floating snail

Question
10 gal tank. readings are fine, tank is clear, two angels, four catfish, one we call "fatfish" - a form of goldfish, except is black, with protruding eyes (sorry, not sure!. Two large Japanese trapdoor snails.
I changed the water two weeks ago (75%), treated it as per instructions).
I got the tank for my grandchildren to enjoy when they are here. The grandkids picked the fish as fast as the pet store person could move, so I am not clear on all the species, other than to say I was told they would all be compatible.
I added the snails the day after I changed the water. Water temp is 68 degrees.
Problem: one of my snails is floating! it is closed up, still in there, doesn't smell funky...the other one is closed up, but remains on the bottom of the tank. Is one or the other dead? Are they hibernating? I don't want my tank contaminated with decaying snail bodies. I would hate to lose my snails - they do a nice job of keeping the algae population down, among other things, so my tank looks very clean. If they have expired, I would like to know what to do to keep the next ones - I don't want to kill off snails needlessly!


Answer
Hi Tracey,

I really need to know what your water readings are and if you cycled the tank first.  This information is immensely important to how I can help you.  Clear water doesn't necessarily indicate quality parameters.  

If you did not cycle the tank before you added these fish you will have an ammonia spike and it will kill every fish in your tank.  The cycling process happens to all newly set up tanks and if the fish were added before this was through there is not enough beneficial bacteria in the tank to break the waste down, the ammonia and nitrites build up and suffocoate and burn the fish to death.  The tank can look crystal clear as this happens.  It is never advisable to ever add fish to a tank that hasn't cycled, nor is it advisable to add this many fish at once.  Only 1-2 at a time of new fish to a cycled tank, let the bioload adjust and in a week add a couple more.  Otherwise the tank cannot support the new wasteload and the ammonia spikes and fish get sick and die.

Shame on the petstore for selling you these fish that are for one, not compatible with one another, and two, in entirely too small of a tank set up.

A 10 gallon tank is not sufficient to support any angelfish.  Angels require a minimum of a 30 gallon set up, with at least an 18 inch high tank.  These fish can grow to be 6 inches in size and will become are too agressive and too large for the other fish that they are with.  They will eventually die of organ failure because the outside will stop growing because they have run out of tank room and the inside keeps growing to the max potential.  I would return these to the pet store asap.

'Catfish' is also a very broad term.  Do you know what species of catfish they are?  Can you attach a picture?  Cory catfish stay small and a few of these would be okay in a 10 gallon tank depending on what they are.  However, there are many other larger catfish on the market that all require anywhere from a 50-70 to even a 100 gallon tank.  Examples would be pictus catfish, shovelnose catfish, and most forms of synodontis.  Even if they are cory catfish that are compatible with the 10 gallon tank if it's not cycled first it will kill them to be in there.  If you have larger cats I would also return these asap as they will never make it in the 10 gallon tank.

And if you have any goldfish these need to go back as well.  I'm guessing the black fish with the protruding eyes is a black moor, which requires a minimum of a 20 gallon tank for one with a 40 gallon filter and adding an additional 10 gallons for each additional goldfish.  Goldfish are only compatible with other goldfish and should not be mixed with angels or catfish.

Your snails can be in the 10 gallon tank.  I would not rely on the algae in the tank alone to feed them.  They do need vege slices, such as cucumbers and raw spinach leafs and algae wafers.  Snails are very sensitive to water conditions so if they are acting funny it's from the ammonia or nitrites.  The cycling will also kill them.  If they float this is okay for awhile, sometimes they do that.  However, if for hours on end, have a floppy trap door or smell funny then they have expired.  Also, snails are actually more of a waste-producer than a cleaner.  While they do feed on algae they produce an enormous amount of poo of their own from digesting the algae.  There is no substitute for regular tank maintenance.  A healthy tank won't have excessive brown or green algae.

Never, ever change out more than 25% of the water at a time.  This is extremely stressful on the fish and I only recommend a 50% emergency change if there is any ammonia or nitrite present.  A cycling tank with fish present will need daily to every other day water changes to save the fish.  A cycled tank will need a good gravel cleaning and 25% change monthly only.

If you have a filter with disposable cartridges, add a Hagen biomax insert.  It looks like a mesh bag filled with white rocks and you never throw this away or rinse it in tap water, ever (this kills the good bacteria you need).  This way when you throw away an old, dirty cartridge you aren't tossing out all of your good bacteria because the biomax will host it for you.

Another problem is the temp of your tank.  Goldfish are coldwater and need a 64-70 F temp.  The rest are tropical, require a heater and need at least a 75-80 F temp.  Anything less stresses and kills them as well.

Pet store employees are usually young, under-informed, act like they know what they are talking about when they don't or just don't care.  Many will tell or sell you whatever because they are for profit.  They don't care about your fish as long as they are reaping the money.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been in stores and have cringed hearing advice they give folks when in there buying supplies for my tanks.  Sorry, but only a complete and total idiot would tell you that this set up would work or be compatible.  That person should be fired.  They've really done a doozy here, I feel so badly for you because you were trying to do a nice thing for your grandchildren but it won't be nice when they come to visit to see a bunch of dead fish.

It would be my advice to take everything back if you can and cycle the tank if it's not and start over with compatible fish that can safely live in a 10 gallon tank.  None of what you have can except for the snails and catfish (if they are dwarf cories).

For a nice compatibility chart try : www.liveaquaria.com

If you need some help choosing appropriate fish or help with your water parameter results please let me know.

Good luck : ) April M.