Snails (Stupid newbie question)

KurtG wrote:
Can snails, conchs, etc. right themselves if I just dump them in the
tank and they land on their back?

Yes.

George Patterson
No one ever says "It's only a game." when his team is winning.

"George Patterson" wrote in message news:Nzoxh.1182$hH2.243@trnddc02...
KurtG wrote:
Can snails, conchs, etc. right themselves if I just dump them in the
tank and they land on their back?

Yes.

Are we talking about sand bottom tanks ?
Because I would disagree with you then...

I have seen astrea snails being stuck on sand
turned upside down and not being able to
grasp anything hard in nearby to get leverage.

If you have sandy bottom in your tank never
just drop snails - place them on the rocks right
side up and watch them until they can walk...
I see many snails being stuck on the sand.

Pszemol wrote:

Are we talking about sand bottom tanks ?
Because I would disagree with you then...

I have seen astrea snails being stuck on sand
turned upside down and not being able to
grasp anything hard in nearby to get leverage.

What is REALL hilarious is wathcing an astrea try to climb on something
that is lighter than itself. I once watch an astrea try to climb on top
of a nori clip that had come loose and fallen to the bottom of the tank.
Every time he'd start to creep over the edge to get on top, it'd flip
over (since he waieghed more). The persistent little mollusk kept at it
for a good 20 mins before *I* gave up wathing.



If you have sandy bottom in your tank never
just drop snails - place them on the rocks right
side up and watch them until they can walk...
I see many snails being stuck on the sand.

Depends on the smail type. Ceriths have no issue going on sand.

In the gulf of mexico in the pan handle you can literaly gather up
handfulls of ceriths......LFS here get $3.98 each for them.....I often
bring back a bunch every time we collect water or go to the coast. YOu
read that critters as such collected in cooler waters never last long
in a reef type tank, however the pan handle of thre Gulf of Mexico is
not tropical by any degree of the imagination and I have never had a
problem with snails, or hermits or even some of the tiny damsels and
other critters lasting in a reef tank at temps of the 81-83 degree
range.....

My biggest issue with ceriths is that the typical hermits I keep loves
to kill em for new houses, even though I may have a bunch of suitable
shells in the tank,m they seem to prefer a fresh new house over a
discarded shell.......


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I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

"Tristan" wrote in message ...
In the gulf of mexico in the pan handle you can literaly gather up
handfulls of ceriths......LFS here get $3.98 each for them.....I often
bring back a bunch every time we collect water or go to the coast

I would like to see a picture of them - do you maybe have one to share ?

My biggest issue with ceriths is that the typical hermits I keep loves
to kill em for new houses, even though I may have a bunch of suitable
shells in the tank,m they seem to prefer a fresh new house over a
discarded shell.......

Maybe snails just got eaten when already weak or dieing ?

Pszemol wrote:
Maybe snails just got eaten when already weak or dieing ?

Or, when the hermit is hungry. Often the snail wins although he's
usually left on his back.

"KurtG" wrote in message .. .
Pszemol wrote:
Maybe snails just got eaten when already weak or dieing ?

Or, when the hermit is hungry. Often the snail wins although he's
usually left on his back.

Most of the snails we keep in our tanks have opercullum,
which is tight fitted "doors" to their shells. When bothered
by crabs/shrimps or other opportunistic predators like this
they retract to the safe home and close their doors behind.

Crabs cannot eat healthy snails - only sick/weak/dead ones.

A different story is with predatory snails attacking other snails.
They inject venom and paralyse & kill the snail before it
can retract to their safe heaven shell.