Never Fed My Mystery Snail?

I've had a black mystery snail for about a month now. He's super active, and doesn't show any signs of illness. However, he refuses to eat. I've offered him blanched vegetables and algae wafers, but he only glides over it and then ignores them. I've even put him in a smaller container so he can find the food; yet still he refuses to eat.
He always seems to be eating stuff off the glass and driftwood, but with a few live plants and one betta fish in a 10 gallon tank, I can't imagine that the algae/biofilm produced could sustain him. Why won't he eat?

 

Do you leave the food in there? He might be eating when you’re not looking. If you’ve been taking the food out though, maybe he just doesn’t prefer what you’re giving him. Have you tried fruit like a piece of apple or banana? This one will take a bit more investment, but I’ve also heard people raving about how crazy their snails go for . It’s got the bonus of boosting their calcium as well.

 

all-out-fallout I usually crumple some dried seaweed (for fish/snails) in the water. Once it absorbs water it sinks to the bottom, so at least he has that. I will try the fruit! Will something like banana dirty the water? If so should I put him in a smaller container to feed?

 

all-out-fallout I usually crumple some dried seaweed (for fish/snails) in the water. Once it absorbs water it sinks to the bottom, so at least he has that. I will try the fruit! Will something like banana dirty the water? If so should I put him in a smaller container to feed?

Apples tend to hold together better, though they will soften with time. Bananas will eventually become a pulpy mess, so putting it in a container is a great way to avoid mush in your tank. It also ensures that nobody will start picking at the food before the snail has a chance to.

 

What kind of vegetables are you offering? My snails are beyond picky and eat only certain veggies...

 

Mystery snails require meat in their diet. Have you tried feeding him sinking shrimp wafers or pellets? My mystery loves sinking shrimp wafers and devours them. Only issue is my corys love them too!

 

I've tried cabbage and lettuce and carrots, atop the algae wafers. dwarfpufferlover
DaleM My fish eats a combination of bloodworms, brine shrimp, and tubeflex worms. There's often leftovers.

 

I've tried cabbage and lettuce and carrots, atop the algae wafers. dwarfpufferlover
DaleM My fish eats a combination of bloodworms, brine shrimp, and tubeflex worms. There's often leftovers.

I wouldn't rely too much on leftovers. Snails are good at cleaning up, but it shouldn't be relied upon as their sole diet. When my light turns off at night I drop a sinking shrimp pellet or two next to my mystery and he has a big munch. Otherwise the fish just end up taking his share

 

DaleM Okay, thank you! I'll look into those.

 

Mystery snails need meat to be the main part of their diet with veggies or fruits as sides. Anything containing spirulina, shrimp, krill, bloodworms, spinach(calcium) should be a great supplement for them. They need to be fed this kind of supplement at least once if not twice a day. Mystery snails are more like adding fish to your tank. They have their own bioload(needing about 2.5 to 3 gallons each because of how big they can get) and they their own diet. Meaning they need to fed the right foods/supplements. They will also snack on SOME algae or bio-film but most certainly shouldn't have to rely on this as their main food source or they will have some serious side effects in the long run. I'm learning this the hard way. Contrary to what is understood about these guys: they are NOT a tank clean up crew. I hope this helps, aBettaNamedRoy.
Happy Snailing!

And PS. I give my snails blanched spinach about once a week. They LOVE it and it has a great source of calcium for their shells. You should only need 1 good sized leaf per snail to snack on. I've heard some have good success with a piece of blanched green bean. I was gonna try that myself this week.

 

I've tried cabbage and lettuce and carrots, atop the algae wafers. dwarfpufferlover
DaleM My fish eats a combination of bloodworms, brine shrimp, and tubeflex worms. There's often leftovers.

How many leftovers are there? If there are a lot of them making it to the bottom, he may be choosing those. Mine absolutely love bloodworms. Green beans are usually a hit as well, I buy the canned, no-salt kind and then just freeze whatever I'm not putting in.

 

Bithimala There's often a lot of leftovers, along with stuff produced by the plants that he seems to like to munch on.

As an update, I put him in a small container last night to try feeding again. This time, I gave bloodworms, freeze-dried tubflex worms, and banana independently of the fish; so no competition. He didn't touch anything but the banana, but it's a start! It's the first time he has "eaten" since I got him (other than what he picks up in the tank). I've tried a multitude of veggies to no avail, but will try spinach tonight! It appears he has a sweet tooth so far!

 

[As an update, I put him in a small container last night to try feeding again. This time, I gave bloodworms, freeze-dried tubflex worms, and banana independently of the fish; so no competition. He didn't touch anything but the banana, but it's a start! It's the first time he has "eaten" since I got him (other than what he picks up in the tank). I've tried a multitude of veggies to no avail, but will try spinach tonight! It appears he has a sweet tooth so far!

Glad to hear the banana idea worked! Nobody can resist a little sugar.

 

They can be so picky!

 

Bithimala I know! It's really weird.

 

I've tried algae wafers for my nerite but he won't eat them. He has been living fine and pooping A TON in my Betta tank with no algae so I think he gets enough from biofilm.

 

RobinWhiskers

I get the same vibe from Herman (my mystery snail). I feel like he should be eating, but if he's refusing to eat the veggies I feed him, he must be getting a substantial meal somewhere.