My 10gal currently has only 2 snails in it. I got both snails at the same size at the same time and from the same place. However...something is up with one of them (had them about 2 weeks now).

One snail actually looks a lot larger than it was when I bought it? I don't know if they can grow this fast, but he seems to be growing....his shell seems to have some new, paler growth at the end.

The other snail does NOT seem to be doing well...the "mouth" of his shell is jagged now because a piece seems to have dissolved/broken off, he's not grown at ALL, plus other parts of his shell look like they're getting "stress lines" or something (it looks like his shell is cracking). Also, his trapdoor thing is getting ragged too. He moves around a little and eats a little....but nowhere NEAR as active as my other snail. Plus, he's got what looks to be an old crack in his shell thats re-opening? When I bought him his shell had a white line down the center like it had cracked and then healed...now the white line is widening and the shell is looking less crisp and rigid.

My healthy snail cruises the tank for most of the day and eats and looks really nice. The other tends to lay with his trapdoor closed for most of the day and rarely does much.


And advice? How do I make sure he's still alive? (He was moving as of yesterday, but today he hasn't done anything) Also, the sick snail has a greenish brownish thing sticking to/out of his shell. Snail poop? or something more sinister? or just something that doesn't make any difference?


I can take pictures if needed

ETA: He is alive....I just saw him moving. But his shell is in very bad condition.

looks like you need to add some calcium to your tank!

The other snail is having no trouble though? And ALL that has occured within only a few days!

I probably do need to add calcium....but why is only one snail having trouble? The other snail's shell is fine and he's grown a LOT. This one is being sickly though. The crack in his shell was only a small notch last night, and today its an entire split.

How do I go about adding calcium anyway?

Sorry to see that your snail is having problems.
The first thing I want to say,is what are the params for this tank?

In order for Snails to keep their strong lovely shells,they need to be kept in a ph that's at least 7.2 or higher.
They also need to be fed fresh soft cooked veggies that are high in calcium.
If your ph is not at least 7.2/7.4,you'll have to look into adding crushed coral to your filter,depending on the type of filter,or buying a bottle of Kents Calcium,sold in the Saltwater area at the Pet Store.
I have also seen that some people will use the crushed coral as a substrate,or even mix it with the substrate that they have allready.

Hmmm.....I think that may pose a problem. The fish that are due to inhabit this tank like soft, acidic water.

I think the snails will have to move out I'll take them home this weekend and put them in my home tank. (I'm in college now).

The tank params WERE perfect until the cycle crashed within the past 1-2 days. Its still recovering.

time to do some patching.. there is tutorial at applesnail.net on how to do patching..

This is very odd.....now his shell is starting to recover a bit, and he's moving around.

By "recover" I mean that the crack is no longer clear and I can't see his body....is turned white an hardening I think. He will still need calcium and a new home though.

I think the crashed cycle was the main problem with the snail....the ammonia is slowly going back down, and I think thats what is helping the snail.

I think I will do another water change to speed it up.