The correct acclimation of snails in the aquarium

The correct acclimation of snails in freshwater aquariums

For many, snails are just useful accessories in freshwater aquariums - functional animals that are supposed to eliminate algae or take care of food scraps. Often they are not given the same care as the popular, colorful freshwater shrimps. Unjustly, we think!

Snails are not only useful aquarium inhabitants (although their usefulness is meanwhile really undisputed), but also beautiful and possibly even quite sensitive animals, which can take it very badly to the new owner, if they are simply thrown out of the transport packaging into the new home.

Snail balcony in use

Especially snails with a tightly closing operculum - the lid made of horn that closes their shell opening - have no chance to adapt to the new water conditions. These snails include, among many other species, the popular algae-eating racing snails and staghorn snails, as well as the spire snails such as the Hercules snail and the various Tylomelania species from Sulawesi. If they are simply placed in the new aquarium, their tightly closing lid prevents slow acclimation, and it is possible that they may simply remain covered for days. This adds even more stress to animals already stressed from transport, and can be decidedly detrimental to very sensitive species.

So how do I acclimate snails in an animal-friendly way?

Shipping in water

If the snails were shipped in water, the acclimation process is the same as for shrimp: Blog: Acclimating shrimp properly

If shipped wet

If the snails were shipped wet, i.e. without water, they are in a so-called dry sleep. They have covered themselves (if they have a lid) or retreated deep into their shell to protect themselves, and they have shut down their metabolism. They should not be awakened from this resting phase - so please do not poke around in the opening with any sharp objects to see if the snail is still alive, this will only stress it. A dead snail hangs out of the shell. As long as the lid is tight, the animal is alive. If you want to be sure, you can sniff carefully. Dead snails have a very unpleasant smell, so if a snail has died on the way, you can smell it very clearly.

Adjust temperature

Even snails shipped moist should first be left in the opened transport packaging so that they can come to room temperature.

The actual acclimation

Then there are several ways to gently acclimate the little slimers to water. One way is to leave a small bowl floating at the water's surface with just enough water to barely cover the snail's opening. This allows the snail to slowly open its lid and adjust to the new water conditions. Disadvantage: The bowl floats relatively uncontrolled and, depending on the filter flow, the height of the filter outlet and the growth on the water surface, can fill up before the snails have acclimatized. For very sensitive snails, even this method is sometimes still too rough.

Instead of the bowl you can also simply use a piece of styrofoam. Attention, it must not be equipped with flame retardant, because these substances can be very toxic for aquarium animals! Here the snails can cover themselves comfortably or come out slowly and look for their own way into the water, at their own pace. Styrofoam, however, can also tip or flip over, be flooded if the filter outlet is set high, or float around uncontrollably in the current. With strong lighting and a high water level it can become uncomfortably bright and also quite warm for the snails on the styrofoam. This can be remedied with suction cups, which can be used to attach the Styrofoam to the pane.

Acclimatization balcony for snails

Acclimatization is very easy and uncomplicated (and does not require any tinkering) with our acclimatization balcony for snails. It is attached to the aquarium pane by means of suction cups at the appropriate height in a quiet, dark corner so that it is one or two millimeters under water. It is enough if the water stands in the depressions. This allows the snails to calmly acclimate to the new water conditions without being pushed around by the current and without their raft tipping over and them falling into the water before they are fully acclimated. Once the snails are ready, they leave the balcony on their own and make their way to their new home comfortably and without stress.

For all commercial breeders and traders the snail bridge is now also available in the Retailer store.