trapdoor snails

sushi*roll

sushi*roll

Large Fish
#1
Jan 5, 2010
177
0
0
vancouver bc
#1
I have trapdoor snails (or so I'm told on this site they're called that), and it's been about 2 weeks since i've seen them move, I don't think they're dead because they don't float.

I used to keep snails (same kind as I have now) in my old community tank and they used to do the same thing (not move for weeks), is this some kind of hibernation?? or could this possibly be something to do with reproduction (it seemed like whenever baby snails popped up the parents started to move again, or could that be coincidence)??
 

Newman

Newman

Elite Fish
#2
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#2
if you think a snail is dead remove it from your tank becuase a dead snail will quickly foul the water and cause massive ammonia and nitrite/nitrate spikes...
 

Newman

Newman

Elite Fish
#6
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#6
not everything that's dead floats ._. a dead fish doesn't HAVE to float for it to be dead...
so no a snail doesn't have to float to be dead, and it will rot fast and pollute the water so just be careful with them..
 

misterking

misterking

Superstar Fish
#7
Aug 12, 2008
1,124
0
0
Manchester, UK
www.facebook.com
#7
Lots of garden snails seem to fall into my pond and drown, and by the time they fill up with water they don't float at all. Tip them up and see if it's still alive, and if not, then good luck with the smell when you fish them out.. dead snails are probably the worst tank smell I've come across.
 

jamiejay09

jamiejay09

Large Fish
#14
Dec 14, 2009
421
0
0
England
#14
i was told that if there 'trap door' is shut that means they are alive. if it was open and they hadnt moved for ages then they would be possibly dead. if the trapdoor is shut it means their muscles are working keeping it tightly closed, and if its open then their muscles arents functioning and this means they might be dead...:)
 

jingles

jingles

Medium Fish
#16
Jan 28, 2009
76
0
0
Auburn, AL
#16
Yea they're dead dead when they're trapdoor falls off. I can't image trapdoor snails would smell good normally but I guess smelling him would work(Although I would never smell them personally). I'd try moving him into a bucket and he alive he should come out of his shell to check a see whats going on. If not it might just be better to say goodbye and avoid the ammonium(and apparently the smell).
"Trapdoor Mortality Clue. Most of the larger snails grow a trapdoor and slam it shut when you bug them. It protects their edible insides. When that trapdoor falls off, they are dead. Really dead. You need not feel for a pulse. And that smell ... Who could scarf escargots after smelling a ripe snail? Erasers taste better. Even with the garlic and Frenchified “I can’t believe it’s not ear wax” sauce."
source How trapdoor snails benefit ponds and aquariums with pictures
Good Luck
 

lauraf

lauraf

Superstar Fish
#17
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#17
Instead of starting a new thread I thought I would ask my snail question in an already-established snail-themed thread. I have three zebra (nerite? yes?) snails. Is it normal for them to occasionally move above the water line and glue themselves the the dry top of my tank?
 

Newman

Newman

Elite Fish
#18
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#18
yeah. They can also crawl out and drop to the floor, but don't worry becuase their shells are durable enough to resist the drop (unless you accidentally step on the afterwords)

They can survive out on the floor for a day or two so I personally check my tanks daily for my nerites to make sure none fall out....
 

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