Is there a snail pandemic? From LA to RC

[Mark_C]

So, as posted, my last order from Live Aquaria, of 150 snails, contained 5 bags of trocus (25 in each bag), all arrived dead and putrid.
LA was great with the customer service, within 24 hours I had a full refund.
Still needing snails, went to the old trsuworthy source, John at Reefcleaners.
Aaaaaannnnnnnndddd...
Its another disaster.
Of the 5 trochus I ordered 2 appear doa, of the 20 ceriths, I only counted 15 and none have moved in 24 hours, 10 nerites don't even seem to be with the order, and 10 marginellas all appear doa.
For a $65 order it looks, so far, like a 50% no show and doa combination.
Per John's instruction, the snails may be 'stressed' and can take up to 72 hours to become active, so they're all in a pyrex cake pan on the sand bed, we'll se who crawls out over the next 2 days.

What the heck is up lately with snail shipping. Never had a concern before, now it sheems a shabby business at best.
Or, perhaps snail hate me and when they know they're coming to my place they suicide.

 

[amado]

I am in the same boat. I need a cleanup crew and I am waiting until this is over to place my order. I would keep everything in salt water and monitor. Snails look dead when they arrive but they will move after 3 day in water.

 

[Humblefish]

Are they using heat packs or cold packs to ship? I know Reef Cleaners is in Florida where temps are a lot warmer right now than NY/NJ area. Which makes it difficult to ship because of the temp difference.

 

[MadReefer]

Snails don't stand a chance in my tank with the wrasse and puffer its a buffet to them. I need large snails like turbos.
Never cared for crabs but will probably order some blue and red legs eventually.

 

[diana a]

I want ceriths. I wonder if ACC has any. If they do I won't go inside to pickup. I hate to bother the employees for just for a snail order.

 

[Mark_C]

Humble, the packaging is fine, just like the Live Aquaria was. Just odd that there's such a loss (though LA had the trocus prepacked in 25 per bag bundles).

Diana, ACC usually doesn't carry ceriths, or at least they didn't in the past, I always went through Reefcleaners for them.

 

[Justin]

I think im going to reefco tomorrow, if I do I'll let you know if they have ceriths diana

 

[diana a]

Thanks @Justin but Reefco is a bit far for me to travel for snails. That's 1 hour away

 

[MadReefer]

Road trip.
But need a bus and sit 1 person every other row for social distancing.

 

[erics210]

Snails don't stand a chance in my tank with the wrasse and puffer its a buffet to them. I need large snails like turbos.
Never cared for crabs but will probably order some blue and red legs eventually.

Did you try stomatella?
They only come out after dark....so may avoid the fish.

 

[jgraz]

Did you try stomatella?
They only come out after dark....so may avoid the fish.

Stomatella's are normally hitchhikers. I have never seen a single one for sale anywhere.

 

[jgraz]

I had a pretty much same experience with RC. Good luck with a refund, John at RC a a piece of garbage at best.
I had to go through PayPal to get it done. I had nothing in my order survive.
Hermits. Emeralds, peppermints, and lots of various snails. Even had some stuff not even included and still he wouldn't budge on a refund. PP got it done

 

[mnat]

Went to ACC today and grabbed some cleanup crew. They were pretty well stocked for that stuff, give them a call and see if they have the cerithe.

 

[Mark_C]

Eric, I love stomatella, but, as jg said, you cant find them for sale anywhere. Wish you could, I'd infest my tank with them.

 

[Justin]

Went to Reefco today and they had a really good supply of snails as well, I picked up 10 astreas for $15 dollars and a nice acan coral because why not lol

 

[diana a]

....Of the 5 trochus I ordered 2 appear doa, of the 20 ceriths, I only counted 15 and none have moved in 24 hours, 10 nerites don't even seem to be with the order, and 10 marginellas all appear doa.
For a $65 order it looks, so far, like a 50% no show and doa combination.
Per John's instruction, the snails may be 'stressed' and can take up to 72 hours to become active, so they're all in a pyrex cake pan on the sand bed, we'll se who crawls out over the next 2 days.

What the heck is up lately with snail shipping. Never had a concern before, now it sheems a shabby business at best.
Or, perhaps snail hate me and when they know they're coming to my place they suicide.

So were they dead or just stressed as john said? My guess is they are taking a non-stop siesta

 

[Mark_C]

They are dead, about 60% of the order.
Contacted John who happily agreed to a refund. Just waiting on it to come through, will keep you folks informed.