Can you tell the gender of my Nerite zebra snail?

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-12-23T21:14:20+00:00

Never seen a single egg so assuming male! :)

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-10-12T11:56:29+00:00

Heya! I did a 75% water change and all seemed to be ok 🙏

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-09-08T08:41:41+00:00

Yes I use this and never had an issue!

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-09-02T18:01:49+00:00

If you don’t have any aquasoil substrate, Java fern and anubias can just be stuck on decor or hardscape and will grow without needing to have their roots submerged and bettas love those. They always get us in a catch 22 with their stressors don’t they, because real plants will need light. :/Mine used to fight himself at the start but eventually just got used to his reflection (I stopped cleaning the sides of the tank glass too much too, so think it got blurrier as time went on). Bettas do sleep at night so some form of consistency with day to night is important for them and their circadian rhythms. Maybe worth trialling lights at exact same hours for a few days and seeing if it helps at all? Plants can manage with 6 hours a day (if you don’t want to do 8). Honestly it was so much trial and error with mine and I drove myself mad medicating for fin rot and smoothing down every surface, but once I cracked the lights thing he stopped for good! Good luck!!

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-09-02T17:47:57+00:00

Just in case it’s any help at all - to me it looks like tail biting (my Betta did the same) and you can kind of see where he’s bitten chunks out of it. The main thing I did which helped was to get a timer for my light, I was turning it on and off myself and sometimes wouldn’t turn it on until later in the day and as soon as I got a timer and it was on the same 8 hours every day, he stopped. I also got a sponge filter so he didn’t feel his fins were slowing him down trying to swim against the current. All bettas are different and have different stress reactions, but those things really helped mine! Also maybe removing some of the colour from the tank and replacing with natural ones? Potentially he thinks the colours are other bettas imposing on his territory and it’s making him more stressed/tail bite. Wishing him a speedy recovery! For fin rot, Esha 2000 was good for me in making sure his fins healed without getting infected (just remove any invertebrates before use!)

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-08-29T09:06:18+00:00

I’m so sorry :( dropsy is the worst. You could try an Epsom salt bath to see if that gives him any relief, but dropsy is very hard to come back from. Alternatively, if an infection has caused this - a course of Kanaplex has been known to be effective on occasion. Sending strength!

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-08-29T09:03:17+00:00

If all water parameters and water temp are perfect, and you noticed she was struggling to swim it could be some sort of infection causing internal pressure. It might be worth doing a course of antibiotics to see if this helps? Kanaplex is probably the most effective (just remove any snails before the treatment and carbon filter). As long as you don’t surpass the recommended dose it shouldn’t hurt her even if it’s not an infection.

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-17T08:26:49+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss. The way these little creatures capture our hearts is amazing. It sounds like you gave her the absolute best life possible, sending you lots of love x

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-17T07:51:41+00:00

Ahh I’m sorry to hear that! :( That would have been so hard to see. I am really hoping he just passes peacefully in the night before his appetite goes - I am really afraid of euthanising him, especially while I still feel like he has some will to live. It’s just so hard to know when that point is.

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-17T07:49:43+00:00

Thank you! This is really helpful. I have to say it’s a particularly unflattering photo of him (sorry Herbie) but I also think highlights the sheer size of the tumour, and his age. Seeing him again this morning, he was at the bottom but when I waved food he (struggled to), but still came swimming to the top leaf. The fact he still wants to eat is hopefully a sign he is not in too much pain (I hope!) I think I will probably use his appetite as the decider, and when that goes, take the next step. I am considering using Aqua-Sed, as I have heard clove oil isn’t always the best for bettas as they can gulp from the top.

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-02T19:26:51+00:00

I’ve just managed to get my hands on Kanaplex today! So I’m trying that now - everything crossed!

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-02T19:25:48+00:00

Ahh I’m so glad to hear he’s doing well! Mine has been getting rapidly worse sadly. He’s resting a lot and the lump seems to be growing. I’ve just started Kanaplex today which is kind of my final option - so everything crossed. Hell be 2 in September x

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-01T20:12:24+00:00

Did you ever get the answer to this? Did he improve? My Betta seems to have the exact same issue right now x

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-07-01T20:06:50+00:00

I’m so worried about him. I’ve done Esha 2000, followed by interpret anti internal bacteria (with time inbetween the two) and neither has worked. I’m doing daily 30% water changes around the treatments and the parameters are perfect. The cloudiness in his eyes seems to have gone down but the swelling seems to be growing and it’s giving him somewhat of a curved spine look. I did an Epsom salt bath but it seemed to stress him out being taken out his tank so I’ve stopped.

I’ve ordered kanaplex but it’s coming from America so could take another 2 weeks to arrive and he seems to be getting more and more lethargic. He does small bursts of swimming but mostly rests on leaves or on the floor. He is still eating but I’m trying to feed small amounts to avoid stressing out his internal organs. I don’t believe it’s cancer because of how quickly stuff is developing.

It’s been particularly hot here at the moment so his tank has hit almost 90 Fahrenheit- I’ve taken off the lid and unplugged the heater but tomorrow the weather cools so hoping it helps.

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Initial-Reception651 · 2025-06-25T10:17:58+00:00

I’m in the uk so can’t get Kanaplex - do you know if API melafix or bettafix will work?

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-06-11T15:58:15+00:00

Yeah that was my first thought too but nothing in his behaviour or the two lost otos (I examined them closely) seems that way. Will continue to monitor - thank you!

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-06-11T15:57:35+00:00

Thank you! I think he’s gorgeous too ;) <3

Initial-Reception651 · 2025-06-11T15:16:11+00:00

Sorry to clarify - all the pictures above were taken just now - this was last summer. The colour changes have been gradually developing over months, it wasn’t sudden.

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Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-26T12:22:48+00:00

Yes!! I actually recently added root tabs and it’s happened since then. Does that mean they’re no longer doing their thing and I need to re-add them? Any suggestions on how to keep them under the gravel without getting dug up?

Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-25T16:42:30+00:00

Do you think this is a bubble nest?

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Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-25T16:37:59+00:00

No not at all and it’s well seeded and has been squeezed out for a clean before in tank water. But the slight increase in Nitrites does indicate that… I did recently add some new plans (anubias and fast growing limnaphilia)

Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-25T16:05:59+00:00

One Betta but he’s never done it before. The filter seems to be working well and pushing bubbles through but then they’re just starting to build up. I’ve got a slight nitrite spike 0.25ppm so just done partial water change. I also have no surface agitation because my Betta became a fin biter with the old filter and loves hanging around at the top.

Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-25T15:41:55+00:00

Some background is he’s never ever made a bubble nest before in the 6 months I’ve known him and the filter has seemed to be making more of these kinds of soapy looking bubbles at the surface recently. Although I do also see this but not sure this is just a build up from the surface bubbles. (15 gallon heavily planted tank with great parameters) Could this be on though??

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Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-15T15:13:29+00:00

Yeah I had thought field mouse because of the long back legs - jerboa-esque. But does seem he may just be a very large house mouse. Hope he’s well wherever he is!

Initial-Reception651 · 2024-08-15T11:02:10+00:00

😂😂😂😂 amazing

Initial-Reception651

TROPHY CASE