Hello,

Firstly, thank you for providing a great website. Its resources like these that make the internet a wonderful thing. I also appreciate how much hardwork goes into managing a website (I do it too!). Congratulations and THANK YOU!

Today I bought two Golden Mystery snails for my new aquarium community. Unfortunately after a few hours one of the snails died. I read that mystery snails are known to float dormant but this snail is not clammed shut. Its body is partly hanging out of the shell and is non responsive to touch. Am I right to assume this snail is dead?

The other snail is doing great and has already managed to explore most of the 38 litre (9Gallon) tank. I did notice that one of the snails was laying on the bottom of the tank in the petshop when she removed it from the tank, but I am not sure if that was the dead snail and I noticed that the dead snail did go for a wander when I introduced it to the tank. The spiral on the dead snail is badly corroded and a dark colour. The other snail has the very beginings of the same deterioration.

The pH for my new tank is 7.2-7.4. I am going to have the water tested for ammonia etc tomorrow. I am gradually trying to bring the pH down to 7. Is this pH acceptable for the snails? I did notice that the snail seemed to die after crawlling near a pice of aquarium rock. I am not sure if it actually crawled over the rock but I found it next to the rock and the piece of driftwood (I did see it on the driftwood). I am wondering if there is somthing toxic in the rock or driftwood (or the plant on the driftwood). My catfish spend time fossicking around the rock and seem ok. Perhaps there was something in the driftwood?

The tank is a cold water tank but the climate here is quite warm (we are going through a hot summer here in Australia) and the water isn't that cold to the touch. I am fairly sure the tank at the petshop was coldwater also. (I was told they would be fine in a coldwater tank). Is this true? Will the surviving snail be ok in the cold water tank? I will add that my tank model is one of those were the pump on the filter is in contact with the water and gives off some heat. What are the ideal temperature ranges for mystery snails?

Is there anything you can see that I am doing wrong? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Mame du Bois
Toowoomba, Australia

"Today I bought two Golden Mystery snails for my new aquarium community. Unfortunately after a few hours one of the snails died. I read that mystery snails are known to float dormant but this snail is not clammed shut. Its body is partly hanging out of the shell and is non responsive to touch. Am I right to assume this snail is dead?"

When snails die, their traps open, and their bodies may hang out. If alive and touched, a snail will normally try to shut itself in. So, it sounds like he/she's dead.

"The spiral on the dead snail is badly corroded and a dark colour. The other snail has the very beginings of the same deterioration."

Shell deterioration is often due to low mineral levels (mostly calcium) in a tank. A low pH often goes along with that.

"The pH for my new tank is 7.2-7.4. I am going to have the water tested for ammonia etc tomorrow. I am gradually trying to bring the pH down to 7. Is this pH acceptable for the snails?"

They would like a pH of 7 to 8 so your pH is already ideal. Don't lower it too much. The more acidic the water, the more the shells will degrade.

"I did notice that the snail seemed to die after crawlling near a pice of aquarium rock. I am not sure if it actually crawled over the rock but I found it next to the rock and the piece of driftwood (I did see it on the driftwood). I am wondering if there is somthing toxic in the rock or driftwood (or the plant on the driftwood). My catfish spend time fossicking around the rock and seem ok. Perhaps there was something in the driftwood?"

What's "fossicking?" Driftwood if not properly treated may lower the pH somewhat. It releases lignins and tannins which in the levels that would be likely would not harm the snail or fish. Rocks may also alter the tank's pH and chemistry depending on what they are made of. Most rocks are either inert or increase the pH. A rock is not likely to be toxic. See http://www.fishpondinfo.com/decor.htm for how to treat driftwood.

"The tank is a cold water tank but the climate here is quite warm (we are going through a hot summer here in Australia) and the water isn't that cold to the touch. I am fairly sure the tank at the petshop was coldwater also. (I was told they would be fine in a coldwater tank). Is this true? Will the surviving snail be ok in the cold water tank? I will add that my tank model is one of those were the pump on the filter is in contact with the water and gives off some heat. What are the ideal temperature ranges for mystery snails?"

Mystery snails are normally apple snails which like warm water, 70-80 degrees F being ideal. They die below about 55 degrees F. See applesnail.net for more info on your snails, a lot more information!

"Is there anything you can see that I am doing wrong? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated."

I just might add that mystery snails grow pretty large and may outgrow the size of your tank eventually.

Dear Robyn,

Thank you for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

I had my water tested today and found that my ammonia and nitrite levels were approaching levels to cause concern. The ammonia was 1.0ppm and the Nitrite was 0.25ppm. The Nitrate was 10ppm. I was told (and have read previously) that because it is a new aquarium that the ammonia levels would rise in the first week, so I wasn't surprised. I was advised to do a 20%water change and add an extra dose of Bioclear which I have done this afternoon. I am wondering if that contributed to the snail death. I will note however the snail was drifting at the bottom of the tank at the petshop so may have been ill already. The stress of the water change may have been the end of him.

They also tested the pH which they said was 7, even though my home test kit said 7.2. I am happy to keep the tank @7-7.2 range.

I bought a thermometer today to keep an eye on temperature. The tank is currently 29celcius/82F. It does get quite cold here in winter so I may have to keep a close eye on the water temperature during winter but I think I previously mentioned that the filter pump sits in the water on my tank and that gives off some heat. If it does get too cold I may have to set up another heated tank. tHopefully I will have my tropical tank set up so I may transferr them during winter.

The rock I mentioned was meant for aquariums which I wash thoroughly before putting in the tank and I have since noticed the remaining snail on the rock and he seems ok. The other snail dieing after crawling over the rock is most likely a coincidence. The driftwood was from an established aquarium and has been in a tank for sometime by the look of it. It has a well rooted aqaurium plant on it too so I would imagine any leeching would have occured by now. My best guess on the fatality is an already sick animal, stress of moving and perhaps the slightly elevated ammonia levels. "Fossicking" - As in fossicking for gold - looking for food. Sorry for the unusual colloquialism. :)

Thank you again for your comments and thank you for your site. I know how much work goes into managing a site. When I get my website up and running I will be adding a link.

Kind regards,
Mame du Bois
Toowoomba, Australia

I agree with what you've said. It sounds like you have things under control. I have a section on dealing with high ammonia and nitrite levels during cycling at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/chem.htm

Hi Robyn,

Thank you for that link. It was greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend that to new aquarists. I wish I had that page handy when I first got the tank. :)

Thank you again for all your help.

Kind regards,
Mame du Bois