Nerite Snail Mantle Separation?

[FranDreschirt]

Hi, my nerite snail has not been looking good for the past day and a half - just sitting in one spot on the bottom of the tank, not moving. I bought it a little over a week ago and it was very healthy, motoring all around the tank and eating algae.

Today it looks like it's hanging out of its shell. I picked it up and touched the foot and it recoiled, so it's still alive, but I'm not sure what's wrong with it. The only thing I could find wth a Google search was a mantle separation from a fall.

What do you guys think is wrong with it?

 

[Autumnsky]

Is that pic on the bottom, showing the shell broke off?

 

[FranDreschirt]

No it looks like it in that picture, but that is body mass, and the dark line at the bottom is the foot, the part that's normally out.

 

[FranDreschirt]

Here are a few more pictures

 

[Autumnsky]

Well that definitely is an odd looking situation and not probably in a good way.

I haven't ever encountered mantle collapse. Definitely broken shells.

Are you able to return the snail, with a "x" number of days return policy?

Also, what is your water quality, have you done a water change lately, tested the water?

My snails get sluggish or retract into the shells when the water quality goes down or when the TDS / total dissolved solids especially so when there is evaporation and you keep adding tap water. I was doing that earlier this summer and the snails really shut their traps in protest!

 

[FranDreschirt]

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I can't return the snail (4 hour trip, and it would likely stress it more), but I was hoping to heal it. Water is tested weekly and is pH 7.6, NH3+ 0 ppm, NO2 0ppm, NO3 5ppm.

 

[Autumnsky]

Water sounds good.

I am wondering about adding a little aquarium salt or Cichlid salts for the little guy. My go to is Epsom salt (/ pharmacy grocery store, no additives, oils, or scents) which isn't salt but magnesium sulfate. Magnesium is a healing agent.