Mystery snails are just about the most peaceful animal you can keep in your aquarium. The sex of snails can be determined if they are the same age, have been kept in the same … 7 Answers. Check out the glass for signs of little tracks where the snails have grazed. The pH range should be between 7.6 and 8.4, with a water hardness between 12 and 18 dGH, and a water temperature of 68° Fahrenheit to 84° Fahrenheit. A dead Gold Inca Snail should be removed from a tank as soon as possible to avoid Ammonia spikes or other water problems. A dead snail gives off a strong, repugnant rotting odor. When a strong smell is present, the snail is dead and should not be returned to the tank. In the event that a snail’s shell becomes damaged, it is possible to carry out some form of repair, but you need to remove the snail from the tank and apply a fish-safe epoxy resin to the damaged area by hand, which is risky to say the least. Created with Sketch. One thing that snail keepers should do is periodicity take a “shell count” to make sure all the snails are in the tank. There may be inconsistencies with names from store to store. Reply. Two to four inches of open air space above the waterline in the aquarium is required as this snail needs open air to breathe. In 1532 a fleet of ships sails in secret to an island in the middle of an inland sea. Shells that are thin, cracked or pitted can be indications that the snail is unhealthy or has been in water that is acidic and low in calcium. Plot summary. Temperament / Behavior : Very peaceful little snail that should not be kept with more aggressive fish species, especially loaches. 1 decade ago . If the pH level falls too low, the calcium carbonate that gives strength to the snails’ shells begins to dissolve. Death may be attributable to the stress of being transported from the store. Gold Inca Snails have no means to attack other aquarium inhabitants and can only use its shell and operculum to defend itself. Generally, if a snail is not interested in the vegetable after one day, I take it out. However, as these snails are such peaceful creatures, we suggest that you add them to an established community in a 5-gallon or 10-gallon tank or larger. If Your Poop Looks Like This, It's Time To See A Doctor. So, leave some algae growing in your tank, and add plenty of lush planting too. pH : 7 - 8. And as with all aquarium purchases, avoid buying Inca Snails from a tank with dead or dying inhabitants. Lighting: Normal community fish tank lighting. The Gold Inca snail doesn’t interact with the fish or invertebrates in the tank. Especially in tanks with rich green plants, a black substrate and a black background. The Gold Inca snail is a delightful little gastropod that makes a helpful and decorative addition to a peaceful community Overcrowding is a big issue for snails as if you have too many, and they can suffer from damaged shells, retarded growth, and a shortage of food. Shrimp species also make good tankmates for snails. Do not keep snails with Cichlids, Crayfish, Oscars, or any other fish or crustacean species that could make a meal of the snails. Gold Inca Snails do a fantastic job cleaning many types of aquarium algae as well. The Gold Inca Snail has an attractive and bright yellow coloration. Use a filter and heater and don't replace the media in the filter. So, to prevent your Gold Mystery snail from becoming stressed, you should keep them with a community of peaceful, non-aggressive fishes. Just be wary of overcrowding your tank. First published in 1994, it is the twelfth book in Cussler's Dirk Pitt series. Temperature : 65°F - 80°F (18°C - 27°C) Origin / Habitat : Found in multiple places in South America. There they hide a magnificent treasure more vast than that any Pharaoh would ever possess. Keeping some Salvinia floating in a tank may help satisfy the snail’s plant cravings and at the same time divert the snail from eating other plants. If the odor is not present, place the snail back in the tank right-side up. These attractive gastropods are also sold under many names, including: You’ll sometimes see these snails referred to as Pomacea australis, although their correct scientific name is Pomacea bridgesii. I looked for a snail I thought Gary might find attractive put it in tank she grew a month or two. Other snail species can do well with the Gold Inca snail, including Nerite snails, Ivory snails, and Ramshorn snails. Trying to rescue a trapped Inca Snail may be even more harmful. Ampullariidae, common name the apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum.This family is in the superfamily Ampullarioidea and is the type family of that superfamily.. I suspect the reason is that a tank with lots of live plants is never really too clean, meaning that there is a plentiful source of edible vegetation shedding from the live plants themselves (see note regarding live plants below). Lv 5. Created with Sketch. Snails have an operculum. Its creamy white and orange color combination, combined with its yellow-gold shell, can really stand out in an aquarium. A Gold Inca Snail can be very active during times when the tanks lights are on, steadily travelling throughout the aquarium on the hunt for food, interesting places to explore, or a quiet place to take a break. I have a 5 gallon tank and it houses 3 small Muppys and a Plecostimus and one inca gold snail. Slugs have evolved from snails and many species still retain a vestigial shell hidden under their mantle. However, they do like to bury themselves in the substrate, so something soft and sandy is the best choice. This may be true in some instances. Identifying a dead Gold Inca Snail not difficult. Snails will devour a similar meals as backside feeders. Their two eyes and tentacles should be present, and their operculum should be visible above their foot, near their backside. in addition they are going to devour the algae, if their starved. But as long as you keep the temperature and pH steady you shouldn’t have a problem. Inca snail dead or alive? They will find that poop, get those good bacteria in the digestive tract and it is just an all-around win for everybody. Expand signature. Created