Post by AlienSnail on Apr 9, 2009 14:13:16 GMT
There's only so much I can fit in a title!
Long story short, I bought some Hpoaspis Miles Predatory Mites from www.defenders.co.uk, placed them in a few tanks, the one with the highest concentration of the mites have resulted in one dead snail, one almost certainly dying, one lethargic, probably due to loads of little metal flakes in the substrate that the mites arrived in
The full story:
Son found a few cepaea and wanted to keep them. We set up a new tank and I ordered the hypoaspis to kill some snail mites that we saw on two of the cepaea.
I thought it would be good to get a colony of mites going so the snails will always be protected. They could live on some of the springtails and hopefully keep the numbers at a nice balance.
So... when the mites arrived I placed some wit the cepaea, quite a large percentage in with the big snails, and a few in two other tanks.
I noticed loads of shiny 'bits'but assumed they were shiny bits of grit, like sand perhaps, after all, who would expect metal flakes?
Anyway, two days later (this morning), my three Achatina from the big snail tank have been affected. One large fuli has died, Homer, my remaining Retic was retracted, gone dark, bubbling, and his mouth is VERY swollen. Sampson is lethargic but perhaps it's a coincidence (I hope). All other snails in the tank are Archachatina, and for some reason seem fine.
I found some metal flakes in some snail poo.
All other snails in the other tanks so far appear ok, but I didn't put much in those tanks.
I have completely changed the substrate, washed the flakes from the ornaments and the snails and thoroughly bathed those affected (took 4.5 hours).
Basically I think I have poisoned my snails
I am very sorry SnailCrazy, the onces affected were your's.
x
Long story short, I bought some Hpoaspis Miles Predatory Mites from www.defenders.co.uk, placed them in a few tanks, the one with the highest concentration of the mites have resulted in one dead snail, one almost certainly dying, one lethargic, probably due to loads of little metal flakes in the substrate that the mites arrived in
The full story:
Son found a few cepaea and wanted to keep them. We set up a new tank and I ordered the hypoaspis to kill some snail mites that we saw on two of the cepaea.
I thought it would be good to get a colony of mites going so the snails will always be protected. They could live on some of the springtails and hopefully keep the numbers at a nice balance.
So... when the mites arrived I placed some wit the cepaea, quite a large percentage in with the big snails, and a few in two other tanks.
I noticed loads of shiny 'bits'but assumed they were shiny bits of grit, like sand perhaps, after all, who would expect metal flakes?
Anyway, two days later (this morning), my three Achatina from the big snail tank have been affected. One large fuli has died, Homer, my remaining Retic was retracted, gone dark, bubbling, and his mouth is VERY swollen. Sampson is lethargic but perhaps it's a coincidence (I hope). All other snails in the tank are Archachatina, and for some reason seem fine.
I found some metal flakes in some snail poo.
All other snails in the other tanks so far appear ok, but I didn't put much in those tanks.
I have completely changed the substrate, washed the flakes from the ornaments and the snails and thoroughly bathed those affected (took 4.5 hours).
Basically I think I have poisoned my snails
I am very sorry SnailCrazy, the onces affected were your's.
x
that`s awful. Sorry to hear that. 
