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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 2, 2006 23:37:24 GMT
Hey everyone, finally joined the aquatic side of snails! My boss at the pet shop I work at shocked me by getting in a huge order of beautiful "mystery snails" as they were called. He had purple, blue, olive green, yellow and ivory white. Naturaly, I coulden't help but take home two itty bitty babys I found while feeding fish, and bought them some shrimp pellets as well. Im also in the process of locating a safe calcium suppliment to add to the water to get their shells looking better. Anyway, I adore them! They are my two favorite colours, one is a lovely olive green and the other a lovely purple. Sense they are so small, ive been pulling them from the aquarium to make sure they eat due to my greedy fish they are living with. They're eating good and just need some shell repair! ;D   You can really see they need some calcium suppliment in this picture. I adore these wee guys SO much im looking foward to adopting more varieties of aquatic snails, yay!! |
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 3, 2006 2:48:09 GMT
Lovely! And congrats on the rescue. I don't think it's a calcium deficiency, so much as it's low pH that's caused the erosion you're seeing, so here's what you do to both raise the calcium, and the pH.
Get some Crushed Coral, or Coral Fingers. These will be found in the SALTWATER section of the lfs. It's perfectly safe to use with freshwater.
Take a handful, and pop it into a filter bag, and into the filter. The water moving over the coral will help buffer the water, raise calcium and raise the pH. Remember, you're looking for the pH to be between 7.4 and 8.0. Don't bother with the prepackaged pH UP stuff, as it doesn't work as well as the coral.
Oh, and your snails are pomacea bridgesii aka Brigs.
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 3, 2006 3:19:11 GMT
Thanks so much! Especialy for the ID, what is their common name? I do have a concern though, will the rise in pH harm the other fish in my aquarium? I think 7.4 should be alright, but 8.0 MIGHT be too stresseful for the fish, then again I keep hardy fish normaly! lol. I am asking also because I am starting a lovely aquairum when I get to Scotland and plan to keep fish with the snails. In the future I may upgrade to a snail-only aquarium if that is best but this is what I can get away with until me and my boyfriend have our own place. Any thoughts?
I can certainly try to find a small amount of crushed coral (or heck, borrow a bit from the saltwater aquariums at work) when I go to work on Sunday and get them in a filter bag and put into the filter. I also have another idea, I found "Kents Liquid Calcium" and it says it also buffers the pH. Do you think if I dilluted it just a bit and added it regularly, it would raise the pH just enough while giving them calcium as well? In the aquarium I have right now there are three baby goldfish, a female betta, a tadpole, and my two snails. It's kind of my rescue/oops stupid me aquarium, so it wasn't planned properly or anything!
Edit: actually now that I think about it your idea with the crushed coral would be MUCH easier, as long as the higher pH wont harm my freshie fish.
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 3, 2006 3:35:51 GMT
A pH of 7.4 will be perfectly fine for the vast majority of freshwater fish, so no worries there. Scotland's water is very soft and acidic, from what I know, and you will definately need to buffer the water for the snails, to keep the shells nice and hard.
The Kent's is fine for adding calcium to the water, but it doesn't buffer the water or raise the pH much, if at all. You'd be best off doing the crushed coral in addition to the Kent's. Dose the Kent's according to the bottle directions, but be sure and NOT let it fall directly onto a snail. I think it's best to add it to the filter, as it will be mixed well before going into the tank.
If you do "raid" the shop tanks, be sure and soak and rinse and soak and rinse and soak some more, as snails do NOT like salt in the water.
The common name for your snails is Brigs, or Brig. "Mystery snail" means nothing. "Applesnail" means nothing. Those names are just what petshops label them as, as they don't know what they have.
Oh! I just noticed that this was your first and second post, so welcome aboard!
EDIT:
They love courgette, kale, dandelion leaves, dill, collard greens, butternut squash, plus fish flakes, shrimp pellets, algae wafer, and the like. Presoften the veggies by lightly cooking them first, as Brigs can't eat hard, fresh veggies and fruits.
Your 2 snails will be perfectly fine in a tank as small as a 5g, and a 10g would make a great permanent home for the two of them.
