Mystery Snail Broke Its Shell

I have a 2.5 gallon tank, with 2 mystery snails and 2 small fish that I am unaware of the species. No lid, just a tank, with sand, rocks, and a few plants. I have a filter and air pump too. I let my snails go out sometimes, only when Im watching. If so i will try to put them back down, but if they go, they go. But one of mine recently fell off the tank and chipped the side / front of its shell. Please tell me what I should do, Im worried. I don't wanna superglue it, or should I let nature do it thing? Please tell me. Thanks. ( Also the picture and tank is cloudy because of the sand... I realized I had to put the sand in first... Letting the filter complete it and make it non-cloudy, and the snail that has the chipped / broken shell is the black / brown snail. ) Please tell me if the picture is not good enough, I will get a close-up one if you need to see the chip.

 

Don’t superglue it. I would say first of all you need to get a lid. It is definitely essential, for all tanks IMO, but in a snail tank it’s inarguably important. In the meantime you can just place the lid to a plastic bin or something over the top. How often do they try to climb out? They shouldn’t really be doing that much, so if they do it could be a sign of poor water parameters. To help speed the healing of the shell, you could add done crushed coral to the tank for some calcium. BUT it may not be safe for the other fish in the tank. Could you please post a picture of the 2 other fish so we can try to ID them?

 

I would not do anything. I have a very VERY dum mystery snail, when they get somewhere they dont wanna be ie. on the side of the glass, on top a plant, the underside of my breeder box. they (idk gender) just lets go and falls. they would rather put ANOTHER crack in there shell than clime down themselves. they got 3 cracks (small but connected) The oldest one seemed to fill its self in so dont worry to badly!

 

Giving it veggies with calcium would help some, at least for making the shells stronger. Might even help the shell heal some.

 

Yeah, of course. I wasn't gonna superglue it. They only crawl out about 2-1 times in a month. But yeah. I'll get a picture of the fish. These are the best pictures I could get of them, they were swimming really fast.
Okay, thanks!
Thats great, thanks! Do you know what veggies to put in there?
Okay, thanks!
Thats great, thanks! Also what veggies to put in there?
Oh my god, sorry I thought it didn't post in there. lol. Im new to this fishlore website.

 

The pictures are blurry, but they kind of look like African cichlids, but I can't really tell. If so they need a way bigger tank. Like 30 gallons or larger.

 

Okay! Will do.. I'll get a bigger tank as soon as I can.

 

Have you been giving it calcium?

 

I don't know how too, really, how can I do that? Do I have to feed them some veggies? If so, why type of veggies?

 

I would not do anything. I have a very VERY dum mystery snail, when they get somewhere they dont wanna be ie. on the side of the glass, on top a plant, the underside of my breeder box. they (idk gender) just lets go and falls. they would rather put ANOTHER crack in there shell than clime down themselves. they got 3 cracks (small but connected) The oldest one seemed to fill its self in so dont worry to badly!

I love that you didn't assume your snails gender (l-m-a-o *heart emoji*)

 

lol
Alright, I will take your advice, but I looked at some African Cichlids to make sure... they definitely look like them. But I'm not to sure, not to be rude, but I'll wait for a few more replies before I actually move them... Just in case though, I will get a larger tank anyways. If they aren't, Ill get a betta for the nice big tank... I'll try to get the tank tomorrow at PetSmart. Because I saved my money for this, because I didn't know if they were babies or small fish waiting to get bigger...

 

I don't know how too, really, how can I do that? Do I have to feed them some veggies? If so, why type of veggies?

Oh, sorry I didn't realize you wrote this. They have calcium tabs that you can throw in your tank and they last 30 to 45 days (approx). I'd use those so you're guaranteed they're getting calcium. Veggies are things like lettuce and cucumber, or other leafy "water" veggies. You can tie it down with a weight or rock and the snail will go to town on them. OR you can get algae wafers which my snails LOVE. Same with the shrimp wafers. Both at Walmart and petsmart.

 

Thanks so much, I will get the tabs and I have some leafy veggies here at home. I think my snails will like it

 

Egg shells or bird cuttlebone will give you some calcium. Spinach and zucchini are said to have high calcium.

