Snail With Splitting Shell

I have a 36 gallon tank with one gold fish almost 1 year old and a gold snail. The snail has developed a split or crack down the middle of his shell. I started out getting a cuttlebone. No luck. Than I bought liquid calcium and alge wafers and alge pellets. Both have veggies and fish meal in them. No luck One problem is the goldfish eats everything I put in the tank. The tank is completely cycled with no ammonia, nitrites and a trace of nitrates. I am adding 1/8 teaspoon of calcium a week. Is that enough?? Also would shrimp pellets help?

thank
Sue

 

I would like to know as well, one of my nerites has something similar

 

could you provide pictures of the snail and the cracks? if you can see the snail's foot underneath you can help by patching the shell.
They will repair their shells but it takes a while, at least a few months before you start seeing it heal over.
If you are having problems feeding your snail, you can either put the food somewhere your goldfish can't reach (but the snail can get to) or remove the snail and feed him in a separate container.

 

Not the best picture but I will try again tomorrow. Do you think I am adding enough calcium or should I add crushed coral too?
Should I add shrimp pellets?
Thank you
Sue

 

that's either from an old injury or genetics. that will need patched for sure, it's almost to the organs. I think you should add the crushed coral too. anything to make the PH as high as possible without being at harmful levels.

 

How do I patch it?? How much crushed coral do I add to the tank? I put it in a mesh bag in the filter right? I have a 1 1/2 gal tank and a 10 gal tank would it be worth it to start one of them up?

 

I don't know much about the crushed coral but I can help with shell patching. the easiest way is to use an egg shell. put him in a bowl with very shallow water that only covers his body, and a ventilated lid. wait until his shell dries, break a piece of egg shell the size of the split, make sure there's no membrane attached. very carefully put super glue on just the shell with a q tip. don't get it on his skin. then put the piece of egg shell over it, let it dry before putting him back, and he should be fine. it might heal or keep needing patched for the rest of his life. I think people have asked about shell patching before, if you dig through the snails forum you might be able to find more helpful advice too

 

That patching makes me nervous. I will look through and see if I see anything. I bought the crushed coral and don't know where to put some in the tank or filter. Thank you

 

So that is what I call “running shell damage” because it starts out small, but the hole in the shell becomes wider and wider as the shell grows. In my option it is too wide now for anything to be done about it. It looks like the crack has grown with the snail at least a month, probably more like 3-4 months. The calcium that you’re using is more than enough. If this was a young snail I would recommend putting it down because you can’t patch running shell damage when it is at that point and the snail can’t repair it naturally. Because this snail is elderly, I would just make sure the water is clean and it’s fed well and let it live out the rest of its days. It’s not going to grow much more so the crack won’t expand much more. You will want to be gentle with it. Don’t pick it up unless you really really have to, keep the water quality consistent, don’t do water changes of more than 25% per week, and never pull it off the glass. I love that you’re trying all these things for your snailo, but I would try not to worry too much. They usually only live a about a year so it’s nearing the end anyway.

 

Yesterday I called two exotic vets. One does not patch or treat snails. The other the 2 vets that might be able to patch or see a snail. I am going to call tomorrow and see if they will take a quick look. Thank you for your information He is still active and eating. I do put him a breeders tank for a little bit at night to eat without the goldfish taking all his wafers. I feel so bad that I didn't really know to do this earlier.

 

The problem is that if you patch it, the new growth will still grow split. I’ve patched several snails over the years and it’s very very hard on them. Your snail is elderly, even if it had a perfect shell it would have a few months to live at most. You can’t patch that type of crack when it’s gone that far. Even a young snail couldn’t regenerate that much shell. I honestly believe that taking him out to a vet will do more harm then good. And I know trying to patch him will definitely do more harm than good. This is not a life or death situation. That crack will not kill him because he will die of old age first and he won’t grow much so the crack won’t get much worse. If he was a young snail the crack would get much worse as it grew so it would need to be put down, but he’s not going to grow so the crack won’t either. I don’t think it’s hurting him but I think transporting him and patching him will hurt him. It’s your choice but I have a lot of experience with these guys and I really hope you just let him live his last month(s) in peace.

 

Thank you for taking your time to share you knowledge with me. I keep checking this little guy daily and I guess I just want to save him. I think some of the problem is the goldfish eats everything I put in the tank. I am adding calcium twice a week. His shell looks terrible but he is still all over the tank. I made him snello but he doesn't seem interested but he likes the wafers . I tried cucumber but no interest, I am going to try other veggies this week. I just feel so bad about him. thank you again Sue

 

The little guy is still hanging on. The split is worse. I can now see his little feet when he in curled up it the shell. It is depressing but I don't know what else to do. I am adding Calcium weekly the water and putting his in a breeders box with algae tablets every day or every other day depending if I can catch him not attached to the side. Anyone think of anything else I can do?

 

i'm sorry to say but if it get's too bad, you may have to put him down. it seems you're doing all that you can right now.

 

Well, if he is old I am hoping he dies of old age. I don't think I can put him down at this point. He is not hanging out of his shell and still moving around the tank. I have thought about it.

 

well if he's old then yes, he should judt be left to live the rest of his life. I forgot that he was old. still sorry that you're having this situation

 

Well I have been letting him be and feeding him every night in a breeding tank. He has been hanging out at the top of the tank. It now appears he is pretty much stuck in the shell I think due to the split. He can stick to the top of the tank and appears to eat but can fully come out. He at times gets on this back and I turn him over. I really don't want to euthanize him but don't know what to do.

 

Well I have been letting him be and feeding him every night in a breeding tank. He has been hanging out at the top of the tank. It now appears he is pretty much stuck in the shell I think due to the split. He can stick to the top of the tank and appears to eat but can fully come out. He at times gets on this back and I turn him over. I really don't want to euthanize him but don't know what to do.

there isn't much else you can really do. if he gets to a point where he can't eat, you can put him in a breeder box to keep him close to some food. for now just keep everything as stress free as you can for him and give him as much calcium as you can