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 3, 2006 4:14:51 GMT
Aww thanks! You've been such a big help! Ive only been in the land snail realm until now, glad to be learning about aquatic snails as well! And thanks for the welcome! ;D Sounds like im all set for keeping my snails healthy! I am actually planning on a 10 gallon so PERFECT! ;D I was only looking at kents liquid calcium because it's available here in the states, but i'll stick with the crushed coral idea as it sounds more dependable and easy for that matter! Will the crushed coral bring the water up to just 7.4 as long as I don't add other suppliments? Thank you for the forwarning on the Scottish water, I knew it was more soft, but didn't know how it would effect my snails, thanks! Ah thanks for the heads up on giving the coral a good wash too, though I was already planning of course! I'll be sure to give the crushed coral (if I have to take it from the shop aquariums) a good soaking and rinsing first. I don't think they sell it in itty bitty bags, but the shop might have an open bag somewhere so i'll see what ive got as far as options. What i'll also do is when I fly to Scotland i'll bring my crushed coral filled filter bag with me to save a bit of trouble finding another small bit of the stuff.  So they're Brig's, huh? How adorable! That's almost my boyfriends last name, add a g. I bet he will get a laugh out of that! If I see my boss on sunday i'll see if he already knows about the pH thing and the calcium thing as well. I'll also let him know their real name, but then again I don't want to push him TOO much. He really goes out of his way for his critters in his shop, but then again...haha, crazy snail girl! Wow, what an awesome food list by the way! Thank you! How fun! I bought some shrimp pellets when I adopted them and they've been enjoying those a lot. I'll have to find some of those other goodies to give them a variety in their little diet. Im so exited! Can't wait to get them in shape so I can see how pretty they really are under that corrosion! And wow, wait until they grow up, I bet they will be real lookers! Ok ok, gotta think of names! Wait, darn it, I want to know if they are a boy or girl first, but I was told that isn't possible. Any word on that? |
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 3, 2006 12:03:42 GMT
Oh yes, it's possible to sex them. They are definately boys and girls. Yours may be too little yet to positively sex yet, though. Sexing Applesnails linkThe erosion they've already got won't repair much, if at all, but with the correct buffering and pH, any new growth should be perfect. LOL I thought you were already in the UK, so that's why I listed courgette......we know it as zucchini NO iceberg lettuce, as although they will eat it, it's got nothing of real value in it, and they can starve while eating tonnes, literally! Enjoy them, and do keep up on the waterchanges~! Snails poop a LOT! |
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 3, 2006 17:58:36 GMT
Wow, awesome link! Glad there's a way to do it. I'll have those babies named as soon as I know their gender! I'll be over soon enough, in about a months time, so im already getting in the habit of using trousers and chips instead of pants and fries. ;D I didn't know zucchini was called courgette over there, thanks for the heads up! That will save me loads of trouble when I tell my boyfriend I want to make zuccini bread! LOL. Does cucumber have a different name over there as well? Oh and no worries on the iceburg, heck, I even avoid eating it! I try to go for fresh spinach or a lettuce/salad mix instead for my sandwitches and whatever else. Oh no!! Well, hey, better now then never getting them on the right track. By the time they are grown im sure it won't be so noticeable, as they are still itty bitty babies. Will do! I am actually a seahorse girl in disguise so I understand about all that advanced water care. Pretty much anything freshwater feels easy after learning marine care!  All I need to know is the basics of what the snalies want and I can easily meet it for them. Looking foward to it! Even the snail poop. In fact, speaking of seahorses, i'll be stocking up on snails for a cleanup crew for the two seahorses I adopt in the future. Fun! I'll have land snails, freshwater snails, saltwater snails...maybe I should adopt some lignus snails so i'll have tree snails and ive got my own snail zoo going!! Hmm, what else what else!! ;D Hey, while we're on snail care stuff, mind if I ask if the nerite snails have a different set of care requirement from the brigs I adopted? I'll probably hold off on them as im not sure if I could fit more snails into my future 10 gallon, I just want to know because they are absolutely beautiful. Especialy the green lace nerite I saw at a snail shop. Do you think I could squeeze one in as well if I find one? |
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 3, 2006 22:10:08 GMT
Heh, I'm not "over there" as I'm in Canada, but I lurk here and help out now and again Nerites, well, it depends on the type. Most are really brackish/marine, but the olives and zebras seem to do well enough in freshwater. They do need really really hard water though, which the brigs will be fine with, but that some fish absolutely don't like. Remember, SW requires topoffs and the occasional waterchange, while FW really needs a good (50%) waterchange at least once a week, along with rinsing the filter media (NOT chucking it out, just re-using it), and a good gravel vac at the same time. Ooooh, you're going to be able to have GALS! Lucky lucky you! They're illegal in the US, and some of them are illegal to have here in Canada, and they're gorgeous and HUGE, and I want some! Definately think about some of those if you're going for a snailie zoo |
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 4, 2006 0:13:51 GMT
