Snails

[Piggy]

I understand earth snails are adored, but are aquatic snails any different? I would really love to just buy snails, or even better breed them, rather than going out and searching for some. I live near major roads so I rarely see any near where I live, and I'd have to go to the park. It's not exactly far, I'm just lazy.

Anyway, I noticed someone mentioning snail breeding, and I would like to try that. Any sources of information I could read up on? Or if someone could just go over everything that would be dandy.

[Tigergenesis]

any snail is fine. With land snails you have to worry about them having been exposed to chemicals, sprays, etc. With aquatic you have to worry about them coming from tanks that have been treated with chemicals. I would not use land snails from anywhere but your own yard since only you know what you have and have not put on your grass, etc.

I get aquatic snails from the petstore. I put them through a kind of 'detox' before feeding to my blueys. I put them in water with some greens for 2-3 days (change water as needed) and if they are still alive by then I feed them to my blueys.

You can do a search on this forum for "snails" and you will find many posts/threads on the subject

[Piggy]

Thanks! I'll have a look.

[Omega]

if u get any size aquarium with a filter, ask petsmart for 10 of the ones in their tank or so (free), and u will have hundreds in no time.

[Piggy]

I have a 6 gallon tank I'd like to put to use. Hopefully, it will hold water. :S
Initially, apple snails are my first choice. Are they common in petstores? How expensive? If I won't find any, I'll just use the little ones, but does anyone find their skink prefers larger snails?

[Omega]

I have a 6 gallon tank I'd like to put to use. Hopefully, it will hold water. :S
Initially, apple snails are my first choice. Are they common in petstores? How expensive? If I won't find any, I'll just use the little ones, but does anyone find their skink prefers larger snails?

That tank will work nicely if it's water worthy =)

I've got mystery snails, but I would reccomend just asking for their basic, unwanted pond snails. Mystery snails lay eggs in clutches that take a couple weeks to hatch, and the snails themselves take a few months to be sexually mature. The pond snails had my tank covered in eggs in 2 days, and were hatching in 2 more. I have a couple hundred tiny baby snails now after 5 or 6 days, so in a week or so when they are a cm long or so I won't be able to run out of them. I'm gonna keep both species going, as well as the ramshorns if I can, but the common pond snail population will be much easier to keep as a staple meat source. And marley seems to love em!

[Tigergenesis]

Omega, what do those snails look like?

[Piggy]

I believe the common pond snail is known as radix labiata (or at least one species is?). I googled for some pictures and I think these are the ones I often see in pet store tanks.

[Omega]

pretty much like these:

http://www.bettatude.com/Snails/pond-snail1.jpg

[Shellyjean]

I think Goldy #1-12 that I have are all golden mystery snails. No eggs yet though. But it's not been very long, I'm still hoping. I need to figure out what Omega slips in his tank to boost their libidos, lol.

[Omega]

I think Goldy #1-12 that I have are all golden mystery snails. No eggs yet though. But it's not been very long, I'm still hoping. I need to figure out what Omega slips in his tank to boost their libidos, lol.

I told you guys, it's the little water-proof speaker playing "bow chicka bow wow" 24/7! hehe. I dunno though, I got all my eggs starting after a week of them munching on collard greens daily, and had read other veggies "put them in the mood." Not sure if that played a part or not.

[Piggy]

!
Do you just leave the greens floating at the top?
And now for a completely newb question; what kind of water do you use? Can I just boil tap? Is this what all people with aquariums do (seems too difficult)?

[Omega]

Oh, i forgot to mention piggy, the pond snails seem to love the weekend fish feeder blocks. One of the main ingredients is calcium, which should be good for shell development and such.

I also drop tiny bits of algae wafers and cichlid food in there too occassionally(the mystery snails seem to like cichlid food and greens), but they haven't swarmed to it like they did the weekend feeders. I just broke 1/4 or so of one of those little ones off and let it sit in there for em, so they will last a while it seems.

[Omega]

:lol:!
Do you just leave the greens floating at the top?
And now for a completely newb question; what kind of water do you use? Can I just boil tap? Is this what all people with aquariums do (seems too difficult)?

\

For the mystery snails i've been doing thawed frozen collards, which are sort of wet anyway, i just took a pinch, reached down into my bigger cichlid tank, released near the bottom, and they settled close by. My adult mystery snails would hang around the "spot" i usually dropped them off at a lot of the day munching away. Haven't tried greens with the pond snails yet though, doubt it's necessary as they reproduce and survive whether u want them to or not.

I use tap water with the dechlorinating aquarium liquid added to it, snails have a bigger temp range than most fish, so room temp water seems to be just fine, as long as you're not in an igloo or anything =P.

[AneesasMuse]

When I was still "ranching" Apple Snails, during the warmer months, I would put them in a very large rubbermaid outside... some java moss and oyster shells from my "snacks" ...and feed them fish flakes, veggies, algae wafers, etc. a couple times a week. They would lay their clutches around the top of the tub and babies would eventually find their way back into the water after hatching (couple weeks or so)

You can raise them in a tank inside much the same way, but you'll want a filter cuz they are huge Bio Load trashers... lots of POOP!

Btw, Prime by SeaChem is a good dechlorinator for your tap water.

Oh and if you want to be sure you have a mated pair in the store, take along a 20 oz. soda pop top. Ask the store clerk to let you hold the prospective snail... put snail in the top on its back with trapdoor UP... wait a minute or two and the snail will try to right itself, hence reaching far enough out of its shell to disclose its "family jewels" or lack there of

WITH jewels = Boy ..WITHOUT jewels = Girl

This will not harm the snail in anyway... may embarass him or her ..but they can withstand being out of water for up to a week without ill effect. Bella used to wander around in the ROOM all the time.

[Piggy]

Thank you both very much! Very helpful information! I'm actually excited to get started.

[Omega]

good idea for sexing! I would have never thought of that

[Leigh]

Just a thuoght, If you can position your tank in direct sun light, it will accelerate the growth of algea on the glass/sides, if you use a simple air stone sponge filter, you can make one for next to nothing, top half of a squash bottle,riddled with holes and full with cotton wool, aquatic air line in the bottom, throw away lid and voila, the aireation helps, peas are a good snail food as they drop straight to the bottom so positional feeding is easy and they dont break down as fast as leaves

[Omega]

I'll have to try the peas, thats a good idea.

[AneesasMuse]

If you can't get your tank near a window, just leave a flourescent light on for 8 or more hours.. uses very little energy and will have the same effect.

And if you need visuals for a DIY sponge filter, I have em... just took pics the other day for someone else.

Btw, Apple Snails come in a variety of colors.. more appetizing to your Skinker friend?