Snail help

[GreenTerrorNoob]

I have tried keeping trapdoor snails and mystery snails in my 55 gal . The shells always seem to disolve slowly over 2-3 months and they die. Is this normal? Any help is appreciated

 

[blert]

What's the GH and KH of your water?
Are you supplementing with any calcium rich foods?

 

[boadams87]

Are you using salt in this tank?

 

[GreenTerrorNoob]

No salt in the tank.. I also was wondering if some sort of calcium supplement would work.. What foods are calcium rich? And how am i sure the snaiks are feeding on the food and not all other fish

 

[reefdiver]

You can use cudlebone. Its in tbe bird section.

 

[shellyx]

Mine have blanched kale & spinach good sources off calcium. Add cuttlebone as well as this can help. I buy calcium blocks for mine but find the cuttlebone just as effective.

 

[hpiguy]

Are you using salt in this tank?

Does a little bit of aquarium salt hurt them?

 

[Rivercats]

You really do need to invest in a kit that has both GH and KH tests, API makes one. Your GH and KH should be at least 5, if I remember right, in order for there to be enough of the proper chemicals (including calcium, which is your KH number) in the water to keep shells hard. Ph should also be no lower than 7 as acid water helps to break down their shells. The water is as important maybe more so than supplimenting food. Don't get me wrong food or calcium blocks are good but you need proper water hardness to keep them healthy.

 

[boadams87]

You can use cudlebone. Its in tbe bird section.

Do they eat this or does it dissolve?

 

[blert]

You really do need to invest in a kit that has both GH and KH tests, API makes one. Your GH and KH should be at least 5, if I remember right, in order for there to be enough of the proper chemicals (including calcium, which is your KH number) in the water to keep shells hard. Ph should also be no lower than 7 as acid water helps to break down their shells. The water is as important maybe more so than supplimenting food. Don't get me wrong food or calcium blocks are good but you need proper water hardness to keep them healthy.

+1 Except that GH is Calcium (and Magnesium) and KH is Carbonate hardness.

Google Calcium rich foods for things you can feed.

 

[Rivercats]

Yeah I did a typo, that happens when you don't sleep good

 

[reefdiver]

It will disolve in the water. Some bury it and some just drop it in.

 

[GreenTerrorNoob]

Thanks for help on water parameters.. Where can i get calcium blocks safe for my aquarium?

 

[GreenTerrorNoob]

Heres my tank

 

[shellyx]

I got my calcium blocks off e bay, but I find cuttlebone does the same job. Give plenty off calcium rich foods this has helped mine