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snails jumping out of their shells (1 Viewer)

ArstenA

ArstenA

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Over the last month I have had one Mexican turbo, two nassarius snails, and two hermit crabs leave their shells.

Has anyone experianced this before, if so what was the cause?

I know my ammonia (.25) and nitrate (10) is high. But I wouldn't think it would cause this...
 
nitrite causes the blood in the fish to stop carrying oxygen and it suffocates them (correct me if I'm wrong).

Not sure if it is the levels or what. Anything "unusual" in the tank?
 
The fish seem to be fine.

When the snails leave their shells they are still alive and continue to roam around the tank cleaning as usual.
 
are you sure that the snails left their shell? It could be limpets that never had a large shell or other similar hitchhikers you just haven't noticed before.

I was under the impression that snails die without their shell.
 
a1t2o said:
are you sure that the snails left their shell? It could be limpets that never had a large shell or other similar hitchhikers you just haven't noticed before.

I was under the impression that snails die without their shell.
Click to expand...

Snail are attached to their shells. Can not detach them self from it. It is like me pulling my bone out of my body.

No way....
 
Not sure why this has not been brought up but why is there Ammonia in your system? Is the tank just setup?
 
Tank is new so it is still cycling.

Trust me when I say the snails are jumping out of their shells. I started with dry rock and dry sand. I know there are no hitch hikers, and when you see an empty Mexican turbo snail and this extremely ugly bqre snail on the glass, it doesn't take much to put two and two together.

I have a picture of one of the nassarious snails.
 
Inverts are some of the most sensitive animals to ammonia. As others have said, I've never heard of any real snails being alive out of their shells, but who knows what can happen if they are trying to escape the NH3.
 
Could they be Stomatella snails? Stomatellas look like they don't have a shell. They are a fast moving snail and they do a great jub of algae removal.
 
Snails are not able to come out of there shells, the shell is attached to the body. The mantle of the snail is attached to the shell, it would be like gutting you if it lost the shell. The shell is created by the mantle of the snail and attached to it.
 
for those that say snails cannot leave their shell....

here is a picture of a nassarius snail. the tank reflects a second image.
IMAG1133.jpg


Like I said the Mexican Turbo (Huge snails) also did it. I did not take a picture of it.
 
Thats messed up. I was going to say your hermits ripped em out to find a bigger shell...but they dont look harmed (other than shell-less of course!).

Ammonia would just make them curl up and die...which they probably will soon...but I seriously doubt it caused this!:nuts:
 
STREAKER!!!!

Save em in an established tank and get them when ammonia drops so you can actually have the conversation starter.
 
:beerchug:Ill buy one from ya. I have two established tanks that they can streak around in. Pm me if interested :gay1:
 
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