Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping => Invertebrates - Shrimps and Snails => Topic started by: Fiona on April 19, 2016, 12:16:17 PM
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I'd had a couple of nerites in quarantine with the shrimp, one to remain in the shrimpery with the shrimps and the other so I could ensure it was fish disease free before I posted it off to somebody. I moved them into the shrimpery with the shrimps over the weekend and I've just found it on its back with a partially open trapdoor which doesnt close when I tap the shell.
First thing I did was to test the water and there's no ammonia but a trace of nitrite :yikes:
I need to find the other nerite now and do a water change.
Could the onion snail have just reached old age? Nothing lives for ever after all.
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I would lift it out of the water and sniff it carefully. If it doesn't make you :sick: it's not dead. Put it back in the tank the right way up and see if it moves. I've had nerites that look like yours which have made a come back from the dead, but others which didn't. If it doesn't smell, you can only wait and see.
If it does smell, it is dead I'm afraid.
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A tentative sniff and :sick: how can something so small smell so bad. RIP Mr Onion. You weren't kidding about that smell Sue, it's haunting my nose! :yikes:
I think I triggered a mini cycle in the shrimpery when I rinsed out the sponge. I'll wait till things settle then add some nerites back in.
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The smell is something you never forget. That's why I always advise a careful sniff; if you take a good strong sniff it takes hours for the smell to leave your nose :-\
But it is a very good diagnostic tool for snails.
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That smell should be bottled and used as an offensive weapon!