Why do my snails keep dying?

ChameleonNYSea · 01/21/2018, 03:36 PM

Any ideas? Some don’t last more than 24 hours, but some last a decent time. I don’t think it can be copper levels, since I have a skunk cleaner shrimp and a pep shrimp thriving in the tank. It’s bothering me because now I’m starting to see some algae popping up on the rocks.

Thanks.

humphreyhh · 01/21/2018, 03:39 PM

That’s strange. My snails last quite long. Usually one in five arrived in my tank might die but the other ones will last for a very long time. Do you maybe have snail predators in your tank?

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ChameleonNYSea · 01/21/2018, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humphreyhh

That’s strange. My snails last quite long. Usually one in five arrived in my tank might die but the other ones will last for a very long time. Do you maybe have snail predators in your tank?

There’s nothing in my tank that would really prey on snails. It’s pretty peaceful. I have:

1 lawnmower blenny
1 (wild caught) NJ Seahorse
1 firefish
1 psychedelic mandarin

olemiss reb · 01/21/2018, 08:17 PM

predators that you aren't aware of? O fulgidas, polyclads...

ReefNomad · 01/22/2018, 04:19 PM

Lawnmower blennies kill snails. It's a form of eliminating competition for a shared food source.
Blennies in general will flip and kill snails. Sometimes it's curiosity, sometimes it's random aggression or territorial protection. Blennies are always listed as Reef Safe, but they can be murder on cleanup crews.

ChameleonNYSea · 01/25/2018, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefNomad

Lawnmower blennies kill snails. It's a form of eliminating competition for a shared food source.
Blennies in general will flip and kill snails. Sometimes it's curiosity, sometimes it's random aggression or territorial protection. Blennies are always listed as Reef Safe, but they can be murder on cleanup crews.

I added the blenny once I saw the snails start dying all of a sudden. Would there be any other reasons they would die before then?

ChameleonNYSea · 01/25/2018, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olemiss reb

predators that you aren't aware of? O fulgidas, polyclads...

I haven’t seen any. The only “hitchhiker” I have is a couple of bristleworms, but not fireworms.

ReefNomad · 01/26/2018, 08:49 AM

Do you perhaps have stray electrical current in the tank?

01/21/2018, 03:36 PM	#1
ChameleonNYSea Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 55	Why do my snails keep dying? Any ideas? Some don’t last more than 24 hours, but some last a decent time. I don’t think it can be copper levels, since I have a skunk cleaner shrimp and a pep shrimp thriving in the tank. It’s bothering me because now I’m starting to see some algae popping up on the rocks. Thanks.

01/21/2018, 08:17 PM	#4
olemiss reb Molon Labe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,550	predators that you aren't aware of? O fulgidas, polyclads... __________________ secesh

01/21/2018, 03:39 PM	#2
humphreyhh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 581	That’s strange. My snails last quite long. Usually one in five arrived in my tank might die but the other ones will last for a very long time. Do you maybe have snail predators in your tank? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/22/2018, 04:19 PM	#5
ReefNomad Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 130	Lawnmower blennies kill snails. It's a form of eliminating competition for a shared food source. Blennies in general will flip and kill snails. Sometimes it's curiosity, sometimes it's random aggression or territorial protection. Blennies are always listed as Reef Safe, but they can be murder on cleanup crews.

01/26/2018, 08:49 AM	#8
ReefNomad Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 130	Do you perhaps have stray electrical current in the tank?