Snail Graveyard

[Beverly]

Thanks for the suggestions

Sam, yes, two dead snails over the past two days. One an astrea, one a margarita. Both picked clean. The STRANGE thing about these snails' deaths is that they were both found high up in the rock over the floor of the tank of the graveyard Both snail bottoms were pointing outward, sort wedged in the ragged countours of the rock only a couple of inches away from each other. This is why I have no freaking idea where the killer is

The idea of putting a camera on the tank sounds good in theory, but in practice, where would I aim the camera in a 120g?

Taking a few rocks out at a time may be worthy of consideration. But I'm imagining taking the rock out, securing the rocks and corals that are left so they don't fall down, testing the removed rock then putting them back in, taking more out, securing them all again so they don't fall down, and on and on and on .... And who knows.... If I take out the first three rocks and there is nothing in them, when I put them back in the bad guy(s) move into the rock I've just removed

I'm wondering how successful I would be if I tore down the tank and poked and prodded each hole in each rock if that might be simpler over the long haul than taking a few rocks out at a time.

For the trap, what would you suggest as bait?

Thanks, boB, for the offer of the trap. Might take you up on it Will let you know

[Bob I]

My trap is about six inches long by 1.5 inches. Made from smoked plastic. I was just playing with it, and it works well. It says for bait you use Krill, or freeze dried food.

[Cap'n]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Taking a few rocks out at a time may be worthy of consideration. But I'm imagining taking the rock out, securing the rocks and corals that are left so they don't fall down, testing the removed rock then putting them back in, taking more out, securing them all again so they don't fall down, and on and on and on .... And who knows.... If I take out the first three rocks and there is nothing in them, when I put them back in the bad guy(s) move into the rock I've just removed

After hearing it spelled out I retract this suggestion. I'd try the trap for a while then do the teardown and poking thing.

Are you sure there's nothing else that could be contributing to snail deaths other than a predator?

We're rooting for you!

[Quinn]

Originally Posted by CptCleverer

Are you sure there's nothing else that could be contributing to snail deaths other than a predator?

I agree, this needs to be considered carefully.

Playing the devil's advocate - most good live rock contains a variety of fauna, including predators. Most of us keep a fair number of snails. Mass snail death is not commonly reported.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by teevee

I agree, this needs to be considered carefully.

Playing the devil's advocate - most good live rock contains a variety of fauna, including predators. Most of us keep a fair number of snails. Mass snail death is not commonly reported.

CptCleverer and Quinn,

Absolutely, something other than a predator could be killing them. I just can't imagine what that would be. There were no snail deaths for a few days, then the two I described above, and there were just shells left with those two.

Haven't done anything in this tank that I'm not doing in the others, though I have not done thorough testing for awhile. Maybe pH, calcium, nitrate or other levels could be out of whack and that's what's doing them in. Maybe they are sick with some snail sickness, but how would I know?

Was flashlighting the tank a few nights ago and there was a swarm of 1/4" swimming things. They followed the light and were kind of cool. Then I noticed this worm on the glass. Sort of looked like a very small bristleworm, but with very long legs. When I shone the flashlight on the worm, the swimming things that got close to the worm looked like they got stung and fell to the ground. Don't know if they died or not, but the next night, when flashlighting, only a few of the swimming guys were left. Could be the swimmers were going through the swimming part of their life cycle the night before and were finished the next night, or could be that the worm killed them. Don't know about this.

Now I imagine if there is one of those worms with long stinging legs on the glass, there has to be more. What if a snail inadvertently brushed up against one, got stung, then was open to predation by something in the tank? Who knows??!??

Will do a thorough water testing on Monday and report back.

[Beverly]

Didn't have time to do a full testing of the 120g as promised because I was in hospital for the last week Chris was looking after the tanks while I was gone and I noticed he hadn't been topping up the tanks very well. At least he was feeding the fish and topping up a bit Found only one dead snail upon my return today, but that one may have been there for awhile.

Anyway, was making up new water for the water change this weekend and noticed I'd been reading my refractometer incorrectly Tested the 120g and SG was only 1.020 When I think back to when I got the refractometer, I'd say the snail deaths may have started a month or two after getting it.

Have spent the afternoon removing half buckets of water from the tank, adding salt, stirring thoroughly, then putting that water back into the tank. So far, am up to 1.023.

So, I'm thinking low SG must have been the cause of the snail deaths. The clicking sound is probably a harmless alpheid shrimp or something similar, and cr*p, do I EVER FEEL STUPID

[muck]

Any more deaths since you corrected the Sp.Gr.?
or has that seemed to fix things.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by muck

Any more deaths since you corrected the Sp.Gr.?
or has that seemed to fix things.

Yes, about as many as before

I've also torn down the snail death tank (120g) since the last post and put it back together, eyeing all the holes. Found one little crab that looked like it was possibly a coralline algae eater. It has a new home in another reefer's tank. No more clicking sounds from the tank, nor in any other tanks Did see the head of a pinhead-sized brown worm in one rock. At the time, wasn't thinking very clearly and didn't consider this worm a threat considering its size, but am now wondering if this itty bitty brown worm isn't the beginning of the HUGE worm described earlier on this thread

Had removed some rock as well and replaced it with rock I had in the 37g that had been (gasp!!!!) boiled to remove a case of bubble algae that just got worse every time I manually cleaned it. The boiled rock was cycled and fed to sustain a bioload in a spare 20g for several weeks before using in the snail death tank The 37g is now up and running with rock from the 120g as of this past weekend No dead snails in it Yet

[Dabbler]

We had a zebra hermit that loved Escargot. He now lives in the sump all by himself.