Oh crap. Ds1's snail has died

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

We think.

It just looks like an empty shell. Where is the body???

[liahgen]

bird got it?

Where did it live?

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

It lives/d in the fish tank with 5 fish.

We haven't had it very long. how long do they live for?

[liahgen]

don't know about water snails but Africans can live a long time can't they?

Bird obviously didn't get it then, maybe a fish ate it.

Can you take it out of the water and see if it's right at the back perhaps?

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

It is a yellow apple snail.

DH cleaned out the tank today and didn't notice anything untoward.

[liahgen]

right at the back of it's shell I meant.

Wil ds be upset or can it be easily replaced?

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

DH says there is nothing there as there is no room for the body.

We could easily replace it but are not inclined too to be honest as he has been difficult lately.

He will be upset, I am sure.

[sullysmum]

My ramshorn snails last about two years and when they die all thats left is the shell.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Where does the body go though? Very strange.

[sullysmum]

I dont know. Perhaps either the fish eat it or it rots really quick or both?

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

The shell is still in the tank.

Dh doesn't appear to think it needs to come out.

[sullysmum]

I usually just remove the shell when i clean the tank out.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Dh has decided to leave the snail in the tank in the hope that DS1 doesn't notice the snail has died.

[sullysmum]

Yes, just pretend its asleep alot!

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

LOL.

[sullysmum]

Did you have to put in special food for apple snails, i dont with the ramshorn ones.Now im thinking of getting one.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I hope not. We put normal fish food in. Oops.

[RubberDuck]

Snails eat any algae in the tank. You can also put in algae tablets and slices of cucumber wedged in the bottom of the tank. I give mine a slice of cucumber with some algae pellets wedged in (pellet pizza!) about once every other week or so, but that's because I'm a snail short at the moment, so they have a LOT of algae to be getting on with! Normally I'd do that once a week otherwise.

Their innards rot very quickly - I have once picked one up and the innards fell out at the same time . Another test if you think they're dead before the trapdoor bit falls out and they go hollow is the smell. Dead snails smell really really bad.

[sullysmum]

I decided after reading this thread again to get a few more baby ramshorn snails, and a zebra snail and an apple snail yesterday, all okay except the apple snail has a hole in its shell and is dead already!!!!!!!