EnderKing
my mystery snails are gasping for air at the surface and the snails (not the shells) look very pale they are eating alright though. What do I do?
Snails gasping for air at surface
StarGirl
What are your water parameters? The first thing I do when things are not right is do a water change.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #3
I’ve done several they fall down and then crawl right back up again maybe it’s the ph?
John58ford
Mystery snails would be "gasping" with a snorkel, they have a tube they extend to breathe air regularly. Is this what you are seeing?
If they are opening and closing their mouth at the surface, they are likely eating biofilm, also pretty normal. But, if you don't have biofilm regularly that they are used to having as a source of food, this might just mean they are hungry. Mine also do this if I feed floating foods and the snail happens to be high in the tank at the time.
If they are opening and closing their mouth at the surface, they are likely eating biofilm, also pretty normal. But, if you don't have biofilm regularly that they are used to having as a source of food, this might just mean they are hungry. Mine also do this if I feed floating foods and the snail happens to be high in the tank at the time.
Water tests? What are the parameters you are getting back?
mattgirl
If all of yours are staying at the top and you haven't fed them something that is floating around the edges I have to think there is something about the water they are not comfortable with.
Back when I was growing out my mystery snails babies in my 5.5 gallon tank I saw all of them at the top. I knew it was highly unusual so had to see why. It seems my HOB filter had stopped working. Since it was the only filter on this tank the water was slowly getting bad. I got the filter running again and all of them went back to their normal selves.
If yours have just started doing this try to figure out what has changed.
Back when I was growing out my mystery snails babies in my 5.5 gallon tank I saw all of them at the top. I knew it was highly unusual so had to see why. It seems my HOB filter had stopped working. Since it was the only filter on this tank the water was slowly getting bad. I got the filter running again and all of them went back to their normal selves.
If yours have just started doing this try to figure out what has changed.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #6
I have some ramshorns in the tank and they seem fine I feed them a half an algae wafer everyday. and sometimes I see the snorkel and sometimes I dont
StarGirl
You never stated what your readings are....
Are you feeding the Mysteries fresh veggies at all? Is the water line down a bit? Maybe they are trying to lay eggs.
Are you feeding the Mysteries fresh veggies at all? Is the water line down a bit? Maybe they are trying to lay eggs.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #8
Sry I don’t have a test kit but ya I do feed them veggies I feed veggies every 2 days and I feed freeze dried brine shrimp every sunday
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #10
Will do they are eating though I think the ph is too high but I’ll test it when I get a kit
StarGirl
Well you wont know for sure until you do test. Come back with the results before you try to change anything OK? Messing with pH can be bad news if not done correctly.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #12
Umm oops already did went to store got a test and use a tab to turn ph to neutral. My ph was a little on the high side. My snails look ok now though. I also found that I should grind up the food for the snails. I do want the water on the hard side though right?
Really sorry I just read your reply after I got done with the tab
Ph tablet I mean
Really sorry I just read your reply after I got done with the tab
Ph tablet I mean
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #13
Oh no nvm they are using the “snorkle” what do I do?
mattgirl
How can you know your pH is on the high side if you are unable to test it. In 99.9% of the cases it is better to just leave the pH alone unless we have something that absolutely has to have a certain level. Mystery snails don't. If yours is on the high side it will be fine for mystery snails.
I don't know why you would have to grind up the food for mystery snails. I don't. I don't even blanch the fresh veggies I feed mine. Did someone at the store tell you that you need to grind the food for your snails? If they did I would disregard that information because it is wrong.
I don't know why you would have to grind up the food for mystery snails. I don't. I don't even blanch the fresh veggies I feed mine. Did someone at the store tell you that you need to grind the food for your snails? If they did I would disregard that information because it is wrong.
How many mystery snails do you have? What size tank are they in?
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #15
I got a test kit like I said and the owner said to grind it up. Hmm maybe I’ll try a different pet store then. I’ve got two mystery snails in a 10 gallon and 5 baby nitrites I know it’s a bit much but they were fine until about a week ago
I just bought the kit yesterday
I just bought the kit yesterday
StarGirl
What was the "high side" Number? A lot of people think it it is high when its not high at all.
StarGirl
That seems like it would be fine to me. I dont have Mystery snails though just Nerites. mattgirl ?
That seems like a crazy swing. 7 is not neutral either. I would not add any more and do small water changes to not bring it back up too fast. Like 10%.
