can snails live in low pH?

[BAT]

Hi All,

I went to my LFS to replace my dead snails and I was told that snails do not do well in low pH water - and that this may have contributed to their death.  is this true?  I have a betta and a resurgence of algae, so I would like to replace my snails. but I dont want to run a Kevorkian snail death camp.

 

thanks

beth

 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Depends on the snail, most prefer 7 and up. There are some who are ok with ph in the 6s. I believe Nerites and Mysteries prefer 7 and up. 

[Katherine]

My ph is 6.4 and I've had the same nerite for the last 2.5 years. I do have crazy high GH though. So that may be part of it.

[modified lung]

I've had a variety of snails close to 6.0 with no negative effects as long as they're fed well. I think around 5 is when major problems start. 

[BAT]

Thank you all! I have a high GH. The guy at the LFS said if the pH is low they can’t absorb the minerals? Not sure how that works

[modified lung]

On 4/8/2022 at 6:21 PM, BAT said:

Thank you all! I have a high GH. The guy at the LFS said if the pH is low they can’t absorb the minerals? Not sure how that works

At a certain pH they start using CaCO3 to regulate their internal body pH instead of absorbing it for shell growth.

I worked with a guy who was raising snails to clean fry talks. They all had serious calcium deficiencies and high mortality. He kept crashing the pH over 2 or 3 days from 8 to 6.5, the water was soft, and he only fed them commercial fish food.

I had the same snails from the same source in harder water, lots of variety in their diet, at a constant pH of 6 to 6.5 and they all looked great.

[Katherine]

On 4/8/2022 at 8:52 PM, modified lung said:

At a certain pH they start using CaCO3 to regulate their internal body pH instead of absorbing it for shell growth.

So maybe with a high enough GH they can use it for both?

[modified lung]

On 4/8/2022 at 6:58 PM, Katherine said:

So maybe with a high enough GH they can use it for both?

I think when it gets down in the 5 pH range they can't get enough for both, especially if they're young. 

[BAT]

The AC blog suggests using crushed coral to raise pH. Any tips on how to use? Or just follow blog instructions of 1 lb for 10 gallons in a bag. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Start small and add more if you have to, that seems to work for me in a lot of cases. I have found in my tanks I don't have to add as much as is recommended. 

It takes some time to dissolve and bring your numbers up.

[BAT]

@xXInkedPhoenixXand other nerms,

Where do I put the coral bag? I have two sponge filters no HOB.  can I just put it on the gravel?

 

[Katherine]

On 5/1/2022 at 5:22 PM, BAT said:

Where do I put the coral bag? I have two sponge filters no HOB.  can I just put it on the gravel?

That's what I've done in my tanks with sponge filters. As long as you don't mind how it looks it works just fine.

[AndreaW]

@BAT ~ You can mix it into your substrate as well. It will slowly dissolve and then you add more as needed. If you don't want it mixed into the gravel, you can put it in bags and hide it in the back.

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I have done the substrate thing and I've put it in media bags (like they sell for filters) also I have put them in small containers. My 4.2 has a sake cup with coral in it!🙃