sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 My bladder snails have been slowly deteriorating over time. Many of them are very pale now, and almost translucent. I have been finding many empty shells, though I was previously attributing them to amano shrimp predation (but maybe they were just eating already-dead snails). I honestly haven't cared much until this point, but now I have 4 new awesome nerite snails, and I want them to thrive. One came to me already with the tip of his shell missing and some pits, so I definitely don't want that to progress. This is a planted 20gallon long with tapwater/Prime. The water is very hard, with low KH, and is at pretty much a neutral pH. Nitrates are less than 10. My Amano shrimp in this tank have been doing great for more than 9 months, molting regularly and without incident. I'm stumped. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Aquatics Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Most likely the amano just ate the snails. I've seen amanos grab live swimming neos and just eat them. sarah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Most likely the amano just ate the snails. I've seen amanos grab live swimming neos and just eat them. That's what I thought was going on, but that doesn't explain the pale/thinning/translucent shells on all the live bladder snails... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 This is what they look like. My ramshorn snails are also turning white I'm thinking it must be diet, since it can't be the hard water.... right? I guess I could make up some calcium-fortified snail jello and see what happens. I was honestly hoping that the nerites would outcompete the pest snails so their populations would dwindle, but if there is an underlying calcium issue I think my nerites will suffer too. Unless... is there any chance the plants could be removing some critical nutrient/element from the water that the snails need too? It is a very densely planted tank, and I have been a bit negligent with my fertilization routine lately. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 That's usually how my rams look before pitting begins in soft water. What's your gh?. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Just tested: GH is 7, KH is 3. pH is approx 7.8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Not sure what the problem is then. Calcium (Ie. Tums) can be used to increase shell layering and strength. Challenge is since they don't molt like shrimp, the old shell is not repaired from the outside, but rather from the inside. The outside will look the same. Also, any new growth on the shell appears around the lip. So your new shell growth may be good after supplements. Louie and sarah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I'm probably going to make some snail jello this week. I'll use tums for calcium. I also have CSF mineral and Shrimp King Mineral. Will try those first to see if the snails are attracted to them. I've read that it may be hard to get nerites to eat prepared foods. Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Since Nerites eat algae, perhaps algae wafers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Worth a try! I'm not sure of their calcium content, so I may grind them up to make the snail jello w/added calcium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Of course, all of this is going to defeat my original purpose in adding nerites to outcompete the pest snails and drive their numbers down... Louie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I'm not sure it would have worked well anyway to be honest. Pest snails and nerites have different food sources they prefer, although they will cross over into other foods. Rams are more omni than nerites for example. sarah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah Posted January 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 Oh well. Best laid plans... Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted January 25, 2016 Report Share Posted January 25, 2016 I know how that goes! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbie Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Yeah, I've never gotten nerites to eat anything other than algae and the occasional marimo (which is also really just algae). However, I've also never seen their shells pit like ramshorns' tend to do without supplemental calcium. I also always keep cuttlebone in my snail tanks. Snello is a great choice for most other types of snails, though. One batch will probably keep you going for months. Louie and sarah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Aquatics Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 Temperature may play a role on snail shell as well I think. I have some ramshorn in a tank that has temp flux and around 60-70 and feed calcium pellets 2-3x weekly and their shell looks really messed up. I have some ramshorn in my guppy tank at 78-80F and their shell is really good looking and I don't even feed them. I feed my guppies bbs and golden pearls. NO CALCIUM. Parameters in both tanks are the same except temp. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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