Apple Snails + heat + salt?

**fishmommie** · 01-07-2013, 07:38 PM

90 FW has ich and am using Heat (86F) and salt (1 Tblspoon/5 gal) as treatment.
I've been searching for answers on how this will affect my apple snails.
Do I need to worry about them in the heat and with the added salt? I suspect I'm looking at at least 7 more days of both. I've had the heat cranked up for 4 days but am adding the salt today and tomorrow and got to worrying about the snails.

If I should move them out of the 90, it's my understanding that while snails don't get ICH that they can carry the parasite so most likely I'd have to set up a hospital tank for them instead of placing them in my 30 gal. Any suggestions for an environment that will not stress them over much?

thanks!

**KingFisher** · 01-07-2013, 07:43 PM

What happened to the meds you were using?

**fishmommie** · 01-07-2013, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by KingFisher

What happened to the meds you were using?

I was using heat and 1/2 doses of the medications until yesterday. but after not seeing much improvement with the Ich Attack, at the advice/consult of some of the forum members I decided to DQ the meds and start adding salt today.

**KingFisher** · 01-07-2013, 07:53 PM

Oh I see. I would have just gone with full doses of the meds and continued treatment as per the directions. I also would not use both heat and meds at the same time.

**fishmommie** · 01-07-2013, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by KingFisher

Oh I see. I would have just gone with full doses of the meds and continued treatment as per the directions. I also would not use both heat and meds at the same time.

It was a tough decision but I was leary of full doses of medication with the oxygen issue and most feel salt and heat is a better combo ... so, we ill see. appreciate your weighing in.

any thoughts on the snail??

**KingFisher** · 01-07-2013, 08:04 PM

Snails do not tolerate salt well in general. I would move him to a qt tank if you choose to go that route.

**fishmommie** · 01-07-2013, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by KingFisher

Snails do not tolerate salt well in general. I would move him to a qt tank if you choose to go that route.

Okay. thanks. I was just about to fish them out and set up the qt

**fishmommie** · 01-10-2013, 01:48 PM

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I don't think the snails are going to make it. I don't know if it was too big of a water chemistry change when I moved them from the 90 to the QT or what .... they're not dead yet but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. This morning they were all lying on the bottom half open yet when I fished them out, they all closed up. Now they're lying there again, open, absolutely no movement for over 24 hours. I guess we'll see.

In the meantime, I want to get some nerites snails for the 90. I have never seen a discussion on this but do most of you QT snails before adding them to a tank? I understand they can't get ich but they can be carriers? Which puzzles me because I thought ich had to have host fish in order to survive.

Can anyone clarify this for me?
thanks

**Taurus** · 01-10-2013, 02:06 PM

Apple Snail FAQ just for reference.

http://applesnail.net/content/faq.php#11

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-10-2013, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by KingFisher

Oh I see. I would have just gone with full doses of the meds and continued treatment as per the directions. I also would not use both heat and meds at the same time.

Me too! There is no reason to use salt, heat and medications. It's too stressful for fish to do all of the above. Most of the medications even advise not to raise the heat with medications. Ick is tough to kill. Dose as directed.

fishmommie, can you put the snails in another container for a few days? Plants do not like salt either.

(Never mind. I see you moved them. Did you add dechlorinator to the water?)