Can Snails Live in High Ammonia?

Can Snails Live in High Ammonia

Can Snails Live in High Ammonia?

While browsing through a forum, I came across an interesting claim that certain species of snails possess incredible resilience to survive even an atomic explosion. While I cannot verify the accuracy of this assertion, it has piqued my curiosity regarding the durability of these small creatures. As such, I wondered about the extent to which snails can endure ammonia spikes.

Snails cannot live in high levels of ammonia. Concentrations exceeding 1 mg/L or 1 part per million drastically hinder their oxygen consumption. Levels above 3 mg/L or PPM will harm the entire snail population in your tank and other pets. The snail species will determine its ammonia tolerance.

In this article, I look into how snails interact with ammonia to determine how much they can take. In doing so, I will examine whether snails eat ammonia or produce it. I will then offer important tips to help you prevent ammonia spikes in your tank. Keep reading to learn more about ammonia control in your tank.

How Ammonia Affects Snails

Let’s explore how ammonia can impact our snail friends. It’s important to note that ammonia is harmful to all aquarium pets, including snails and slugs. In fact, ammonia is even more dangerous than other elements in the oxygen cycle, like nitrites and nitrates.

Studies have found that ammonia can have various negative effects on snails. It can interfere with their ability to consume oxygen, which is vital to their physiological functions.

This, in turn, can lead to changes in their behavior, such as a decrease in the following:

  • Locomotion
  • Feeding activity
  • Mating tendencies

High ammonia levels can disrupt the behaviors necessary for snails to do the following:

  • Mate.
  • Forage for food.
  • Avoid predators.

Researchers have even developed a test called “righting time” to assess the impact of ammonia stress on snails and slugs.

This test measures the time it takes for a snail to right itself and return to an upright position after it has been flipped upside down with its dorsal surface facing upwards. 

The ability of snails to right themselves is critical to their survival. When a snail is flipped upside down, its aperture or shell opening is exposed, making it more vulnerable to predators.

An inability to right itself quickly can also negatively impact other activities, such as mating and foraging.

In a well-cycled tank with ammonia concentrations below 1 mg/L or 1 part per million, a snail should take less than 10 minutes to right itself.

However, in an uncycled tank with ammonia concentrations exceeding 2 mg/L or 2 parts per million, a snail can take over 20 minutes to right itself.

In severe cases where ammonia levels surpass 3 mg/L, snails may attempt to right themselves for only a few minutes before eventually dying in the flipped position. Disruptions in oxygen access and consumption can significantly impact a snail’s fitness. 

Learn about the possibility of using snails to cycle a fish tank in this informative article.

How Much Ammonia Can a Snail Handle?

Pet snail species generally cannot survive ammonia concentrations above 3 mg/L or 3 parts per million. Higher concentrations of 5-10 mg/L are used to eliminate entire snail populations in pods and other water bodies.

However, in a tank environment, snails can withstand ammonia concentrations above 1mg/L for some time as they assist beneficial bacteria with the cycling process. They feed the beneficial bacteria on more ammonia, leading to a faster breakdown of the ammonia and nitrites into nitrates.

Within a few days, the concentrations will have dropped below 1mg/L or 1 part per million, and the snails will be fine.

If ammonia levels get too high, snails do any of the following:

  • Hole up.
  • Hide under their shells.
  • Burrow inside the substrate to reduce exposure.
  • Climb out of the water and stay above the waterline.

Some snail species are highly sensitive to ammonia and cannot survive in concentrations above 0.5 mg/L or 0.5 parts per million. The nerite snail, for instance, requires concentrations of 0 mg/L.

You must put many of these snails in your tank during cycling to prevent poisoning. The nerite snail, however, is advantageous since it does not reproduce in freshwater.

The assassin and rabbit snails are also quite sensitive to ammonia. Still, they can handle higher ammonia concentrations when compared to the nerite snail.

