Mystery Snails Floating & Apple Snail Stationary? (2 Different Tanks)

Hey team,

I don't know if I should be worried. In brief:

165L established tank
had a breeding pair of apple snails we got in January/early Feb. moved one about 6 weeks ago to another tank. lately, the remaining apple snail hasn't been as active. and it's been on it's back behind a decoration for 2 days now. I tried turning it over (it's alive) and then the next day it's on it's back again? I haven't seen it eat and i've had veggie wafers/algae wafers and protein or veggie next to it.

params: 0,0,10-20. pH 7.2-7.4. temp 26*C

65L QT (fully cycled for 3 months)
had 1 apple and 5 mystery snails in there we got in March/Apr. added one of the apples and 2 of the mysteries to our 250L 2 weeks ago.

the 3 remaining mystery snails are smaller. they are floating a lot. they used to cruise around but now they float and hang out on the fake plants, then go back to floating. they aren't eating the variety of foods i've had in there for them.

params: 0,0, 5-15. pH 6.8-7.2 (pH dropped briefly for a week or so when I forgot to add oyster grit to the filter). temp was 24 but have raised gradually to 26* with the new planned stocking.

If it sounds normal, then I'll happily accept that advice. But the 2 apple snails and 2 mystery snails in our 250L are acting like they should - cruising around everywhere, creeping up on food before the rest of the fish eat it all, etc etc.

 

its hard to say, these snail types are very... well, mysterious, but I have tons of them,, and I find that one they start being slow and closing up either #1, they are having trouble because water perameters, or #2. they are ill and going to die in a few days. I would check perameters just to be safe. iv also learned mysteries don't like changing tanks. they say " raise the snail iin its permenant aquarium. sorry I can't help in more depth but someone else may be able too

 

its hard to say, these snail types are very... well, mysterious, but I have tons of them,, and I find that one they start being slow and closing up either #1, they are having trouble because water perameters, or #2. they are ill and going to die in a few days. I would check perameters just to be safe. iv also learned mysteries don't like changing tanks. they say " raise the snail iin its permenant aquarium. sorry I can't help in more depth but someone else may be able too

Thank you for replying! I checked the ammonia and nitrite in the 165L this morning and the ammonia in the 65L also this morning. I didn't check pH this morning though?

I hope it's not #2

any ideas on the floating?

 

They will sometimes float to relax, how long has it been going on? They may have an air bubble trapped, you could try tipping them slightly sideways to see if you can get it to come out. Anything in the tanks possibly stressing them, picking on them, or lots of mating going on that could wear them out?

 

They will sometimes float to relax, how long has it been going on? They may have an air bubble trapped, you could try tipping them slightly sideways to see if you can get it to come out. Anything in the tanks possibly stressing them, picking on them, or lots of mating going on that could wear them out?

OMG! It's the mating!!! Yes! that totally explains the mystery snails in the QT! I saw them cruising around happily, then mating all the time and then floating and not eating. we added them on 2 April & the floating started on 23 April. is it bad for me to be giggling hysterically about this? would they still be floating way more often 2.5 weeks later? like they're floating about 70% of the time I reckon.

now I wonder what's going on with the apple snail in the other tank. it could be stress from being lonely? i'm meant to add the mystery snails to the tank the apple is in... would that possibly help or increase the stress?

thank you!!

 

I'm still not convinced about snails and wanting company. I've seen some always want to be around others, especially when they're younger. I've seen others not care at all, and I've read a lot of mixed opinions on it. I certainly wouldn't think it would hurt to give him some friends.

They're floating, but are they still coming down to eat and things like that at this point? Just trying to see if they're doing it because they want to, or if there maybe is something like an air bubble trapped in there.

 

they're coming down to the wall and fake plants but I haven't seen them on the tank bottom eating... when they're down there they have their lids shut. what do I do to check for air bubbles & help them?

 

Typically tip them slightly sideways slightly under the water. You can also tap them gently to the best of my knowledge, but I haven't personally tried that.

 

Typically tip them slightly sideways slightly under the water. You can also tap them gently to the best of my knowledge, but I haven't personally tried that.

Thank you. I will try that, but the good news is that the floaty ones seem less floaty the last couple days. So that makes me happy.

But the apple snail in the other tank is still on its back not eating. it's moved a few times but not far. params after our wc this week are 0, 0, 10. pH is 7.3. kH is 3. gH is 4. temp between 25-26.2C... total mystery. I don't know why its unhappy

I've tried smelling all of them and they aren't stinky so I know they're not dead or live but rotting (that sounds so macabre).

 

update: bad news. it isn't moving much and I noticed a slight smell. I've put it into a cup inside a breeder net to keep the temperature... but I'm not sure it will last the night

I used the cup to avoid an ammonia spike. I hope that's not cruel...

 

sad news. unless it's normal for them to be at the bottom (of the cup) out of their shell & not react to touch or being lifted out of the water, it seems our apple snail has passed. I was going to change the water in its cup this morning but there was no need.

no smell oddly... I changed the water any way & still have the snail in the cup in the breeder net just in case there's a miracle while I'm at work but it would literally be a miracle from what I saw.

I'm quite sad