Mystery Snail Floating Is She Dead?

Hello all,

I got my first mystery snail yesterday.
She hasn’t moved much but I figured that’s because she is adjusting to her new tank.
she was moving a bit bait 4 hours ago, I just got home and she is floating now?
Is that weird? Is she dead?
If not dead will she get more active once settled?

Thanks guys

 

Noo, He is probably fine.

You'll know a snail has died if it comes out of it's shell - an alive snail will pull into it's shell almost always. If you pick it up and it gives a reaction (should be quick, but stressed/sick snails will move slower) than it's okay. This happens with mystery snails, they can end up with a bit of air trapped in their shell, it should find its way out (the air) naturally, once the snail opens back up again.

 

Noo, He is probably fine.

You'll know a snail has died if it comes out of it's shell - an alive snail will pull into it's shell almost always. If you pick it up and it gives a reaction (should be quick, but stressed/sick snails will move slower) than it's okay. This happens with mystery snails, they can end up with a bit of air trapped in their shell, it should find its way out (the air) naturally, once the snail opens back up again.

Thanks for the reply!
It didn’t pull into its shell when I poked at it yesterday but it did squirm a bit (don’t worryI was gentle) I poked at it because it wasn’t moving and I only have experience with Nerite sand they usually start exploring immediately. Is this ok, maybe it’s just from stress

 

Just had a snail die myself, trust me it’s 100% obvious it’s dead. The smell is god awful and the hard part that covers the shell opening falls off, sometimes the snail’s body just falls out, it just very obviously looks and smells dead.

 

Thanks for the help everyone I’ll keep an eye on her

 

Well, I personally pull them up off of whatever they're hanging on to check them. Sometimes the Mysteries won't pull in right away and they'll kinda float about in your hand till they realize, but, so long as they're moving and 'all-together'. Snails are basically nothing but muscle/fleshy bits, no skeleton...OOP...^^^ said it for me, I was trying to dance around it but, right. Under these circumstances, they basically melt into goo...x.x.

I would believe he's/she's okay. If your water parameters are good, and there is calcium in your water (PH above 7.2-7.4 usually indicates you're okay here) than the snail is probably just adjusting for now.

 

It sounds like something is wrong. Yes, floating is a natural behavior, but not something they do for long periods. It usually means trouble. Get a bowl of clean treated water and put the snail in it immediately. You should see the snail perk up quickly (15-20 min). If not, you have a sick snail. These guys are like the canary in the mineshaft when there is a problem with water conditions that may soon spread to the rest of the inhabitants.

 

It sounds like something is wrong. Yes, floating is a natural behavior, but not something they do for long periods. It usually means trouble. Get a bowl of clean treated water and put the snail in it immediately. You should see the snail perk up quickly (15-20 min). If not, you have a sick snail. These guys are like the canary in the mineshaft when there is a problem with water conditions that may soon spread to the rest of the inhabitants.

The water is clean and treated and she’s only been floating for a little bit not the whole four hours I was gone because my brother went to go see her about an hour before I got home and she was on the ground still. I tested the water 0ppm ammonia 0ppm nitrites 5ppm nitrates and 7.2 pH so I’ll keep an eye for now she is alone in a quarantine tank.

Well, I personally pull them up off of whatever they're hanging on to check them. Sometimes the Mysteries won't pull in right away and they'll kinda float about in your hand till they realize, but, so long as they're moving and 'all-together'. Snails are basically nothing but muscle/fleshy bits, no skeleton...OOP...^^^ said it for me, I was trying to dance around it but, right. Under these circumstances, they basically melt into goo...x.x.

I would believe he's/she's okay. If your water parameters are good, and there is calcium in your water (PH above 7.2-7.4 usually indicates you're okay here) than the snail is probably just adjusting for now.