That seems like a crazy swing. 7 is not neutral either. I would not add any more and do small water changes to not bring it back up too fast. Like 10%.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #19
Kk so like 10% a day or how often?
Because I do a 20% every other day
Because I do a 20% every other day
StarGirl
Yeah, 10% a day. Test it the next day before you change more to see where it is. We will see what mattgirl has to say about the mysteries first though.
mattgirl
Since you are able to test the water now please share the numbers with us. Without knowing the parameters of your water we can only guess at what's going on.
I don't know why the shop owner told you to grind up their food. It is not necessary at all. Right now I have over 40 adult mystery snails I raised from newborns so I am giving advice from personal experience.
Mystery snails will come to the top of the tank to get a breath of air. They shouldn't normally spend all of their time hanging out of the water though. If they are then there is something about the water they don't like. Once we know the numbers for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH we will have a better idea as to what is going on.
Ouch, most of our water pets don't like drastic changes like this. It will take some work but what I would do is water changes to get the pH up to the same level as your tap water. Once done I would leave it alone. Your snails have already gone through a lot.
You can change out 10% of the water every couple of hours. Keep doing this until the pH level is the same as your tap water. This will slowly acclimate your snails to the pH
mattgirl
Do you have a filter on this tank? Instead of an air stone I would be running a sponge filter instead.
I don't mean to be too blunt with you but we can't help you if you can't or won't answer the questions we ask.
Can you share a photo of the tank with us? Maybe we will see something that will help us help you.
Do you now have the tests needed to check the parameters in this tank? Without those numbers we can only guess at what's going on.
I will say it again and ask again. If the snails never leave the top then there is something about the water they are not comfortable with. Do they ever leave the top? Without knowing the numbers neither you nor I have any idea as to what is bothering them.
Doing the water changes I suggested you do may be all that needs to be done.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #24
StarGirl
What is the temperature in your tank? It is by a window maybe it is getting too warm or too cold?
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #26
StarGirl
Do you have a temperature?
Those look like Bladder or Ramshorn snail eggs.
Those look like Bladder or Ramshorn snail eggs.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #28
It is by a window but the tank has a heater at 80 degrees
I put the temp a little high because of the window
I put the temp a little high because of the window
StarGirl
I would turn it down a bit. That may be too warm for them. About 76. The heater will keep it there even with the window. If it does not then turn a up a little bit.
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #30
It’s weird one day they look very healthy and the next they wont leav the top of the tank
mattgirl
Parameters look good so shouldn't be affecting them. 80 is a bit too high and may be why they spend a lot of time at the top. StarGirl is right. turn the heater down a bit. mid 70's is high enough for them
the water changes are going to gradually raise the pH. Don't worry about it and don't add anything to lower it.
It isn't unusual at all for mystery snails to hang out at the top of the tank. My main concern would be if they never went down. They should be exploring all levels of the tank.
If you are talking about the kinda orange looking thing I think it is a clutch of mystery snail eggs. Normally they will lay them right above the water line. I have to wonder if one of yours laid it above the water line and it fell in the water. I would remove it and dispose of it. It isn't going to hatch.
You may want to keep a close eye on the tank and remove any other clutches of eggs whenever you see them. If you allow them to hatch you could easily end up with hundreds of mystery snails. I allowed one clutch to hatch and ended up with 70 of them. I lost a few along the way but now have 45 adults that are big enough now to start laying eggs themselves.
StarGirl
I think they mean the eggs on the tip of the airstone.
mattgirl
A closer look tells me you are right. Those do look like "pest" snail eggs. Those haven't been mentioned so I didn't even consider it.
StarGirl
Yes they are considered that. Dont over feed and they should be ok. They are really good cleaners. You can remove the egg sack so it doesnt hatch.umm the eggs are on the glass it just a bad photoand are rams horns pest snail?
StarGirl
Absolutely. Is there just the snails in there right now? Or do you not have the 10g yet?
EnderKing
- Thread Starter
- #38
I have only snails in a 10 gallon rn but am getting a 30 so imma need something for the 10 gallon
StarGirl
Yep a female or male would be perfectly fine in a 10g.
John58ford
Looking at how the bubbles are spreading all the way across the top of the tank I would believe there is a protein sheen, or biofilm layer. Snails like eating both of those. None of my tanks with air stones let the bubbles spread like that and you look to have more agitation in the surface than I do. Not sure any of that needs to change, just an observation to be considered.