with Sketch. Is it just not active right now or is it dead? Immediately behind the tentacles are the snail’s eyes that can detect light and movement. These neat little critters sometimes just release part of their foot, sliding down the glass instead. When adding a Gold Ina Snail to an aquarium, tank size, water conditions and the tank’s limitations are some of the first things to consider. Jan 31, 2012. bamagirl07. At the store, Gold Inca Snail size may be about an inch or so when purchased. Under the tentacles, the Gold Mystery snail has a second set of tentacles and its mouth, both of which are used for eating. These charming snails are entirely herbivorous, grazing on algae on the tank glass and decorations and eating decaying plant matter at the bottom of the aquarium. They may eat a Gold Mystery Snail. Ships from and sold by Aquatic Arts - Search for our store for much more!. Well, maybe it does not sound nice, it is extremely beneficial for the fish fry and … Thanks, Robert. But whether a Gold Inca Snail devours live aquarium plants may also have something to do with the type of plants kept, how hungry the snail is, and the snail itself. An upside-down Gold Inca Snail may have a hard time turning over when coming out of its shell. In addition to edible matter that grows naturally, a Gold Inca Snail should be fed supplements of fish food, bottom feeder pellets and algae wafers. Akari_32. If the snails have no access to any other sustenance, Mystery snails can even starve but usually will not touch any of the aquatic plants as a food source. Snails feed from their aquatic world and they produce waste into it. If you have a sandy substrate, Gold Inca snails like to bury themselves during the daytime, coming out at night. Snail-Po is a brand of snail food that is not recommended for any sea creatures other than snails to consume. Ensuring that the water pH is kept within acceptable parameters and adding calcium supplements can prevent problems with shell damage. The Gold Inca snail is found in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and across South America. However, with nerite snails, you’re going to have to be a little bit more careful because they like a pH slightly more alkaline than bettas. The common name for the parasite is Rat Lungworm, and unsurprisingly, the adult form of the worm is found in mice and rats. So, basically, any peaceful fish species are fine with Mystery snails. Goldfish and tough roughens like Jack Dempsey, Striped Convicts, Oscars and other cichlids should be avoided. The Gold Inca Snail is a very peaceful animal and should not be housed with any other animals that would like to make a meal of it. Size: 1.5" - Approx. Ammonia and Nitrite levels should be at 0 ppm. These aquarium snails are members of the Apple snail family, of which there are thought to be in excess of 100 species. Although Gold Inca snails are pretty straightforward to care for, there are a few things that you must know if you plan on adding a few of these fascinating creatures to your tank. As always, if there are any questions about tank mates and compatibility, check with the clerk at the store to get his or her input. A Gold Inca Snail named Golden crawls across some rocks. My Inca Snail has been in the same area and has not moved for the last two days. Therefore, it makes them a good choice for an aquarium. The shell whorl should be smooth-ish in texture from the apex to just above the mantel. Created with Sketch. If the snail feels threatened, it will withdraw inside its shell. sure, they are going to breed in the event that they are opposite genders. The Gold Inca snail is a delightful little gastropod that makes a helpful and decorative addition to a peaceful community aquarium that doesn’t contain any aggressive fish species. A Gold Inca Snail lifespan is about one year, or maybe more if conditions are good and the snail is lucky. Finally, keep in mind that a Gold Inca Snail be kept in the store with tank mates that may take nips at their eyes and tentacles, so make sure the snail’s eyes and tentacles are intact. To be sure that you’re taking home a healthy snail, never buy one that has a damaged or cracked shell, and watch out for those that are moving around or are attached to a decoration or to the glass. They should know whether a species will make good tank mates for a Gold Inca Snail. My Gold Inca Snail population seem happy and do well in a planted aquarium. So, it’s a good idea to add calcium supplements to your tank to help keep the snails’ shells healthy and strong. Golden apple snails are completely peaceful, and will never bother any fish tank-mates. The Ramshorn Snail might be our favorite type on this list (it’s so hard to choose). In Stock. The remnant shell is used primarily for calcium storage, rather than protection. Those marks are caused by a radula that they use to scrape the surface to remove the algae. A Gold Inca Snail needs to be in an established tank with sufficient size and water volume to support their life. A Gold Inca Snail can do well in a wide range of aquarium water conditions. The operculum is a thick, fleshy plate that the snails use to seal the opening of their shell. Although these snails do require a reasonably high water pH or calcium supplement to keep their shells healthy, their water preferences fall well within the range of most species of easy-care tropical fish, making these beautiful, helpful creatures a nice addition to a beginner’s tank. Our site uses cookies. The Mystery snail is a hardy species, although they don’t appreciate rapid changes in water conditions, preferring well-oxygenated water with moderate movement. - Temperament: Peaceful - Max. And be wary of tank medications, treatments and plant fertilizers as they can be harmful or fatal to an Inca Snail. Gold Inca Mystery snails develop a black part on their shell which is totally normal. The snails also eat decomposing and dead plant matter, only very occasionally nibbling on live plants if no other food is available. These parasites manifest themselves as tiny white cysts on the snail’s foot, eventually rupturing and releasing the flukes into the water column.