Golden Apple Snails in their shells

[hiddenhome]

I have two golden apple snails. They're not as action packed as the zebra snails and just seem to remain in their shells I know one of them isn't dead because it comes out every now and again, but then retreats.

I don't know if the other one is dead. It floated to the top a couple of weeks ago, then sank again. I think it's been out since, but can't be sure

The tank is well establised, well filtered and my zebra snails are whizzing around as usual.

Are my apples too cold? They were sold to me as cold water creatures. We light the fire in the lounge and it's the warmest room in the house, but we don't use the central heating.

I don't know much about them but believe apple snails are for tropical tanks, are they in a cold water one then?

Yes

I was told that was okay. They had them in cold water tanks in the aquarium place.

I might give them a ring to find out what to do.

They are fine in coldwater tanks as long as it doesn't get too cold. In a heated house they should be just fine. I kept mine with goldfish for ages and they grew massive.

You could try tempting them out with a bit of lettuce (make sure it doesn't have pesticides on it!). You'd know if it was dead because the trapdoor comes away and they disintegrate really quickly. And they STINK.

BTW, snails kept in acidic water often need supplements to help build their shells. You can buy special snail additives but it might be better to give them some dark green leafy veg to give them extra calcium because that won't mess with the water parameters then. If you have hard water then you don't need to worry so much, just feed them as normal.

I've phoned the store and the chap said they like hard water and that the area I live in is okay.

Their 'doors' are still there and one of them as partially buried itself in the gravel.

I did see them mating a while ago. I'll test the ph and see what it is.