OK, stupid question

How do I know if a snail is dead? Mine is just kinda laying at the bottom of the tank, all closed up. It did that before, but then I saw it on the side later. Its now been laying on the bottom all night. Doesnt seem to have moved. Im thinking it died. I should probably take it out? Tho the shell would make a neat little decoration......


Please bear with me here. This is my first snail, so I know nothing about them.

I've had them stay closed for up to two days.

You'll know he's dead when either:

1. he opens up limply and you can tug on his soft parts.
2. he seems to 'sink back' within his shell until he's no more.

Snails can be temperamental things. You might have a whole purchase dye off - the next purchase all survive. A slight change in pH or water chemistry can be the key. I've even killed off young snails in a tank because I kept the water 'too clean'. They don't appreciate a lot of water changing either.

The one type of snail I've yet to see a death out of, is the olive nerites. They seem more tolerant of rapid environmental changes than others. And though I'm attempting to breed them in fresh - they normally won't be successful since fish eat their swimming larvae.

Snails can go into like a resting or sleep mode for days. One way to tell is if you pick it up and tap on it's door lightly. It should pull in a bit.

You'll also smell it, omg... the SMELL!

i hope the little guy is okay.

Holey Rock of Texas wrote:

i hope the little guy is okay.

So do I. Id feel bad if I killed him :( I know it wouldnt have been due to lack of food, as there is algae all over that tank, which is why I got him.

Sniff test. That's the real way to find out if he has passed on.

And you will definately know it when you smell it.

James0816 wrote:

Sniff test. That's the real way to find out if he has passed on.

And you will definately know it when you smell it.

He smells like a fish tank. Maybe hes asleep.

ok..if he smells like fish tank, he's still with ya.

how long has he been tucked in the shell? Sometimes they can go days like that. If you feel like something is not right, you can get a shallow tupperware bowl and place him in there. Have just enough water to cover him about 1/2 inch. This will allow him to raise the syphon tube up with minimal resistance to get air.

James0816 wrote:

ok..if he smells like fish tank, he's still with ya.

how long has he been tucked in the shell? Sometimes they can go days like that. If you feel like something is not right, you can get a shallow tupperware bowl and place him in there. Have just enough water to cover him about 1/2 inch. This will allow him to raise the syphon tube up with minimal resistance to get air.

Hes been tucked away since last night. I wasnt sure if its OK, seeing as I dont know much about snails, lol. Only thing I "knew" was they breed really rapidly (but I was reassured by people here, and at the fish shop that this type wont breed rapidly, and if it did lay eggs I would easily find them). If I dont see him in a different spot by tonight I will put him in the container I brought my betta home in (I kept it to use for transferring fish if needed, and because I hate throwing away something that can be used again).

Thanks for all the info guys. Im glad I came here and didnt just assume he was dead and give him the swirly salute.

One day is definately too early to tell anything. Give it some time and see how he does later.

James0816 wrote:

One day is definately too early to tell anything. Give it some time and see how he does later.

I will. Thanks. I get kinda paranoid about these things. I have never had a snail, so I dont know the signs. And its in my baby tank, so I dont want to leave a dead snail in there too long (afraid it will make the water toxic or something).

Shea wrote:

You'll also smell it, omg... the SMELL!

I could not help but burst out laughing when I read this!
I have discovered two types of snails who were stow-aways on some plants and they have been reproducing. So reading this thread I am also learning.... Gotta trust the nose!

Its official. Hes dead. He was shrinking back even more into his shell, and started to smell funky. He has been disposed of already. Not sure if I will try snails again.

Oh my god... this has happened to me too ! I would wait a day like you did and see if the snail moves to move or if you feed the fish and the snail might perk up as they are scavengers. If nothing changes though and the snail is in the same place..it's probably dead. And yeah it might stink when it dies. This is what I did and I haven't gotten snails again since,...but I liked them.

PrettyBubbles wrote:

Oh my god... this has happened to me too ! I would wait a day like you did and see if the snail moves to move or if you feed the fish and the snail might perk up as they are scavengers. If nothing changes though and the snail is in the same place..it's probably dead. And yeah it might stink when it dies. This is what I did and I haven't gotten snails again since,...but I liked them.

Yeah, I checked it today and he was sunken in more, and was starting to smell funky. I got rid of it, because I dont want to funk up the baby tank. I have actually kept these babies alive for about a month, and would like to grow them out all the way. Its kinda exciting for the kids to see the babies grow, and I dont want them dying because a dead snail funked up their tank.

Yeah that was a smart thing to do in taking it out, you could probably save the shell if you want. I put mine outside when it died and the next day or so it had been emptied, so something had a snack. And kudos on the baby fish, watching them grow up can be so cool.

The best thing to do when you suspect issues is to use the tupperware bowl. When they are weak/in trouble, they can't get to the surface for air. A low water level allows them to deploy the syphon with minimal effort and get air.

James0816 wrote:

The best thing to do when you suspect issues is to use the tupperware bowl. When they are weak/in trouble, they can't get to the surface for air. A low water level allows them to deploy the syphon with minimal effort and get air.

I will keep that in mind for next time. IF there is a next time, lol. I kinda dont need a snail anymore, tho. The babies are now in the 5 gallon, and there is no algae in there. The snail was just for algae control in the 1 gallon tank. Who knows. I may just cave and buy another one at some point.

Note.... the only stupid question is the one NOT ASKED!
keep them coming... some has bound to have been thru it, LOL

CajunGator wrote:

Note.... the only stupid question is the one NOT ASKED!
keep them coming... some has bound to have been thru it, LOL

LOL, fair enough.

I thought snails were supposed to be easy to care for. Why did I kill a dang snail? I never thought of myself as a fish killer. I had always been pretty lucky with them. Heck, as a kid I had a pleco, 2 blind cave tetras, a gourami, and albino cory, and a few other fish all in a 10 gallon tank. And they THRIVED. The tank was way over populated, but the fish did so well. Even when I did 100% water changes. Heck, I had to GIVE away the goldfish I had in there cuz it wouldnt die (It kept eating my other fish and made my tank sooooo nasty). And now I cant keep a snail alive? (all the other fish are doing good, tho)

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I can't seem to keep Briggs longer than a few months myself. All seems to go well with them and then they just peter out. Good water parms, plenty of food and calcium. No clue.

I have an apple snail the size of a small apple in my 55g planted i guess the thick vegetation is keeping him or her alive