My Zebra Nerite Needs Help!!

Hello!!! I am very deathly afraid right now and a little traumatized. A quick explanation: My Zebra Nerite has been sitting still for 2-3 days. I saw something white growing on his shell and figured it was debris or algae. Today, I started getting worried, so I picked it up to see what was going on. The trap door was shut, and I tried wiping off the cottony looking stuff. I tugged on it and felt resistance, then I turned it over again and I think I saw its FOOT?!?!? The white stuff didn't come off and I didn't want to try again in case I was hurting it. I thought it might be dead so I gave it a sniff like people have told me to do, and to me it just smells like pungent algae water - much like the water in the aquarium. I can't tell if it's dead, molding, or hurt. PLEASE HELP!! This is the quickest explanation I could give,the next paragraph is more info on them. How do I know if it's dead, does it really smell THAT bad???



So I have had two Nerites in my planted 5 gallon for about a month now and they have been doing alright, I guess. They usually spend their time docile and moving every couple of days, and then they spend one day of the week speeding around and eating until they are full. (I don't know if this is unusual, but this is the behavior they have displayed for the month I have known them). I have seen it combing the glass where I know plenty of algae grows. I do not know what to do now. The two other snails (Tiger Nerite and one, small pest snail) are not showing any of the same symptoms. I was suggested by a friend to either use aquarium salt or treat for a fungal infection since that's our best guess. However, I do not want to stress my small aquarium by putting unnecessary treatmeants inside of it. pLEASE HEL p me

 

Don’t use aquarium salt, it usually ends of killing or hurting the snails even more. The white stuff is a fungus (I believe) so try using the API fungus cure. If it’s dead they will smell like rotten fish and old garbage had a child (idk lol) The best of luck to you and the snail!

 

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I guessed it to be a fungal infection of some sorts, but I needed some reassurance that it was just that, and that my snail was not - well, dead. I will get some medication first opportunity I can. I was really panicking but this is good help!

 

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I guessed it to be a fungal infection of some sorts, but I needed some reassurance that it was just that, and that my snail was not - well, dead. I will get some medication first opportunity I can. I was really panicking but this is good help!

Okay keep me updated!

 

I agree that it is a fungus, I think. I had the same stuff growing on a plant. i'd treat the tank with apI fungus cure if there's nothing in it that's harmful to snails.

 

I thought I read that snails will binge sleep for 3 days instead of everynight. Maybe toss an algae wafer near him.

 

How long have you had the snail? If you recently got him then it might some kind of slime coat. Certain Nerites will produce this to help adjust to their new settings like pH, temp, etc.
It's either that or fungus.
As for movement of these snails. Out of the 12 I have in my 20 gallon:
3 are either always out of the water or in the filter but I can see their trails on the underside of my lid in the morning. The rest are pretty normal, 1-3 will usually hang out above the water line for a day or two then crawl back down again. So they can be finicky depending on the type of nerite. Usually when they stop moving for a few days it's normal, like a minI hibernation.
If it's dead it will stink like a rotten, sulfer filled egg or something. The body will be limp and loose in the shell, usually after a few days you can shake the snail and the body will slip right out. Usually if the trap door is shut tight, the snail is alive.
Sorry for all the info, I just wanted to address like...everything lol

 

I have dosed out tank with 0.3% to get rid of Ich, but nobody warned me it could harm my nerites. I just noticed them both fall over and look drunk. Have taken them out of the tank and put back in freshwater. How can I help them now?

Don’t use aquarium salt, it usually ends of killing or hurting the snails even more. The white stuff is a fungus (I believe) so try using the API fungus cure. If it’s dead they will smell like rotten fish and old garbage had a child (idk lol) The best of luck to you and the snail!

 

Can you revive nerite snails after exposure to 0.3% salt water for 2 days? Their feet are hanging out now. Should I put a little salt in their new container as might be too much of a shock from salty to fresh so quickly???

 

Can you revive nerite snails after exposure to 0.3% salt water for 2 days? Their feet are hanging out now. Should I put a little salt in their new container as might be too much of a shock from salty to fresh so quickly???

You may want to start a new thread, this post is old. Salt is deadly to snails, I’d leave them in the freshwater and just hope for the best, don’t add more.

 

Thanks for your reply. That's what I've done so fingers crossed. Maybe they're just stressed and laying low for a bit. I wish I'd known. How do I start a new thread?

Don’t use aquarium salt, it usually ends of killing or hurting the snails even more. The white stuff is a fungus (I believe) so try using the API fungus cure. If it’s dead they will smell like rotten fish and old garbage had a child (idk lol) The best of luck to you and the snail!

You may want to start a new thread, this post is old. Salt is deadly to snails, I’d leave them in the freshwater and just hope for the best, don’t add more.

 

Thanks for your reply. That's what I've done so fingers crossed. Maybe they're just stressed and laying low for a bit. I wish I'd known. How do I start a new thread?

Go on the page where all the forums are and on the top right you should see a square with a box.

 

Thanks for your reply. That's what I've done so fingers crossed. Maybe they're just stressed and laying low for a bit. I wish I'd known. How do I start a new thread?

At the top of the page click Forum, there are sections like plants, fish, disease, lighting etc..pick one then there will be more specific subsections click one of those according to why you are posting about and top right I think is “post new topic” there is where you make a title and ask your question. Hope that helps.