snail has not eaten or been out of it's shell in 2 weeks :(

HI all, my apple snail has not been out of it's shell in over 2 weeks, it's door is closed so i'm pressuming it's alive, as i've heard once they're dead their bodies hang out.. it smells slightly but aint repulsive, and i've read that snails can hide like this , but for 2 weeks? could it be pregnant ? poorly? water parameters are good, 0-0-20, so any advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance and how long do I give the snail before I can say it's officially dead if it is?

 

I hope it's okay! Can you push the trapdoor in at all?

 

i've not touched the trap door, but if it helps determine whether it's alive or not I maybe will, thanks

 

HI bellekeat!

What is your temperature? A lower temperature really slows them down, into a hibernation state. If it was dead, yes, it would not have the muscular ability to keep its operculum closed. Some individual apples are more sensitive to water chemistry. It make not like a nitrate as high as 20. Another issue could be that is getting pecked at by fish every time it comes out. Snails can go several weeks with out eating, but this sounds like there may be other issues.

Have you added recently or in the past any medications or anything containing copper, or salt, that may still be in the water? Do you use water conditioner? There may be something on the water column that it does not want to be exposed to.

 

temperature is 26c, and ive not added anything medication wise or fish, and I do use water conditioner, and do regular water changes, my other apple snail is perfectly fine, which confused me as to why just one had hidden itself

 

If the door is still closed up, chances are its hibernating. Good luck and hope he/she comes around soon!

 

temperature is 26c, and ive not added anything medication wise or fish, and I do use water conditioner, and do regular water changes, my other apple snail is perfectly fine, which confused me as to why just one had hidden itself

Ah, ok. Then this sounds like a weak or sensitive individual. I have had snails from the same egg clutch (siblings) that grew up under the same ideal conditions, with good water, lots of food, calcium, etc., and some flourish, growing rapidly, while others develop shell problems, grow slowly, stay dormant for long periods, etc.

To satisfy my curiousity, I would take the snail out and leave it alone on a dry surface (not somewhere that it could fall of a table though, but maybe in a small container) and just see if it comes out after a little while. If it doesn't, even after an hour, it could be sick - or even dead Healthy snails will want to get back into water so they don't dry out - although this will takes a few days at most. If it is dead, the water leaking from it will be discoloured and stink something awful! lol

Now, a snail can die, and not be totally out of its shell- for a period of time. If, for example, it was closed up, "face down", so that its operculum (shell door) was held closed by the substrate, it would soon go into a rigor mortis state, keeping it closed up. However, after awhile, as tissues begin to break down, the operculum will open, allowing the gunk to leak out. If it is dead, it will have a very foul odor. Not fishy, but rotting pungent. You'll know!!!!

Don't try to pry it open, as this could really damage the snail. You could try lightly blowing on it. If any flesh is visible, you will see it glisten as it moves and reacts to the cool air. This trick also helps to get them to come out, and makes sexing them a lot easier.

If after you don't think its dead, or are not sure, put it back and do daily water changes until your nitrate reading are closer to 10. It may just be that this individual is sick, or very sensitive.

Good luck!

 

thank you so very much for all your replies, will leave it be and hope for the best, thing is it is floating at the top of the water , which worries me, could it be a shell of air? so long as my other fish are not at risk of ammonia poisoning if it is dead i'm gonna leave it as long as possible ,

 

Floating is considered normal behavior, that alone isn't unusual. If you do want to intervene and see if it's alive, in addition to leaving it sitting out of the tank, cut a slice of cucumber and place the snail on top of it. That should tempt the snail to come out before too terribly long.