Ah, might help if I think to look at your location. oops! Ahhhh...sounds like maybe I better hold off on them then until I can dedicate an aquarium to them with specific water. That's fine really, I can wait. Rather have happy snails then unhappy ones just to make me happy. Ah alright, I see the difference the snails would make on freshwater changes, that's perfectly fine. Freshwater changes are much easier because you don't need saltwater pre-mixed. You know something? At the shop I work at I tell people not to replace their filter media ALL the time, they look at me SO confused, like "What??? Don't you change it like a vaccume bag?" Sense I am sure most don't have the capasity to sit and listen to me tell how the nitrogen cycle works to explain why you only gently rince your filter (idealy in a bit of water pulled from the aquarium), I just tell him in simple language "Now, you know there's a difference between water from your tap and water your fish live in?" they usualy agree "Well, that's MATURE water, and what's in your filter does that. So if you replace it, you've taken away what's keeping your aquarium clean" ahhhh, it's so difficult! I want to scream "Nitrites and Nitrates people!!! Ammonia is the enemy!! Be good to your beneficial bactera!!! Treat it good and it will treat your fish good, treat it like a member of the aquarium! bla bla bla!!" Can you tell im a seahorse girl in disguise. Woo hoo! 2 years lerking at the seahorse forums. ;D I know.....MUHAHAHA! Already in the planning. ;D I am going to start with a special adoption from Kevin at petsnails for my first GALS, then when me and my boyfriend have our own house (and my poor boyfriend can't stop me going snail mad then!) I will be thinking of adopting a baby tiger and maybe a baby lignus if I hear someone managed to hatch some. Right now the lignus is a challenge, everyones trying to figure out how to meet their care needs. I look foward to helping by giving one of the (hopeful) first captive bred babies a try to try to make him happy. I took a look at the saltwater snails as well just out of exitement of the idea of my own "snail zoo" and saw an amazing little critter I would love to adopt. Apparently the abalone shell comes from a snail, woo hoo! They're like 3 inches, but they're cuties to me. I woulden't mind adopting a couple for my future seahorse aquarium. The fun part is, if they die (not that that's ever a good thing!) they leave you behind a beautiful shell. And they're being aquacultured now, so it's all good! |
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 4, 2006 0:56:50 GMT
Oh yeah, nitrITES vs nitrATEs and the whole nitrogen cycle. I've posted a really simplistic article here on Cycling, feel free to print it off, if you like. I think it explains the whole thing really easily, even if the terminology isn't quite correct.
I know you're thinking snailies for the SW tank, but do give the Blue and Red-Clawed Hermit crabs a think over. Also, nassarius and Margaritas. Small, burrowing, and really pretty. The Margaritas can actually be handled, too!
Some people have acclimated the "common" MTS (Malaysian Trumpet Snail) to SW as well, with good results. They're really neat also.
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 4, 2006 1:25:31 GMT
If it helps to explain to the customers then it's WELL worth looking, then again, half the time they come in thinking they just need "fish and water" yea right!
You know, I had planned on nassarius snails for a while, the seahorse folks always highly reccomend them. I meant the abalone as more of the pet of the aquarium vs. the depended cleanup crew. Didn't think about the Margaritas though, will have to get a few of them too for the crew! ;D
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Post by luvfishies on Jun 4, 2006 1:36:32 GMT
Oh yeah if it was just fish and water, then why am I doing waterchanges on 21 tanks tonight? LOL and Oh and to save you searching, here's the article Cycling a tank is basically this:
Fish give off ammonia, thru respiration. Decaying food and solid poo also decompose into ammonia. Ammonia is deadly to fish in small amounts. Bacteria #1 are attracted to the ammonia, and start eating it. They give off nitrITE which is also toxic at low levels. Bacteria #2 then come along and eat the nitrite, giving off nitrATE. NitrATE is not nearly as toxic as the ammonia and nitrITE, but it does accumulate, and needs to be removed via those partial waterchanges we do every week.
Now, these little bacterias need a place to live. While they will gladly live on solid surfaces in the tank (rocks, decorations, etc), their preferred home is in moving water with lots of Oxygen. That would be the filter in a fishtank.
These little bacteria are the reason you very very very rarely ever completely dismantle and "clean" the decor in an established tank. They are also the reason we advise to NOT throw out the filter stuff, but to rather rinse the floss or foam in "used" tankwater that you've removed when doing maintenance (partial water change). Hot, Cold, Chlorine and some medications can and will kill off our friendly bacteria. We need to treat them with some care if we want the fishies to be happy and healthy.
So that's the short and sweet version of what goes on. There are a few ways to make this happen in a new tank, from adding ammonia from a bottle (NO FISH!!!) to adding a couple of hardy fish and testing like mad and changing water when needed - ie the ammonia and/or nitrITES get over 0.5-1.0 ppm
There is also a new product out by Marineland, called BioSpira, which adds the necessary bacteria right from the beginning.
IMO all other "bacteria in a bottle" are a waste of money, so you don't need them. Spend the money on tests for ammonia, nitrITES, nitrATES and pH, instead.
RED denotes a very toxic substance. Keep the level below 1.0ppm in a new, cycling tank.
GREEN denotes a less toxic, but still problematic substance. Keep the level below 20 ppm for most fish.
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Post by celticcraftress on Jun 4, 2006 1:49:24 GMT
Nicely written, funny how we have to explain it like we're explaining it to a little kid. Oh well, we all start somewhere! I had a lot of trouble grasping the concept at first but caught on right quick because I WANTED to learn! ;D Wanted to learn how to be a good seahorse mum. ;D |
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All I need to know is the basics of what the snalies want and I can easily meet it for them. Looking foward to it! Even the snail poop.