Golden Apples and their shells

Hi Guys,

I know that their shells does tend to go a little bit as they get older (and these guys are old I believe, they are pretty much just under golf ball size). Is there anything that I can do to aid their shells in repairing? The one in the pic below is a good example, I have about 7 of these really big ones, and this one still looks good in comparison to the others. The dark spot on that shell - it's pretty much all the way through. One did die a week or two ago, not sure whether it was because of age / shell or not (shell was completely empty)

 

@cknipe: The holes and discolouring of the shells is due to a calcium deficiency snails need calcium too properly repair shells and keep them in proper condition. You can either add some coral too your tank if you don't have soft water fish. You can also blanch some veggies that are high in calcium and feed it too them.

 

Hmm....

Well I did recently start a marine tank too... Would calcium supplements that I use on the marine tank be a good idea in the fresh water tank? :idea: Thought that it may be calcium yes.

What can normally be safely dozed (i.e. chemical supplement preferred) to introduce extra calcium into the water?

 

@cknipe: If you have soft-water fish you cannot really add too much calcium too your tank as this will cause your PH to go up. You should feed them veggies that would be the best a safest route. Also the fastest and they take the calcium in.

 

Cewl beans. Will raid the wife's 'stash' and put them on a veggie diet

Have hundreds of little ones (they're still breeding, and I love em all), but I don't want to loose the couple of big fellas that I have :laugh:

 

OH! And what would their preferences be?

When I think of veggies containing high calcium, I think of things like Brocoli, Nuts, Seeds, things like that? Would they eat that kind of stuff? Spinage may be a good bet as well I presume, especially being more 'leavy'?

 

@cknipe: Spinage would be perfect, but you need too boil it for a short while too make it just a bit softer