Learning as I go.. Ghost & snail issues

**ninny747** · 10-03-2012, 03:30 AM

Hello to all, I have had this large tank for several years but wasn't the one taking care of it until several months ago. When I took over it had 1 sad lonely albino cory about 3 years old. The tank hadn't been cleaned, pH was way too high, not enough water to run filter and no light. I fixed all of that by scrubbing the sides, siphoning the gravel, adding water with the pH already corrected, and cleaning the decor. Four days later bought my cardinals and sterbai cory. The original albino cory was growing and looking super healthy and active and died on me with no warning 2 days later. I figure he was so used to the prior horrible conditions that the corrections killed him. Bummer.. so I bought another. So I've gradually bought the rest of my water babies and tweeked the tank slowly to accommodate everybody including adding aquarium salt for my mollies, stress coat treatment and feeding blood worms to my dragon and ghost. So there are 2 issues now. I had bought a golden mystery snail about 3 weeks ago and just realized he's dead. Bought it and dude zoomed all of my tank groping everything then the next day locked himself in his shell and hadn't budged since. This morning I noticed it's shell had been spun around and there were holes in it and the opening was very thin but it's "door" still looked shut tight. Called my local joint and they weren't sure what to tell me and said to bring it in tomorrow. I had already researched a bit online so I scooped the snail out to get a closer look and it started pouring out of the holes in the sides!! What happened? What do I need to do to keep a snail with the rest of my water babies all copacetic? If I can't have one I'll deal but I do like that they help keep my glass algae-free. I, of course, siphoned it's remains out and did a 25% water change (being kinda grossed out and such!). I've read to keep the water level as close to the top as possible unless I want snail babies (easy if true) and adding cuttlebone to supply calcium but don't know if that will hurt my other wet pets. Second issue is my ghost has white specs on it. I raised the water temp to 84 degrees(F) in hopes that it would kill ich if that's the problem but it's been 2 days and only slight improvement. I'm afraid to use chemicals as I've also read the ghosts are sensitive to such. It's still quite active so do I wait it out? Any and all suggestions regarding my snail pursuit or any of my other water babies are welcomed and appreciated.

**Tiari** · 10-03-2012, 01:14 PM

I'm afraid I don't know much about the Ghost, however if it has ich you may have to treat the whole tank so it does not spread.

As for the snail, it is possible your water contains copper, and also, snails can't live in a tank that contains salt. Salt kills snails. If you dosed aquarium salt into the tank for the mollies, you have your answer.

**Old Marine** · 10-03-2012, 11:30 PM

Welcome to the Family!

**Cyberra** · 10-04-2012, 03:36 AM

Welcome to the community.

Post your questions in the proper sections and you'll get answers much quicker.

**C-Dub** · 10-04-2012, 04:29 AM

Have you been doing research on this site about having a properly cycled tank? You may have added all the new fish too fast. How long did the tank only have 1 cory in it? I ask this bc you may not have the Beneficial Bacteria built up in the tank any longer to sustain all the new fish. The ick I would keep the temp up for around 10-14 days to ensure its completely gone, this can become a major issue

**steeler58** · 10-05-2012, 05:54 AM

Welcome aboard.

**ninny747** · 10-09-2012, 04:54 AM

Thank you all for the welcomes! I did put aquarium salt in my tank and the shop I've been using for everything keeps salt in all of their tanks so this snail was used to it supposedly. How can I tell if the tank has copper in it? There's nothing obvious that I can think of? The 1 original cory had been in this tank for about 3 years and all I did is clean glass/decor, siphon gravel, fix the filter and light, and lower the ph before adding any new fish. Great news though - my ghost is doing fine! The raise in temp did the job! The incredibly helpful guy at my shop loaned me a clear ghost tube but it's not interested and has been hiding in the eyes of a skull and laying on the leaves of a new fake plant. Now I haven't seen my khuli loach in a week... something is digging up gravel in random spots and the loach did dig up a plant before so maybe he's only coming out at night?? I'm going to try another snail soon but I'm thinking cherry barbs or electric green tetras. Any reasons they wouldn't fit in? I need some middle swimmers since my 5 cardinals are the only ones hanging out there. Forum/thread suggestions? Thanks again!