[DeathToocher]

So every time I purchase snails, it seems that a good 60% of them die within the first day. It does not matter how long or what method I use to acclimate them. I run activated carbon to remove toxins, there is no stray current in my tank, medication free currently, nitrates are undetectable with an API test kit. I’m able to keep soft coral and a rock flower anemone, both are doing quite well. Is it normal for a lot of my snails that I purchase to just die? I have tried buying from different places and bought different species, same results. I have a Valentini Puffer who likes to munch on the survivors as snacks when he can get at them (awesome puffer, he leaves coral, shrimp, and his fellow fish alone completely!) is there a species of snail that will breed in my tank to give him a constant source of snails? I’m sick of replenishing them with such a low survival rate.


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[Jamie420]

so you want snails to feed your puffer? or am i confused?

 

[DeathToocher]

so you want snails to feed your puffer? or am i confused?

Well yes that is a part of it, I also want them in my tank as part of my cleanup crew. My puffer doesn't go after them too often, I keep him pretty well fed, just now and then to keep his beak from growing too large. I want to get a healthy population of snails in my tank but if I buy 20 snails, I'll have like 5 that actually survive the first day or two of being in the tank, the puffer will only eat like 2 of them and be full so a majority of the deaths are from something else. Is it normal to have this large of a die off?

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[on the spot]

...if I buy 20 snails, I'll have like 5 that actually survive the first day or two of being in the tank...Is it normal to have this large of a die off?

No that is not normal.

Stick a poly filter in the water for a week and see what color it turns.

 

[on the spot]

...is there a species of snail that will breed in my tank to give him a constant source of snails?..

Probably not.

 

[DeathToocher]

No that is not normal.

Stick a poly filter in the water for a week and see what color it turns.

Okay thank you! I'm pretty sure the petco by my house started carrying poly filter mats that you can cut to size, I will try this.

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[on the spot]

...petco...poly filter...I will try this.

Have anything yet?

 

[DeathToocher]

Have anything yet?

No reading yet actually, however I did have success with the snails! I tried the other LFS that is farther away and just wow. All but one of the snails made it (Trochus and Nassarius). Very happy with this, guess the third store is the charm! The extra 15 minutes of driving was well worth it. I'll just use petcos 5 for 5 CUC deal to feed my puffer from now on

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