pet stores cheaply.

 

[Donya]

Sounds like it might be more to do with low Ph than lack of calcium. I'd check your Ph at a LFS if you don't have the kits. If it's not a nice clear number over 7.0, that's most likely the root of the problem, and adding calcium alone may or may not have the desired effect with out a slight Ph raise.