Did I kill my babies?

**sauerkraus** · 04-15-2012, 12:19 AM

I cleaned the gravel in my tank today by removing everything but the water. My fiance insisted that I use Jungle Clear Water to clear it up. After reading the label on Jungle Clear Water (potassium permanganate) I wasn't worried about my gastropods because there are no warnings about anything and it says it's safe for everything.

A few days ago I found a tiny disc shaped snail while cutting my plethora of egeria densa (anacharis). It was a wonderful surprise as every one of my previous inverts had died - fiddler, bamboo shrimp, four snails - from unknown causes. I assumed it had something to do with the tank(s) being uncycled.

The day before I used the Jungle Clear Water I had also gotten three free baby "out of control pests" from the LFS which looked to be in dubious condition. Two were nowhere to be found when I cleaned the tank but there were two in there when I dosed the water with what I later found to be snail poison.

I'm assuming I comitted genocide but what are the chances that my baby snails could have survived the potassium permanganate? I put a filter back in as soon as I found out about its toxicity.

**sauerkraus** · 04-15-2012, 08:32 AM

Almost twelve hours after the accidental poisoning I turned off the tank light for about five minutes. When I turned it back on to check if my platy pooped out her babies yet I found my two snails running around. They seem fine but I'm still worried. The tank is super clean with crystal clear water and perfect chemical balance, so it's looking good.

**Brhino** · 04-15-2012, 02:41 PM

I don't know much about that particular product. Most folks here will recommend staying away from such products, though, as they tend to be hard on your stock. Whatever problems you're having, it's usually better to find the source of the problem and correct it rather than using a chemical additive.

With that said, there's a reason why the snails the store gave you are considered pests. They breed very easily and they're very hard to kill. You may soon find that you have far more of them then you could ever want.

**Lady Hobbs** · 04-15-2012, 02:57 PM

In 6 months, you'll be wishing they were dead.

**sauerkraus** · 04-15-2012, 06:50 PM

I will never wish death for my snails. Even if they reproduce, they'll be tasty snacks while they're small.

**patinthehat** · 04-15-2012, 08:12 PM

seriously, they will breed worse than rabbits. your tank can very easily become overrun if you don't keep them in check. i ended up buying 7 assassins to get mine in check.

**Laurun3** · 04-16-2012, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

In 6 months, you'll be wishing they were dead.

I've never seen a more true statement haha. Oddly enough, I also got exactly (7) assassins

**sauerkraus** · 04-18-2012, 01:16 AM

I know of the assassin solution. I'm not bothered by the possibility of snailageddon. It seems that my one surviving snail is doing great, though He only comes out at night. His shell had kinda transparent spots all over when I got the tiny little bugger. The new growth looks a lot better.

But yeah I think my little flat disc shaped snail didn't handle the poison so nonchalantly. I didn't see him at all yesterday.