Awesome thank so much for the help. I appreciate it

 

The water is clean and treated and she’s only been floating for a little bit not the whole four hours I was gone because my brother went to go see her about an hour before I got home and she was on the ground still. I tested the water 0ppm ammonia 0ppm nitrites 5ppm nitrates and 7.2 pH so I’ll keep an eye for now she is alone in a quarantine tank.

My mistake. It sounded like she was floating much longer. Give her the night and see how she is in the morning. She is also going to need the water's GH and KH to be no lower than 140ppm.

 

My mistake. It sounded like she was floating much longer. Give her the night and see how she is in the morning. She is also going to need the water's GH and KH to be no lower than 140ppm.

No worries! Thanks for the reply! I do plan on feeding some home made snail food with added calcium for an extra boost.

 

They can float for quite awhile. Many times I've had to gently poke them to make sure they close their "toenail". If they do that, they're fine. They have strange behavior. Currently, my only surviving one from last year, Big Bertha is mating like crazy with a smaller blue one I recently got. Make sure you leave a few inches for them to lay their eggs or they could get eggbound and sick.

 

They can float for quite awhile. Many times I've had to gently poke them to make sure they close their "toenail". If they do that, they're fine. They have strange behavior. Currently, my only surviving one from last year, Big Bertha is mating like crazy with a smaller blue one I recently got. Make sure you leave a few inches for them to lay their eggs or they could get eggbound and sick.

Good to know! I only have 1 Mystery snail, if she’s a girl will she still need to lay the unfertilized eggs to avoid becoming eggbound?

 

If she's not mating, she shouldn't have any eggs.

 

If she's not mating, she shouldn't have any eggs.

Good to know, thanks for the info

 

Noo, He is probably fine.

You'll know a snail has died if it comes out of it's shell - an alive snail will pull into it's shell almost always. If you pick it up and it gives a reaction (should be quick, but stressed/sick snails will move slower) than it's okay. This happens with mystery snails, they can end up with a bit of air trapped in their shell, it should find its way out (the air) naturally, once the snail opens back up again.

Actually snails do not come out of their shells you just have to smell them to know

 

Actually snails do not come out of their shells you just have to smell them to know

My friend’s 3 dead nerites all fell right out of their shell, so it does happen! My dead nerite did not fall out but the hard covering fell off.

 

My friend’s 3 dead nerites all fell right out of their shell, so it does happen! My dead nerite did not fall out but the hard covering fell off.

you knw what you are so right i am sorry of acusing you

 

Actually snails do not come out of their shells you just have to smell them to know

Well, of course they won't come out of their shell. Until they're dead. That was my point.

When a snail dies, it releases tension in the shell and WILL come out of the shell. I've sorted through enough snail tanks to know. An alive snail will never come out of it's shell, yes. This is true.

 

My female gold mystery snail died of old age. The last thing she did was make a stink.

 

How do i know when my snails is dead right now he/she has been having some problems and i think its dead. any tips to identify???? doesnt smell

 

How do i know when my snails is dead right now he/she has been having some problems and i think its dead. any tips to identify???? doesnt smell

Doesn’t smell = not dead

 

How do i know when my snails is dead right now he/she has been having some problems and i think its dead. any tips to identify???? doesnt smell

If it’s dead it will start devolving and smelling really bad within the next 12 hours or so, hope this helps.

 

Take something a bit slender and sharp (even a small paintbrush will do). VERY gently poke and part that's out of the shell. If they withdraw/close, then they're fine. I swear every animal I own is weird in some way and snails aren't any different. When they float on top, they're just sometimes skimming the water for food, taking the lazy way to another part of the tank or just hanging out. Many is the time they've concerned me enough where I had to do "the poke" just to make sure they're ok. Hope this helps.

 

How do i know when my snails is dead right now he/she has been having some problems and i think its dead. any tips to identify???? doesnt smell

If it comes out of the shell with a good shake, I'm sorry...he's past. .

If his body moves (at all!) and retracts into his shell, even if it's not a quick or complete retraction, than he's still alive. -but a slow reaction, usually isn't a good sign.

What kind of snail is it?