bluester2000

I just purchased two mystery snails, one black and one ivory. I placed them in my "big" tank. It's 45 gallons, with an assortment of ghost shrimp, a pleco, a columbia shark, a few cories, danios, white clouds, gouramis, and a betta. I dropped them in this afternoon and I was disappointed. The black one just sat in his shell. The ivory did move around and explore a bit for a while, but then kind of gave up and retreated into his shell as well.

When I moved them into a smaller tank they finally showed themselves (both of them). This tank includes some mollies, danios, and tetras. Anyone knows what gives? Is compatibility an issue? What about aquarium salt? I use a small amount in my "big" tank, and none in the smaller.

Water quality is good in both tanks. Nitrites and amonia at 0, nitrates also low due to a recent water change.

armadillo

Mmmm. It's funny that. I have experienced exactly the contrary. I had a mystery snail in with my betta in a small tank (5G), and it wasn't moving at all. Then I moved it to my larger tank (29G) and there's no stopping him now. Maybe the betta is what these two stories have in common. Maybe the betta attacks it when you're not looking?

I don't think salt is a good idea either, but it depends on the concentration I guess. I've never had a snail in a somewhat salty tank.

pistorta

Salt will hurt the corys in your larger tank. However, if a Columbia shark is the same as a columbian cat, it needs the salt for in nature it migrates to brackish and even marine waters.