Oh my gosh this is soo sad. My apple snail was on the filter intake tube near the top when I got up and I never thought anything of it. He was just cruising along eating algae. Then about 5 minutes later my son freaks out and says something's wrong with the snail. He had moved down to the intake and his little body was sucked through the slots about an inch and a half up the tube. I unplugged the filter and he shrunk back down then I gently got him out but I think he's dead. He did go back in his shell. I can see his plug is closed but a little piece of flesh is hangin out. My son said one of his antenae got sucked right up the tube. I can't believe I'm so devastated over this. He was the coolest addition to the 30 gallon. I had 2 fancies, 4 hillstream loaches and the snail. I only had him for two weeks. He ate peas out of my hand. Anyway I put him in the tank in an ornament that the goldies can't reach into to bug him. Should I put him out of his misery? I can't believe that I let this happen. The filter is an aquaclear 50. Maybe I should have screened the intake. Has this happened to anyone else? Any ways to prevent this? Thanks, Jessica

Sorry that you had to deal with that Jessica.Unfortunately Aquaclears are really good filters and are used alot,but they are not the best when it comes to snails, because of their power-that's for sure.
I have had this happen on a couple of occasions through the years.Most end up dying,but I've had a few live too,so it's a kind of wait and see game.The fact that he made it back into his shell is actually a good sign.I have found their little bodies completely sucked out and a few who lay almost all the way out of their shell.This all happened when I first got into snails and didn't know any better.

If he's alive,there's a good chance that not only has he been somewhat traumatized,but also swelled and probably why some of him is sticking out of the shell.
The only real thing that you can do,is to make sure that your params are pristene,and leave him alone for a day or two.In the evening,you can pick him up and smell him.zIt doesn't take long to figure out a snail's dead when you smell that smell.I only say to do this as to not pollute the rest of your tank with a dead snail being in there.
Hopefully he'll recoup for you.Keep us posted.

One more thing,if this would ever happen again, after you turn the filter off,I always let the snail get himself out if he's still alive,as we can do more harm than good trying to pull him out.

Sorry to hear this, Jess. I hope the little fella recovers

Oh man, I hope he's okay.

How big were the intake bits on the intake bit? I just got a snail today and now I'm a bit worried. The slats on the intake bit aren't very big but they're definetly big enough for an antenna...eek!

Well the little guy is definitely still alive. He's making his way around the tank slooowly. Then he comes part way out of his shell and goes back in. His antenae look really short now and the edge of his body is all wrinkled looking. I almost wish I had put him out of his misery since he looks so sad. I'm afraid he'll starve since I haven't seen his head come out. I tried to put him in an ornament with food where the goldies couldn't bug him but he just made his way out of it. I guess time will tell. I wonder if I should move him to another tank so that I can feed him veggies without the goldies taking them away. I had to hand feed him before so he could get some. Then again maybe he won't want food if he's injured. I have an almost 40 gallon with two baby goldies but it is only about 65 degrees and his tank now is almost 70. I could put him in my 10 gallon which is about 72. It has 8 neon tetras and an aqua frog and a weaker filter. I wonder if he would do better if I move him.

SpaceCakeGirl, I didn't think that the slots were big enough to harm him. They only look big enough to fit an antenna in. But they are about an inch tall. On my other aquaclear the holes are little squares. I guess the snail out of his shell covered so much area around the intake that it made the suction that much stronger. I am going to put screen of some sort on the intake if he survives. Thanks for the replies. Jessica

Devs how do you avoid this now?

Well I'm not so sure the little guy made the night. He was floating this morning. I think he smells a little but I'm not sure. I put him in a container of tank water because I've heard that they pollute the tank water fast when dead. I guess I'll watch him and smell him tonight. Okay maybe I'm in denial. J

Sorry this happened to your snail.