3 dead snails?

[dpotts]

On friday I added the cleaning crew (15 hermit crabs, and 17 snails) to my new 29g biocube. Saturday all was well but this morning (sun) I woke up to 3 dead snails. Other than my pH being a little low 7.7, everything else looks good. The crabs and the rest of the snails look okay. Is this to be expected or is something going on with my tank.

[Kristy]

Ask your hermits if they know anything about it.... they've been known to enjoy a snail now and then.

[dpotts]

I hear what your saying!!:bigsmile: I did notice a crab eating one of the dead ones but it was dead before the the crab got to it. The other 2 dead snails were still in the shell....I'm assuming they were dead. They were upside down (body part up) and not moving. I guess I'll know when I get home today (I'm at work right now) and find empty shells! Is it okay to leave the empty shells in there?

[ErikH]

Leave the shells, hermits need to grow! :) They will kill snails and other crabs for shells, but you can get shells anywhere... 7.7 is low...

[dpotts]

I know 7.7 is low. I don't think I'm testing right....or my kit is just crap. I brought a water sample to my LFS and they said it was okay (not sure what the actual number was). I'm going to take another sample in this week and have them tell me the exact number.

[Captain Jack]

Snails can take longer to acclamate than the average inhabitant, so they might get shock through that. And some snails (like the margeritta) might not do well in the higher reef-type temperatures, and die over a period of days or weeks. ...but I might still bet on a curious/hungary hermit :wink_smile:

[dpotts]

Well one that I thought was dead isn't...just snail-like! I guess I'll just wait and see!