Other snails that are too sensitive to high ammonia concentrations include:

Some snails species that are more tolerable to higher ammonia concentrations include: 

Unfortunately, most of these more resilient snails feed on plants; thus, they are considered pests.

Do Snails Eat Ammonia?

Snails do not eat ammonia; they produce it in small amounts through their excretion and urine. However, this ammonia is a valuable food source for Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) and Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria (NOB), which break down ammonia into nitrites and nitrates, respectively. 

When it comes to feeding aquatic snails that are kept as pets, they are omnivorous and will eat the following:

  • Dead aquatic life.
  • Decaying plants.
  • Algae.
  • Fish remains.
  • Any food debris on the tank floor.

All of these materials that snails clear from your tank contain high ammonia levels. If left to decay and decompose in the tank, this material would cause the ammonia levels to skyrocket, overwhelming the beneficial bacteria.

Snails play a critical role in maintaining the delicate balance in your tank by consuming this waste. They prevent ammonia levels from spiking and produce adequate ammonia for the beneficial bacteria.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced environment in a fish tank is essential for the well-being of aquatic life. One of the key factors in achieving this is controlling the levels of toxic substances such as ammonia, which can be harmful to fish.

I recommend the Fluval Ammonia Remover from Amazon, a chemical filter media designed to remove toxic ammonia as water flows through it. It provides a healthy environment for well-stocked freshwater aquariums by controlling ammonia levels, which can reduce stress on fish. This product includes three 180-gram nylon bags and is recommended to be replaced once a month for best results.

Conclusion

Snails do not eat ammonia; they produce it in small amounts. Ammonia can be toxic and affect oxygen consumption, so it’s best to maintain low concentrations in the tank.

Continuously monitoring ammonia and nitrite levels is essential for a healthy tank population. Some snail species are more sensitive to ammonia than others, so be selective with the species used for tank cycling.

Seek help from an experienced aquarist if ammonia spikes or poisoning occur. With proper care and attention, we can ensure the well-being of our aquatic pets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do snails create ammonia?

Snails do produce ammonia as a waste product through their excretory system. Ammonia is a common nitrogenous waste product in aquatic animals, including snails. This ammonia can harm other animals in the aquarium if not properly removed through filtration or water changes.

Do dead snails produce ammonia?

Dead snails can release ammonia into the water as they decompose. As the snail’s body breaks down, nitrogenous compounds are released, including ammonia, which can be toxic to other aquatic animals. It’s important to remove dead snails from the aquarium promptly and perform water changes to prevent ammonia levels from becoming harmful.

Are snails harmful to my aquarium?

Snails can benefit an aquarium as they help clean up excess food and decaying plant matter. However, some species can overpopulate and become a nuisance, leading to problems such as clogged filters or damage to plants. Research the specific snail species and monitor their population to prevent any negative impact on the aquarium.

How do you lower ammonia levels?

Perform partial water changes to dilute the concentration of ammonia. You can also add beneficial bacteria supplements to help convert ammonia into nitrites and nitrates, which are less harmful to aquatic life. Additionally, reducing the amount of food you feed your fish and ensuring adequate filtration can help prevent the buildup of ammonia in the first place.

What causes high ammonia levels in fish tanks?

High ammonia levels in a fish tank can be caused by several factors, including overfeeding your fish, inadequate filtration, and overstocking your tank with too many fish. Decomposing organic matter, such as uneaten fish food and waste, can also contribute to ammonia buildup. The lack of beneficial bacteria in the tank can prevent the conversion of ammonia into nitrites and nitrates, leading to ammonia buildup.

Sources

Author

  • Paul Odoteh

    Paul Odoteh is an established writer and editor with nearly 10 years of experience in writing and editing. He holds a bachelor's degree in IT and has written for numerous publications and individuals. Currently, Odoteh is dedicated to expanding his blog, SnailPedia.com, which was inspired by his passion for owning an aquarium.

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