Will the L205 eat live Mystery Snails?

[Astrea]

My daughter has two pet mystery snails in the QT tank and ever since learning last night that the L205 is an omnivore, she's been flipping out on me because her snails are HUGE and she loves them and we've had them since they were very small.

Will the L205 actually kill and eat them? My L21 sucks on the shells of the ones in his tank on occasion, but doesn't hurt them. (he's pushing 8 inches) Even lets them crawl on him. This L205 she is afraid of and the one snail has been closed up in his shell since we introduced the L205. She's convinced he's hurt her snail. I think he's just doing the snail thing where you swear the thing is dead until he decides he's had enough alone time. He's firmly closed up, not half hanging out, nothing odd.

So! I told her I would ask you guys just in case. Advice please? I can easily just move them if it would be best. (thank you!)

[Pamelajo]

I have had my bns suck youngl mystery snails out of the their shells. I am not familiar with L205's but common plecos have been know to suck full size mystery snails out of their shells. Better safe than sorry!

[Astrea]

I moved them both to another tank. The one in question was out and climbing a plant earlier, but after that he was shelled back up again. He's acting way too strange and I Googled his behavior and it seems it is just a normal snail thing, but we'll see. Oh, and just for reference he didn't have that ungodly dead snail smell, so I know he was alive when I moved him.

[Pamelajo]

They sometimes hold up in their shells for no particlar reason, but they will also do it to avoid being picked on or feel threatened, but I think yours just needed some alone time. lol Glad to hear you moved them just in case.
The ungodly death smell is something one never forgets!

[Astrea]

Just checking back in to say that one snail died and the other died a week later. I had a glass catfish kick in that tank I moved them to, but he'd been in there with his school for over six months so it could just be coincidence. Water tests fine in both tanks, so no clue. I have two other small ones in my L169 tank and they're fine. Everybody's doing great. Just not those snails and that one glass. Dunno.

[lgabrick]

I actually had a mystery snail problem in my tank. I had about 5 good size snails and 40+ baby ones. I added a pleco to the tank and they took care of it. Every time I have got mystery snails they do this to me, granted I have only got them twice, but that was enough for me.

[Pamelajo]

What kind of mystery snail do you have, the typical ones found at pet stores usually lay their eggs above the water line and can be removed and discarded so there is not over population.
Top pic is of pomecea diffusa or what is usually called the mystery snail found usually at pet store in yellow or black. If pet store is supplied by hobbists then it could coming in blue, ivory, puple, jade and other variations of these colours.
The second pic is of asolene spixi rare in pet store, but if eggs are not removed can become over populated.