astrea acting funny?

ProAccordV6 · #1 02/21/2007, 12:28 PM

One of my astreas is acting a little weird. I keep finding him fallen off the glass and on his back. I put him back on the glass or somewhere on the sand and eventually he craws away or sticks back onto the glass. But within a few hours he's back on his back again. I only have a 12 gal aquapod so i dont want to risk him dying and poisoning the tank. Right now he's attached himself to an empty shell and has been chilling there for about a day.

Is this normal? Is he on his way out? What should I do. I dont want to toss him if it isnt his time, but i dont want to risk him dying and messing up my tank.

blackheart · #2 02/21/2007, 12:43 PM

how lng has you tank been set up how many snails do you have and it there algae in the tank?

six.line · #3 02/21/2007, 12:45 PM

Ditto on the questions blackheart asked.

All the astreas I've had aren't prone to 'weird' behavior. They occasionally fall over, but they're more than capable of righting themselves. You're probably best off keeping your hands out of the tank. Let him figure his way through the tank himself. If he dies, all you'll need to do is a few extra water changes. I had a few die in my 15, and it was all right.

Just leave him alone. He'll be fine.

ProAccordV6 · #4 02/21/2007, 01:03 PM

there are a few snails altogether i'd say 5. There is some hair algae on one of my pieces of live rock. I usually right him with a long scraper stick that I have, therefore not putting my hands in the water.

My tank has been running since last july. Water params are stable now and have been for several months. Temp is about 80 degrees.

i'll also add that when i got him, he was able to right himself, but doesnt seem to be able to now.

papagimp · #5 02/21/2007, 01:16 PM

I agree, I wouldn't worry too much. I started with about 20 astrea's in my 55g, I've intentionally pulled about 5 of them from the tank and relocated them, but still only have about 3 or 4 still in the tank. lot's of empty shells around and I've never removed a dead snail. Extra water change if it happens. But an astrea is a dirt cheap snail so I wouldn't go to extreme measures on it's account. Sorry if that sounded cold hearted people.

ProAccordV6 · #6 02/21/2007, 02:37 PM

i'm more or less worried about it dying and me not noticing it, or it happening while i'm gone. I've heard horror stories about snails dying in snall tanks such as mine. i might just pitch it if it doesnt start acting normal in the next couple days

papagimp · #7 02/21/2007, 02:46 PM

ProAccord, this is the exact reason I've been replacing any "dead" astea's with other types of snails. I'm kinda partial to my Trochus, since they look a heck of alot cooler than an astrea. Astrea's are known for flipping upside down and not turning themselves right. they may be able to depending on how/where they land, but any of mine that flipped, stayed flipped until a hermit found em.

blackheart · #8 02/21/2007, 03:27 PM

your tank is stabilizing so it might just be because the snails have ran out of food to eat. When your tank stablizes it stops growing as much algae and the snails will become weak and fall off of rock and glass. If it was my guess i would say that they are on thier way out. But thats just what i think. i had a similar thing happen in my tank at about 9-10 months.