is it dead?

[Freckles]

That queen conch I was asking about earlier? I cant tell if the body is in there anymore 15 minutes ago, it was on its side where you could see if there was a body, and I didnt see one.... Now, it's facing the other way......

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by Freckles
That queen conch I was asking about earlier? I cant tell if the body is in there anymore...

Use thye Vance test... ...pick it up, place it close to the nose, inhale deeply... you can tell at that point if it is alive or dead...

check it every day until it begins to move on its own, however, if it diesn't pass the Vance test, discard it appropriately.

[Freckles]

No smell.......

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by Freckles
No smell.......

This is a good thing (think Martha Steward making a lamp shade from a licence plate in a small steel- barred cell...)

At times, conch (and snails in general) will pull back into their shell when shocked by changes in the water column or their environmental clues in general (i.e. predators, light changes, "scent" cues in the water, even substrate cues). Fighting Conch in general are nocturnal, and will usually bury themselves in the substrate during the day (another reason to have sugar-sized DSB). I am sure that there are many reasons for the snail not to come out during the daylight anyway, but this may be the primary reason. Dick (Fishdaddy) had a FW apple snail that stayed in "hibernatioin" for several months before coming out on a regular basis, I think the only reason Dick did not discard the snail was that it passed the "Vance" test on a regular basis.

If it stinks, throw it out, otherwise, see how it does over time.

[DKKA]

I picked up one of my queens the other day because it hadn't moved in a while. I was sure it was dead as I couldn't see the body either. But it didn't smell so I left it in there. Sure enough...still alive.
The sniff test works (though it's not much fun when you find a really ripe one!)
Dan

[balakoth]

I think I like the "sniff" method more so than the "Inhale Deeply" method. Whatcha tryin to do Tom knock us off one by one?!

[Freckles]

haha! Cute comment!

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by balakoth
I think I like the "sniff" method more so than the "Inhale Deeply" method. Whatcha tryin to do Tom knock us off one by one?!

You'll have to blame Dick (Fishdaddy...), he taught me this intriguing and extremely accurate method

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by tdwyatt
You'll have to blame Dick (Fishdaddy...), he taught me this intriguing and extremely accurate method

I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless he shows up at the picnic and says, "hey y'all, WATCH THIS!!!" (j/k)

Actually, this method has saved many a snail in my systems, I have to sea "Thanks!" to Dick for this method...