Snails dying, everything else fine

[jdwells]

So recently I had a mini crash after I moved the tank from SC. Since then, about 3 weeks ago, I put in 5 turbos and about 20 hermits to replenish the cuc and to combat the resulting algae bloom (still happening and it's killing me!) Anyway, at least 4 of the snails are dead, and the 5th is mia, but all the hermits are loving life. Side note, of the 20 or so hermits 2 of them are huge and don't look like regular red/blue legs and I don't recognize them.
Now, I got them all from Blue Planet so I'm sure it's something in my tank and NOT something from them, plus it's been a couple weeks.
So why are JUST the snails dying? Is something attacking them? I havn't seen it, but who knows what happens after lights out.
I also have 8 fish who are all doing well and a coral banded shrimp who is doing great.

 

[heathlindner25]

Turbo snails die,fact of life.

 

[jdwells]

I know but they've only been in there 3 weeks.
And at least 4 died all at the same time.
They definitely didn't starve in my algae garden tank and I don't think Blue Planet sol me geriatric snails. lol


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[heathlindner25]

Tank temp? turbos like it cold.

 

[clay4au]

crabs will kill/eat snails and take their shell

 

[jdwells]

The temp is steady at 78 but it got to 81 like 2 weeks ago. Stupid heaters...
Yeah the crabs were eating one of them until I pulled them out but still havnt taken the shell. All 4 that I see are seemingly unmolested.


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[hiimsean]

Clay4AU;920816 wrote: crabs will kill/eat snails and take their shell

Yup, I've seen hermits ravaging a flipped over snail to get its shell.

 

[jimmystephens]

Ive never had a turbo die. It probably got attacked by the crabs. Ive had plenty of other snails die just not turbos

 

[camellia]

How is your mag level?
Snails are the first to go with high mag.

 

[redstang]

Alk? Nitrates?

 

[tbub1221]

I had turbos die due to lack of food , could they be starving ?

 

[jeffmuse]

Turbos are very effective at algae control; however, I have not found them to be particularly hardy. I have had them die unexpectedly also.

 

[jennm]

Please post parameters.

It could be the crabs. It could also be a fish preying on them, or a water quality issue... or a number of other variables.

Jenn

 

[jdwells]

Temp 79
Nitrates 0
Ph 7.8
Alk 6.5
Salinity 1.026
Ca 425
Phos 0
Mag 1300
This was a week ago and I'll test again today if I have time. Also phosphates are there but with the algae I don't think it showing.
The test are salifert and pretty new.
I don't dose anything yet, just use reef crystals. I did have a problem keeping my temp up and got a new heater last week which has fixed the problem.


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[jdwells]

I don't think fish have been messing with them. Crabs maybe but there were 4 dead snails and nobody took their shells so I don't think that would've been the motive. The crabs pulled one out of its shell but then started eating the body and not taking over the shell.


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[redstang]

Do you have any of the predatory whelks? I found a few in my tank.

 

[ringo®]

heathlindner25;920814 wrote: Tank temp? turbos like it cold.

I'm with Heath on this one.

 

[jdwells]

No whelks that I've seen. The only other snails in there are the really small ones. I can't remember what they're called but someone IDd them and said they're fine.
As for "cold" how cold? 78/79 is normal right?


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[ringo®]

Normal for a reef tank, yes. I think these particular snails are more at home in the lower end of the 70's. I don't keep them personally, but I've always been told to expect them to be short lived.

 

[traylor23]

Dinoflagelettes will kill snails too. It doesn't have to be appearing on your sand, but could still be in the water column.