Other Turtle Discussion :: How can I prevent this next time?

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Well I had bought a Snail a few days back and he would come out at night and clean the walls of Rangers tank. But this morning before I left to school I found him stuck to the filter tube. I turned it off and he was still stuck so I grabbed him and pulled him off and his little trap door was closed but it was closed deep inside his shell and not on the rim also he had something hanging outside of it. I want to buy another snail cause he cleaned the algae pretty good and it's the only other living thing that ranger won't attack and eat. So how can I get the filter tube to not suck him up?

[rsour24]

it could have been that snail, i cant rly think of a way around it. u could try getting more than one snail. or getting bigger snails

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

The snail was around 1 inch. Would getting more then one snail do anything different? Also what's weird is a website told me when they die they fall out of their shell when taken out of water and smell bad but mine doesn't smell nor falls out of his shell.

[steve]

Perhaps look into to Jozzep's idea of an elongated intake tube with holes drilled into it.

[Marcus.85]

In our shrimp tanks we usually stick a filter sponge in/around the intake tube. If done correctly it doesn't affect the pump output and also acts as a useful pre-filter.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Yeah Im going to try and buy another snail this weekend and see if he gets sucked up again by the filter. My dad things my turtle just got to him but I find that hard to believe since the snail never came out of his shell unless ranger was basking or asleep.

[imderanged]

You could try putting pantyhose around the intake.

[Marcus.85]

Isn't like the intake dangerous for your turtle also (limbs) if it's able to fit a whole snail ?
How big is the hole anyways?
THere were several case of legs stuck in the intake reported on this forum

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

There really small and the filter dosen't have a strong enough suction to suck up anything of my turtle. The snail was only around half to 1 inch. Here's a picture of the same exact one I have.

Also wouldn't the panty hose trap all of big stuff on the outside of it?

[Marcus.85]

Yes, therefore the snail got eaten or escaped..

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Oh that sucks Well I'll try again anyways I'll see if I can get a much bigger one this time.