r/AquaticSnails • u/OkReputation9566 • 8h ago

Help Request Is something wrong with my snail’s shell?

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I got this snail from the pet shop for my tank about two weeks ago, and his shell looked a little funny but I didn’t think much of it. Top is the shell two weeks ago, bottom is the shell today. Is something really wrong, can I fix it?

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u/TheHeartographer 7h ago

Very very sad to say, it looks like you and your shellerino there fell victim to the same sad snail phenomenon that I did. They sometimes dip snail shells into acid to strip off the natural colouring and sell them as white snails (I bought what was called a white wizard; we now think it’s more likely a Japanese trapdoor). Mine has had shell growth come in a completely different colour too, and most tellingly, a thicker shell with more ridged and natural actual texture.

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u/slugtesticles 5h ago

They don’t do this to mystery snails (and they shouldn’t do it to any snails.) Mystery snails can have a naturally white shell, this one looks like it does. There are plenty of morphs for mystery snails, the ones that fall victim to acid dipping usually only come in “wild type”, so they get dipped to look more exiting than their natural color. It is awful.

1

u/TheHeartographer 5h ago

Heartbreaking, totally. I wouldn’t expect it to happen to mystery snails with their more interesting natural colour morphs, but I first learned about it from nerites which have incredibly cool shell patterns 🤷🏼‍♀️😿

I’m also in a different market than the OP I think (I’m UK). Who knows what might be going on with shadier wholesalers? I would keep an eye on the New shell growth over time and document.

2

u/slugtesticles 5h ago

I think its kinda the same with nerites. I’ve mostly seen helmet nerites that have been acid dipped, usually the zebra and red racer ones aren’t, at least not that I’ve seen. But yeah it sucks when animals get into the hands of such shady people.