Cracked Snail Shell???? - Aquarium Advice

guppy12 · 07-12-2006, 11:27 AM

I was looking at me 20 and my apple snail was munching on an algae pellet, i noticed his shell was cracked.
i couldn't think of how he cracked his shell... maybe from riding up on my bubble disk and fliping and then hitting mt driftwood.
Could i silicone it or what?
thanks
G12

**QTOFFER** · 07-12-2006, 12:01 PM

I would avoid silicone because it takes a very long time to cure; all the while it emits toxic acetic acid.

If the crack is near the snail's foot, it should heal on its own. A calcium source such as small piece of cuttlebone will help speed things. Just be sure to monitor your water hardness and pH i fyou use the cuttlebone.

Cracks and holes nearer the top of the shell might not heal. I've read that using quick drying epoxy is a possible repair strategy. You don't need much and it can be applied with a Q-tip.

joannde · 07-12-2006, 12:03 PM

The only way to repair it it to get another piece of shell or some eggshell and glue the shell to the snails shell. No adhesive of any kind can touch the snails body.

Here's a good site that talks about shell damage and how to repair it if needed.
http://www.rainbowsnails.com/onlines...ewDoc&docId=10

I'm not sure if you could use silicone instead of the epoxy they talk about on this site.

guppy12 · 07-12-2006, 01:32 PM

its a chip

voo · 07-12-2006, 02:01 PM

is it chipped, or is it pitted from lack of calcium?

guppy12 · 07-13-2006, 01:19 PM

Where could i get a mineral block??
At the LFS???

07-12-2006, 11:27 AM	#1
guppy12 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Linden Michigan Posts: 135 Images: 1	Cracked Snail Shell???? I was looking at me 20 and my apple snail was munching on an algae pellet, i noticed his shell was cracked. i couldn't think of how he cracked his shell... maybe from riding up on my bubble disk and fliping and then hitting mt driftwood. Could i silicone it or what? thanks G12

07-12-2006, 12:03 PM	#3
joannde Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,724 Images: 6	The only way to repair it it to get another piece of shell or some eggshell and glue the shell to the snails shell. No adhesive of any kind can touch the snails body. Here's a good site that talks about shell damage and how to repair it if needed. http://www.rainbowsnails.com/onlines...ewDoc&docId=10 I'm not sure if you could use silicone instead of the epoxy they talk about on this site. __________________ 35G barebottom: 2 boesemani rainbowfish, 4 congo tetras, Low light plants (1.5wpg) attached to or planted in my own handmade ceramics - Anubia v Nana, Anubia v Barteri, Red Rubin Sword 2.5G - Spot (beautiful betta - Soft pink with red spots on his fins. Java Moss.

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07-12-2006, 12:01 PM	#2
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,701 Images: 30	I would avoid silicone because it takes a very long time to cure; all the while it emits toxic acetic acid. If the crack is near the snail's foot, it should heal on its own. A calcium source such as small piece of cuttlebone will help speed things. Just be sure to monitor your water hardness and pH i fyou use the cuttlebone. Cracks and holes nearer the top of the shell might not heal. I've read that using quick drying epoxy is a possible repair strategy. You don't need much and it can be applied with a Q-tip.

07-12-2006, 01:32 PM	#4
guppy12 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Linden Michigan Posts: 135 Images: 1	its a chip

07-12-2006, 02:01 PM	#5
voo Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 27	is it chipped, or is it pitted from lack of calcium?

07-13-2006, 01:19 PM	#6
guppy12 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Linden Michigan Posts: 135 Images: 1	Where could i get a mineral block?? At the LFS???