dead snails?

[jc]

I received a cleanup crew order 1 day late today. It was sent overnight priority, but fedex had a delay and it took almost 24 hrs longer than expected. After a long acclimation I placed the crabs and snails in the tank. It seems like 90% of them are still in the same place that I put them. Even with the lights off for a few hours most of them have not moved. How can you tell if a snail is dead? I want to notify the company, but I would like to know if they are actually dead.

[ErikH]

What was the water temp upon arrival? They're probably dead. :(

[JimD]

Take one out and smell it.

[Bill S]

Jacob,

When I get clean up crew in, I put them in buckets for acclimation. I pile them in a corner and ONLY put the ones that move into the tank. Bad cleanup crew has crashed more than one tank...

[jc]

They were in a styrofoam box and it was well sealed with an ice pack. I think it was an ice pack. It was a square piece of newspaper and there was water inside the box. I should have picked out the moving ones first. Live and learn I suppose. I did pile them in two separate corners of the tank. I will check them either at 2 a.m. or in the morning.
What do fresh snails smell like compared to dead ones? I'm guessing a rotten smell.

[Kristy]

Oh, if they're dead your nose will know it! Dead snails smell godawful! Really nothing quite like it.

[JimD]

"What do fresh snails smell like compared to dead ones? I'm guessing a rotten smell."

That would be a good guess. :)

[Bill S]

Smell them. If your head snaps back, they are dead.

[subsailor]

Smell them. If your head snaps back, they are dead.
:rofl:

[jc]

They seem to be alive. I think they are just sluggish :)

[jc]

This morning most of the snails and crabs were in the same spot. So I pulled them out and began to separate them. Out of 75 small blue legged hermits only 12 survived. These were packed damp by the way. All of the nassarius snails are alive and active. The peppermint shrimp were walking around last night. One emerald crab was also cleaning a rock and the other I did not see. The cerith moved away from the pile. The problem I have is the astrae snails. Only about 5 of them have moved from the original spot. I took them out and sniffed them but they don't smell dead. They don't seem active either. I can tough their flesh and they will not retract. They seem lethargic. Are they doomed? I am going to report this to reeftopia and see what they think.

[Gilbert]

some snails do take a day or so to move but as for as them arriving day after only a day i think thats wierd, cause i get my snails shipped by USPS and it takes them between 3-5 days

[SoLiD]

I put them in a bucket with an air stone. All the bubbles usually gets them to wake up. Once they start heading up the side of the bucket I pick them off and drop them in the tank.... if they are retarded snails like astrea's, I put them on a rock.

[jc]

Are your snails shipped in water or a damp bag?

[jc]

Do astrea have a reputation for being dumb? If so that would make sense. I put some on the rocks but they just tumble down. As long as they are not dead that is fine by me. I may try the airstone trick.

[jupiterbunny]

good, at least you didn't lost most of them ^_^

[Gilbert]

my snails where shipped in a bag with a damp napkin

[jc]

The snails are still alive but the hermit crabs are definitely dead. When put them in a bucket the water had bits of legs and eyes floating all around.

[JimD]

"When put them in a bucket the water had bits of legs and eyes floating all around."

Thats usualy not a good sign. :)