Dead Mystery Snail????

Okay so I've had a blue mystery snail in my betta tank for about 4 months now and today I came home to find him lying with his foot up not moving. I assumed he was dead and netted him out. I know this is lame because he's a snail but I decided to bury home because A) I didn't think that hard shell would go over too well with the plumbing and B) throwing him away seemed a little too insensitive. Anyway while I was putting dirt on him a piece of dirt hit him and he pulled his eyes in more. So I realized he could be at least a little alive? I put him in a small bowl with some tank water and he hasn't moved since but he definitely doesn't smell so that's why I'm hesitant to dispose of him. He hasn't moved since the eye thingy and it's been about 6 hours. I don't know what to do and it's pretty upsetting and gross. So please tell me if it's dead or not.

TL;DR my snail is laying on it's back and unresponsive, is it dead?

 

It's not dead. they commonly don't move for days at a time.

 

It's not dead. they commonly don't move for days at a time.

okay so should I put it back in the tank? it's entirely unresponsive, though. I don't want it rotting in the tank

 

Snails "Sleep" or hibernate for up 4 days at a time! If the snail is actually distressed it's a good indicator water quality is poor, snails usually are the first signs that you can tell something is wrong

Hope this helps !

(If you snail was dead, he would smell HORRID)

That's the indicator I would use. Keep smelling him :>

 

Yes, put it back in your tank. Hopefully you haven't killed it.