 

Here are 2 of mine sharing an shrimp wafer. And here is a photo of the packaging for both.


Calcium tabs - 1 per 20g.. Tetra ReptoGuard Water Conditioner, 1 Block: Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies

 

Alright, thanks! I'll get some spinach, I put some lettuce in there already. I'll wait till the morning to see if I have any, thanks though!

 

1 per 20g.. Tetra ReptoGuard Water Conditioner, 1 Block: Amazon.ca: Pet Supplies

Thanks so much, I will get the tabs and I have some leafy veggies here at home. I think my snails will like it

Great! Don't feel too badly about not providing those things up until now, it is often a misconception that snails and plecos can survive on fish waste alone. I personally did not know that I needed to give my snails calcium or vegetables either, until I started back into the hobby and someone informed me.

 

My one snail already is digging into the lettuce. lol. I just wanted to make my snail happy, and giving it some actual food that it'll like. I felt a little bad, but Im a little more happy that I know some people were confused as well and not just me.

 

My one snail already is digging into the lettuce. lol. I just wanted to make my snail happy, and giving it some actual food that it'll like. I felt a little bad, but Im a little more happy that I know some people were confused as well and not just me.

It's sooo common. There is one woman in my local fish hobbyist group that will make a point of asking as soon as she sees someone mention they have a snail(s), and I've witnessed many people learn on the spot that it's necessary to add these things. Myself included (she asked me lol and I wasn't at the time giving calcium).

 

Lol!
Update!
I put two pieces of lettuce in there, and my black snail loves them.. Took em a while to eat it though, Im not complaining either! My white snail took a bite out of it, and left lol..

 

Even if they aren’t African cichlid they are cichlids that will need 50 gallons minimum. As for the mystery snail it could be a sign of poor water parameters. What are your water parameters and is your tank cycled?

 

Okay I will definitely get a larger tank now. My tank is cycled, and the temperature is about 70 degrees. Probably 75 degrees... I don't know about about ph levels, as I couldn't get that yet... not sure about others yet, I know I'm pretty good at fish stuff, but not the water parameters... how can I tell about that? Do I need a product? If so, what do I need?
And by now, I mean tomorrow... lol.

 

Those are African cichlids. They get a lot bigger and pretty aggressive if they aren’t in big groups. If it’s possible I would say get a 50 gal tank with some canister filters and appropriate heating. You will need to start cycling it as soon as possible because a 2.5 gal is not good for those guys now, and they will get lots bigger fast. You will need to get more African cichlids, and quite a few more. They get aggressive if not kept in big groups. They can handle a bit more calcium than you average small tank fish, so I wouldn’t worry about that. It takes longer to cycle larger tanks, so you need to start fast! I am assuming you are relatively new to this hobby, especially because most beginners don’t know that the smaller the tank the harder it is to keep it healthy. The word African Cichlids should turn blue, click on it for a link to a care guide. If it doesn’t just search for it on here under articles. Also, look at some more articles on here to get to know the equipment and stuff for bigger tanks. I am not trying to be rude when I say thus, but to be honest I think the best thing for you to do if you are inexperienced in fish keeping is to responsibly rehome them, and the restart with maybe a 30 gal with some tetras and other easier fish. Lots of people on here will help you through this process, and you might even be able to find someone on here to rehome the fish to, if you do so.

 

Okay I will definitely get a larger tank now. My tank is cycled, and the temperature is about 70 degrees. Probably 75 degrees... I don't know about about ph levels, as I couldn't get that yet... not sure about others yet, I know I'm pretty good at fish stuff, but not the water parameters... how can I tell about that? Do I need a product? If so, what do I need?
And by now, I mean tomorrow... lol.

You can’t know that your tank is cycled without testing your water parameters. I recommend the API freshwater master test kit. When you say your tank is cycled do you mean you let it run for a week or two then added fish?

