Calcium and snails

[Joe Fish]

Is it necessary to add calcium when keeping shrimp, snails, and/or crabs? My current test kit doesn't have a calcium test to it, but my next test kit that I get will definitly have it. Also when I first researched the margaritia snails I have I didn't see anything about water temp. Now I see that these snails are actually a cooler water snail. My water temp is between 78 and 80 consistently. Does this mean they're going to keel over soon?

 

[KahluaZzZ]

you don't have much stuff that needs impressive calcium levels..so water changes is ok. The Ca included in your mix will do the job.

Dunno about the margaritas, never kept some..but my turbos ( cooler water too ) definitely died last year when we had the heat wave...the other ones were fine.

 

[dbacksrat]

Cooler water snails will not last more than a few months in tropical heat.

 

[Mushroomman]

I have margaritas successfully at a temp of 78. They do like to climb out of the water alot though... not the best choice Ive learned unless you have a way to contain them... they havnt seemed to have gone too far though.

 

[dbacksrat]

I can't get any snails to last more than three months anyway. It could be because the only locally available ones are collected in the Gulf of California (think Cali water temps) and my tank runs at higher temperatures.

 

[fish outa wata]

dbacksrat - your lfs doesn't carry any from the gulf of mexico? sounds like they are trying to make money off of customers having to come in often.