Nuthatch Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 I've never had this problem before, and its only getting worse. Most of the snails in my 36 gallon tank have turned white. They are all ramshorns. I have dropped a chunk of cuttlebone in there but I don't know what else to do. I have a 9 gallon tank, and the snails in there are normal. At one point they too were going white so I also dropped a piece of cuttlebone in there. It seemed to work well for them. Unfortunately I had to remove it because I believe that it was detrimental to the shrimp. My ph was dropping & the shrimp were dying and I had no idea how to fix that other than to remove the cuttlebone. If anyone can give me any help with this I would really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Cuttlebone, while similar in composition to aragonite in that it contains many of the minerals needed by invertebrates, sometimes has enough remaining organic matter attached/in it to be a significant source of decaying material. Even if it doesn't seem to raise nitrogeous wastes, it often produces an extremely unpleasant odor. I have had clean ones and I have had ones that produced a stink worthy of a cesspit. I would give crushed coral (aragonite) a try instead, or montmorillionite powder. For snails, foods rich in calcium are also beneficial, which can be made (search for snail jello recipes) or purchased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Low ph will also turn snail shells white and pit the shells. gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wygglz Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 I don't want to hijack this thread, but I've seen clear snail shells. Can this be calcium too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 The clear shells turn white as they grow. These are often called blue ramshorns if dark bodied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wygglz Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Thank you. These are just pond snails but I would expect its the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuthatch Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 I would give crushed coral (aragonite) a try instead, or montmorillionite powder. For snails, foods rich in calcium are also beneficial, which can be made (search for snail jello recipes) or purchased. Do any of these change the pH in your tank? I want to help the snails, but I don't want to have to do something else to then keep the pH at 7. Unless thats my only option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Snail keepers often feed tums. Wygglz and gillznglass 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuthatch Posted September 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 Seriously?? Tums?? Do you just drop one in & forget it, and expect the snails to eat it? How often? And will it cause the pH to drop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wygglz Posted September 27, 2015 Report Share Posted September 27, 2015 The things this group knows Nuthatch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Drop it in and no ph rise. It's basically calcium. How often? Varies according to person. Usually the routine is 1 once a week for best shell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Aquatics Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 I feed these to my snails. http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-supplies/fish-food-feeders/kens-premium-veggie-sticks-calcium.html Shrimps love them as well. Shrimp lady 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toads74 Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Only question is what flavor... gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 heh In all seriousness, when I was breeding snails I had to ask if the flavoring would cause any problems to the snails or in the tank. The answer was no problems. Some even felt their snail pets liked a fruit flavor better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 ^-^ Fruit Tums for the win, hehe. It's also possible to feed them to very small mammals that are in need of a calcium boost, although I believe there are supposed to be better options these days. They make SO many different gummy variety supplements these days - makes treating primates a matter of scale and not difficulty hiding supplements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 I used to use fruit tums to make snail jello. I would use a bunch of organic veggies and baby food, plus tums, algae wafers, and unflavored gelatin. There are loads of recipes online. You can also buy calcium powder for reptiles (get the one without vit D) and use that in the snail jello instead of tums. gillznglass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Sarah, I remember reading not to use vit D, but I don't remember why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 Sarah, I remember reading not to use vit D, but I don't remember why? Ha! Me neither! Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted September 30, 2015 Report Share Posted September 30, 2015 It might be a precautionary measure. Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, too much can induce toxicity as it builds up in the body - whereas if you added too much of a water soluble vitamin like C or B12, the excess is simply excreted and there is much less concern about a possible overdose. I have several forms of calcium supplements, due to having the world's pickiest frog and from having fun experimenting with water chemistry. I still put a pinch of calcium carbonate into the tank water now and again for the snails, because what else am I going to do with it? Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted October 1, 2015 Report Share Posted October 1, 2015 That would make sense, Chib. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimp lady Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 Carib-sea inc. with calcium (buffer plus) It will drive P.H. up and is not recommended for acid loving shrimps & inverts. Ingredients; Bicarbonate, carbonate & borate salts, aragonite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vpier Posted December 28, 2015 Report Share Posted December 28, 2015 I just ordered some CSF snail food and heard good things about plus every CSF product I have purchased is top notch and is becoming my go to food. Im guessing my shrimp will benefit from it also. http://www.theshrimptank.com/foods/csf-schnecko-fit-snail-fit/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.