 

The striped one might even turn out to be a convict cichlid. But idk

 

Yes, Im kinda new to this stuff. I let it run for a week, and all that stuff. Im not that smart in fish stuff, lol. I'll get the kit.
Okay. I'll definitely get the tank tomorrow. And all that fish stuff. Thanks for helping me. . I might get some tetras or some small fish that I know can fit and won't get bigger. I'll also ask the names next time, lol. I was too exited to get the fish in there without asking the name. lol. I'm happy I know now, and that I'm not gonna make them suffer in that small tank.

 

The striped one might even turn out to be a convict cichlid. But idk

Not a convict, I would guess African of some kind. Either way they need a big tank, lots of company, and can harder to handle than most beginners can handle.

 

Okay... I will do lots of research!

 

Yes, Im kinda new to this stuff. I let it run for a week, and all that stuff. Im not that smart in fish stuff, lol. I'll get the kit.
Okay. I'll definitely get the tank tomorrow. And all that fish stuff. Thanks for helping me. . I might get some tetras or some small fish that I know can fit and won't get bigger. I'll also ask the names next time, lol. I was too exited to get the fish in there without asking the name. lol. I'm happy I know now, and that I'm not gonna make them suffer in that small tank.

Unfortunately that’s not how you cycle a tank. A full cycle takes 4-6 weeks. I suggest you read this to prevent the build up of toxic chemicals in your tank and to protect your fish
Fish In Nitrogen Cycle Simplified | Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle Forum | 414083

 

Okay. I will do that with the cichlids. Should I take my fish out of my ten gal and my 2.5? Then let it cycle correctly?

 

Okay. I will do that with the cichlids. Should I take my fish out of my ten gal and my 2.5? Then let it cycle correctly?

No, because then you will need to cycle the bucket-holding tank.

 

Please read the suggested article by AggressiveAquatics. It really explains how to cycle a tank the correct way that is not as harmful to the fish. Doesn't matter what kind of aquatic animal, they all need a cycled tank and you need to understand ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Don't rush to buy fish until they will be safe and comfortable in a home ready for them. It is hard to be patient but it is worth it in the end. Dead fish aren't any fun either.

 

Alright everyone, I've decided. Im gonna keep the cichlids and put them in a larger tank tmrw with some more sand, soil, plants, and some little hiding decor.
Okay. I will read the articale and I wont take them out. Thanks so much. I'll give you updates, and please tell me if I'm doing anything wrong. I would like to give my fish the best home possible.

 

You can’t move them into a new tank now as it will not be cycled. Cycling is making the water dirty with waste before you add fish to grow bacteria. The bacteria consumes the fish waste and makes it so that it isn’t toxic and won’t kill the fish.
No cycle=dead fish
You got lucky that those guys survived. The most important thing to understand about fish tanks is the nitrogen cycle. I can’t make you understand how important it is unless you read that and do more research. So you can’t set up a tank and put them in now. With a 40 or 50 gallon it might end up okay on its own but the fish will become very aggressive. I advise you to start a new thread with a new title about this situation. Please include beginner, cycle, African cichlid, and non cycled tank, all in your title. This will clear stuff up to make less reading, and the title will attract people who know about these things.
To be honest I still advise you rehome the fish, this is not something that is beginner friendly. I am not trying to be rude, I myself probably would not get African cichlids as I don’t think I am an experienced enough aquarist.

 

Okay. I'll do a lot of research before I start a thread just in case. Thanks for helping me though- I'll be the one to do all the reading in articles and maybe a new thread- lol.

 

I will mention some especially knowledgeable people who I think can help with this bad situation.
chromedome52
A201
MacZ
jdhef
mattgirl

 

Thanks! I'll attempt to contact them soon.

 

Yes they are Malawi cichlids, likely both from the Genus Chindongo, meaning they are from the group called Mbuna which are pretty much the most aggressive fish below 20cm you can have.

I would return them to whereever you got them from. They are not fit for this tank, nor for beginners. Really.

 

Okay.. thank you so much! Do you know how do return fish from petsmart? ...

 

You just bring them in and walk to the fish section then give them to an employee. What area are you in? Some people on here might be willing to take them. Petsmart is not a good place for fish, they might die from all of this stress and the bad conditions at Petsmart and being in such an inappropriate tank.