Question about Mystery Snails

[jehenry89]

I got 4 mystery snails about a month or so ago. As their shells have started to grow out, it looks very thin compared to how they were when I first put them in the tank and I really don't know what is going on. These are my first snails, so still new to them. I have a piece of cuttlebone buried in my substrate. I have been feeding them butternut squash as of recently, I use to feed them cucumbers and summer squash but changed because of the higher calcium content in the butternut. I also tryed to feed them kale since it is one of the highest calcium veggies, but they wouldn't touch it. I haven't tryed spinach because of the fact that they wouldn't touch the kale. My blue mystery snails look worse than my gold ones.

All in all, I really don't know what else to do to ensure their shells stay healthy. They are all very active and seem "healthy" Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to increase their shells health?

Ph: 6.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20
Hardness: 6
Phosphate: 2
Copper: 0
I also fertilize using Flourish Comprehensive as well as all the macro nutrients.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I just read a thread about someone feeding there snail tums? Never heard of it but maybe you can look some stuff about about it.

 

[Wiggles24]

I feed my snails tums all the time. They absolutely LOVE them. Make sure you get the fruit flavored kind

 

[Wiggles24]

My shrimp like them too! Lol

 

[PuddlesAquatics]

Need I know your gh and kh to really know. A low kh can lead to pitting in the shells. Also your ph is low and that can thin their shells.


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[hennaartist]

Need I know your gh and kh to really know. A low kh can lead to pitting in the shells. Also your ph is low and that can thin their shells.


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I agree! With a ph of 6.6 the kh may be low and could definitely be the cause of this problem.

 

[jehenry89]

I just did a KH test, it was 8. So if I am reading this chart right, it would be a Gh of 143.2?

 

[hennaartist]

Your kh should be around 80, not 8. If it is in fact 8, most likely your problem is a result of low ph and low kh. There are several ways to raise this (I use a little bit of limestone in my aquarium), but some people use coral or shells.

 

[jehenry89]

I honestly don't know how to read this test lol. It took my 8 drops to get it bright yellow. It says that means I have a GH/KH ppm of 143.2. I know that my area has VERY hard water by talking to the people at the fish store.

 

[hennaartist]

You could always take a water sample to the fish store and have them test it. Mine (and most) do it absolutely free.

 

[jehenry89]

According to the Kh test kit I have, I am at 8 drops till its yellow, which according to the chart equals about 146ppm. I don't have a Gh test kit, I will have to go out tomorrow and get one and test that as well. What is a good Kh and Gh for mystery snails? I keep reading different opinions and I want to know what you guys think is best.

 

[jehenry89]

Anyone?