Average Invert Survival Rate?

[texhorns98]

So I bought 75 nassarius snails from an LFS for a pretty good price. I dripped them for 2 hours in a HD bucket and then placed them in my DT. I immediately noticed several of them not moving. I flipped them all over and all but about 25 or so disappeared. I wouldn't think it was common to lose a third of your inverts, but I would suspect SOME loss.

 

[ralph atl]

I don't believe I've ever lost a nassarius in its first 6 months...nor tonga..

 

[frantz]

I've never dipped snails, I've read they are too sensitive for such things but without experience I can't be sure. My snails don't even get QT (aka I'm lazy) and the only thing that kills them is hermit crabs. What did you dip them in?

 

[ralph atl]

I always send them strait in tank...After a quick rinse in tank water..

 

[texhorns98]

Doug, I didn't "dip" them, I DRIPPED them. There was not much water in their bag, so I had to add a little from my tank and then I drip acclimated them over two hours. I've "heard" that inverts are fairly sensitive to salinity changes, so I figured I'd take my time.

Should I approach the LFS about the loss? They are an ARC sponsor, though I won't say who. This guy has always taken care of me, so I can't imagine this would be any different. I just wanted some feedback. I imagine it would be hard to pick out 75 snails and know they were all alive.

 

[jayu]

Yeah, it sounds like they may have not been there to begin with. I picked about 20 of them out of my live sand after it had been sitting in a tank about 1/3 full for at least a month unattended. These guys can be tough.

Maybe next time buy in smaller batches.

 

[frantz]

Ah yes, I def mis-read that one.

 

[falos]

The thing people don't rember about the drip method is to re temp the animal's before putting them in the tank

 

[rdnelson]

You said there was not a lot of water in the bag so you added tank water before you started to drip them. To me, that kind of defeated the purpose of the drip. The point is that a drop at a time slowly changes the water chemistry. By dumping water in to begin with you changed it drastically to start and then more slowly when you started dripping. Not sure if that had anything to do with the snail problem but with a fish it could.

 

[jef4y]

The worst snails I've ever received were from a website. I bought twice and they just didn't last long at all.

I realize I have to refresh my CUC every 6 months or so, but the mail order ones were ridiculous.

Now I've managed to keep a couple of big mex turbos and a dozen or so nassarius snails without any problem.

My crabs (hermits, red leg) have lived forever. Like +3 years. And I have a fighting conch that has stood since the original turn up in 08.

 

[slowjazz]

JeF4y;785239 wrote: The worst snails I've ever received were from a website. I bought twice and they just didn't last long at all.

I realize I have to refresh my CUC every 6 months or so, but the mail order ones were ridiculous.

Now I've managed to keep a couple of big mex turbos and a dozen or so nassarius snails without any problem.

My crabs (hermits, red leg) have lived forever. Like +3 years. And I have a fighting conch that has stood since the original turn up in 08.

Did you try reefcleaners ? Never had a problem with them.

 

[realfish]

Not sure if this applies in your situation. One of the online places I bought from said not to drip them. Stabilize the temp by floating the bag. During shipping the pH drops and the level of ammonia goes up. Dripping tank water into them increases the pH and magnifies the affects of ammonia.

 

[texhorns98]

You're right on the adding water part. I should have dripped them in a small bowl. I also should have asked for more water with a bigger bag. Live and learn, I suppose.

 

[rdnelson]

RealFish;785250 wrote: Not sure if this applies in your situation. One of the online places I bought from said not to drip them. Stabilize the temp by floating the bag. During shipping the pH drops and the level of ammonia goes up. Dripping tank water into them increases the pH and magnifies the affects of ammonia.

+1 I have heard this as well and it makes sense.

 

[jef4y]

slowjazz;785247 wrote: Did you try reefcleaners ? Never had a problem with them.

Yes. and 2 bad experiences is more than enough.

I've put over 400 snails from them in my tank within the last year. I don't think any are left.

 

[meagan1823]

+1 on reefcleaners. love them. always send tons more than you actually order, prices are good, great customer service, and i have live happy snails.

 

[snowmansnow]

mysterybox;785179 wrote: I always send them strait in tank...After a quick rinse in tank water..

similar here.. I float the bag for a few then into the tank

b

 

[mcphock]

For me, nassarius either live forever or die pretty quick. I've got probably 10 snails that I've had 3+ years. Most of the rest seemed to go in the first two months. Still have 1 of 2 conchs in this time frame as well.

Other species of snails never last more than a week.

 

[firstfear]

Question if the snails are closed up, what good does dripping do? I normally set the bag to floating in the tank (more for temperature) and then add about 1/4 cup or so every ten to 15 minutes and then when I get around to it I add them. ( I tend to be lazy about the inverts...)

I have good luck with that and only seem to lose the small ones to hermits or my melanarus when he gets to hungry...
Thanks,
Scott

 

[mcphock]

Closed up doesn't mean water tight.