Weird smell?

[kookosmeloni]

Hello everyone, I've got a little problem and would like an advice.
I've recently noticed a really strong smell in one of my snail tanks. It doesn't smell like a carcass or anything, and every single one of the snails living there are alive.
I've tried changing the soil and everything but the smell doesn't seem to be vanishing.

It smells a lot like chlorine and it is so strong, my stomach turns and I get a really bad head ache from it.

Has anyone else ever got this kind of problem?

[kookosmeloni]

Can't anyone help at all?
I'm really getting frustrated of this situation and I can't even clean the tank up anymore because the smell is so bad.

[starcrazy19]

That is really strange... I've heard of fish tanks spontaneously turning strongly chlorine due to reactions between chemicals, cleaners etc but never with a snail tank. I would do a full tank reset, throw everything organic out (except the snails!) wash everything as thoroughly as possible, bath the snails and start over with fresh substrate... since you've already changed the soil, I guess that is the next step. If you put snails here, tank there, ornaments somewhere else in the house you can at least narrow down what the smell is coming from. Can't imagine what could be causing it though... I'd be amazed if the snails were still alive with actual chlorine or any chemical of that strength in the tank

[kookosmeloni]

I'll do that.

This is so strange though :/ I've never had anything like this before.

[kookosmeloni]

I just divided the snails in half. The halves are in different tanks now, and the smell isn't back just yet.
I hope it will never be back either

[etana]

One question: Can other people smell it as well?

If yes, then I have no idea what it is even after lots and lots of creative googling. I'll second Pinkunicorn, separate everything and sniff them individually. 

If no, well I don't want to scare you, but some medical conditions mess with your sense of smell, and certain infections give a false sense of chlorine odor as a reaction to something in the environment. 

[kookosmeloni]

I noticed nothing when I separated them but a soon as they're back together, it starts to smell again.
I'm thankful that the smell stays inside the containers and doesn't leak out in the apartment...

I've not asked other people about the smell since I live alone.
My very good friend(also my room mate) used to always complain about the musky smell of my snakes.
Well, she doesn't live with me anymore for reasons. I've been very sick lately though but I doubt it would be because of that.

[etana]

Very mysterious. Are you usually sensitive to smells?

Since it came back when you put the snails back together, if nothing else changed, it sounds as though they're communicating with smells somehow. Would be very common for animals to do that, anyway.

But, since I can't find any info at all about Achatinas ever using chlorine-y smell to communicate, or for any other reason either (nor did anyone complain about any land snail/whatever caged pet doing this, even when ill or something) I still think there might be something off with your sense of smell as well. And since you have been ill... maybe it'd be worth it asking someone to see (and smell) your snails, and if they can't smell it, maybe mention this to your doctor?

[kookosmeloni]

At first yeah but after a while I get used to the smells around me.
This however is different and I can't even clean the tanks indoors :/

[etana]

Is the smell still there?

[kookosmeloni]

Not as clear as it was earlier but it is still there

[Zorst]

May seem a strange question but what kind of snails are they?

Zorst

[kookosmeloni]

They're just normal fulicas.

[kookosmeloni]

Turns out, the problem was in me and not the snails.

[etana]

Ok, glad you found out. Hope it wasn't too serious.