Hi everybody, I'm really new to snails, I've only had mine for about 2 months. Now all of a sudden "HELP"! I had a nitrite spike day before yesterday (50% water change both yesterday & today with Amquel Plus, they are back in the safe range but still a little higher than I would like). 2 dead snails yesterday, 2 more today....GURRRR:(. So ?#1- Although I think I've already figured out the answer: Are Snails really sensitive to Nitrite? They have been fed Maria's snail biscuits since day 1, this brings be to ? #2-Where's Maria, it say's the bakery is for sale. ?#3- How do you feed the Snails and keep the fish out of the Snail food? Does anybody know of a Snail feeder that I can either buy or make? and last but not least, what kind of Calcium Suppliment can you use for Fresh Water Snails? everything I've found has been for Marine Use. Sorry about the long post and "Thank You!!!!!!!!! in advance for all your help. oh one more thing are Snails sensitive to PimaFix or MalaFix?

Hi there Sheree

I will try to help if I can..yep snails are super sensitive to the nitrate spikes..have you any idea on the cause..we had a spike with the things you would least suspect..cuttle fish or bone as its called in the US I used it ground up and it got into the gravel layers and went nasty..what orniments do you have...do you have anything with a hollow bottom or holes in it..this can trap dirt and food..was your tank cycled properly it is all part of a tanks cycling to get the amonia spike followed by the nitrate one at around 8 weeks..now on to Maria fantastic products but she has stuff going on so she has closed for the time being but I hope she will open again soon..how to keep the fish from the snail food difficult one..if you have goldfish I am not to sure you can because as you know they dont seem to have a I am full part of their brains LOL and would eat till they die..I dont keep my goldies with my snails as I dont think they mix to good and the feeding is just one reason..maybe another member could give you advice on that one..as far as I know the Kents calcium only comes in the marine type and thats the one that people on applesnail use including myself..I also use kents iodine .
On to your last question the meds the only one I have heard of that is ok to use with snails is the Melafix and I have not heard anything about primafix but we may not have this in the UK..hope this has been a help I have only kept snails since Jan this year but I have learnt a lot from my losses and the great site applesnail.net which a few members here belong to as well I realy hope all goes well for you keep on doing your changes daily and hopefully you wont have any more losses to cope with..Linda

Sheree:

Pheonixx is right on target with her post! The only thing I do differently is that I do keep my snails in with my goldfish. I do a couple of things to make sure they get fed. I drop pieces of snail biscuits in at night, after the lights are out, so the goldfish are less active and the snails have a chance at it. Also, each week while I clean my tank I take out the snails and put them in a bowl of tank water with some snail biscuits. I leave them in the bowl until they are done eating.

Hope this helps!

Laura

Thanks Guy's, all your info is a God Send. Thank goodness the spike is over, I still have no idea what caused it. They are in a new 125gal. but, their filter came in with them from the pond (500gal) it's a Fishmate 1000gal. filter with an 800gal. p/h pump and a 9watt UV. It has been with them since the first of April so I'm stumped as to the cause of the spike. The only change has been the addition of 2 "ChemPro" packs to help filter out some of the smaller stuff that gets missed with just the pond filter. Also the die off ceased as soon as the param's came back under controll so I feel like the Melafix & Pimafix were not a problem. Could one or both of you tell me how much calcium I should add (There are now 9 of them). I am experimenting with a feeder that I think may be beginning to work. It's a plastic plant tray suspended by a clip from the tank lid next to the glass with about a 2" section of the side cut out and turned so it touches the glass. So far this has outwitted the goldies and the snails started going into it today without me having to put them in it. I will keep you updated on how it progresses. One more ? I have 3 clutches of eggs, they are floating on styrofoam in my small indoor plant pond (no fish, just non-hardy pond plants), How long will it be before I know if they are going to hatch?

Pheonixx, PimaFix is a new addition by the people who make Melafix it's made from Tea Tree Oil. This is the first time I have used it but it worked wonders. The Red streaks & waxy bumps from the spike were completely gone in 24 hours. You can order it from Dr's Foster & Smith's website.