He LOVES snails!

I was thinking of just purchasing the 2 for 9.99. And let them have babies and feed the babies to my chameleon maybe? How big do they get anyways?

How do you know you will get a male and a female?
I dont see any mention on their website that says anything about sexing them. :confused:
 
They are hermaphrodites, so each snail has both sex organs. So as long as you have two, you will have babies. :)
 
I decided to give these a try and ordered 2 snails.

Would regular potting soil mixed with coconut fiber be a good substrate?
I could throw in some leaf litter as well, got plenty of dead leaves in the yard!
Do they need water, or do they get it from the veggies?
 
You could use a shallow water dish, but only about 1/8 of an inch deep so that they don't drown.

Keep the substrate wet, but not soaking wet, whether it be coconut coir, soil from outside (pesticide free) or non fertilized potting soil (which most is, so be careful!).

I did what someone on this forum recommended and placed a cucumber slice out...all 36 of my baby snails were on it like magnets!

I originally started out with 4 adult snails, one died a day after I received them (I didn't find the need to complain and ask for another because I knew that they were hermaphrodites and potentially still 3 egg layers). Well another one died about two weeks after that. I'm not sure what the problem was but before it did it laid eggs so that's good at least. I saw the other two mating the other day all over the walls so I'm expecting eggs before too long. It took a little over a week and a half for my first group of eggs to hatch.

Oh and leaves from outside should be fine. I use them after rinsing them off. What does everyone think about introducing isopods into their snail culture? I have thousands of isopods waiting to be seeded into various tanks.:cool:

One more thing, I read that this snails are also asexual so they don't even need a partner to reproduce! Imagine that.
 
Make sure you find out if the adults are captive bred or wild caught. If the adults are wild caught you will need to keep the eggs and babies separate from them due to high risk of parasites.
 
Make sure you find out if the adults are captive bred or wild caught. If the adults are wild caught you will need to keep the eggs and babies separate from them due to high risk of parasites.

Yikes! your right! I am glad you mentioned it.

I am also hoping they dont die in shipping, with the weather being cold!!

What temp should they be kept at?

Can the eggs be removed to another container after they are layed?
Or do I have to wait for them to hatch?

Has anyone tested these for parasites?

I buy the fecal float kits, and have a microscope, so have been doing my own testing.
 
You could use a shallow water dish, but only about 1/8 of an inch deep so that they don't drown.

Keep the substrate wet, but not soaking wet, whether it be coconut coir, soil from outside (pesticide free) or non fertilized potting soil (which most is, so be careful!).

I did what someone on this forum recommended and placed a cucumber slice out...all 36 of my baby snails were on it like magnets!

I originally started out with 4 adult snails, one died a day after I received them (I didn't find the need to complain and ask for another because I knew that they were hermaphrodites and potentially still 3 egg layers). Well another one died about two weeks after that. I'm not sure what the problem was but before it did it laid eggs so that's good at least. I saw the other two mating the other day all over the walls so I'm expecting eggs before too long. It took a little over a week and a half for my first group of eggs to hatch.

Oh and leaves from outside should be fine. I use them after rinsing them off. What does everyone think about introducing isopods into their snail culture? I have thousands of isopods waiting to be seeded into various tanks.:cool:

One more thing, I read that this snails are also asexual so they don't even need a partner to reproduce! Imagine that.


Thanks, thats very helpful :)

Asexual huh! thats interesting, but doesnt sound like a snail's life is very excitting ;)
 
I missed the egg phase, so I separated the babies into a small critter keeper. I believe they had just hatched, because they were all bunched together by the hole in the dirt. I think the best way, is to get the eggs out before they hatch. I keep mine at room temperature in the living room, and mist them just about every day. I used organic soil, and tossed in some rinsed dead leaves from outside. I haven't tested mine for parasites, I don't know how. :eek: When you have babies, I'd love to know what you find out.
They are really cute, but poop machines. :) I can't believe how much they poop! I did throw in a few isopods I bought from Roachcrossing. I won't use the isopods as feeders from that tank, since I don't know if the adult snails have any parasites, but I thought it might help keep it cleaner. I have had my Jackson tested for parasites, and will have it done again in a few months, just to be on the safe side.
 
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If you check weekly you should be able to find the eggs pretty easily. They are white and look like little gel balls and are pretty sturdy. They can be moved easier than tiny baby fragil snails in my opinion.
 
So the snail digs a hole and lays the eggs in it?
Do they cover them over with the soil like chams do?

I think I better start doing some research on this species :rolleyes:
 
So the snail digs a hole and lays the eggs in it?
Do they cover them over with the soil like chams do?

I think I better start doing some research on this species :rolleyes:

Sometimes you can still see the tunnel, but most of the time you cant and you just dig around and find the piles of eggs. I give them plastic cups cut in half as huts and lots of leaf litter. The more removable items you have the better, they are very messy and poop like crazy. It is easier to take out cups and leaves to wash off than constantly figuring out how to keep the soil clean. They also poop all over the walls so you will need to wipe those down as well.
 
Sometimes you can still see the tunnel, but most of the time you cant and you just dig around and find the piles of eggs. I give them plastic cups cut in half as huts and lots of leaf litter. The more removable items you have the better, they are very messy and poop like crazy. It is easier to take out cups and leaves to wash off than constantly figuring out how to keep the soil clean. They also poop all over the walls so you will need to wipe those down as well.

Thanks pigglett :)

You say cups? you mean you put them in their own little cup, with soil at the bottom?
Or do you put the cup over them?
I have some small clear deli cups, about 3'' wide on top, and 2'' deep!?
 
Thanks pigglett :)

You say cups? you mean you put them in their own little cup, with soil at the bottom?
Or do you put the cup over them?
I have some small clear deli cups, about 3'' wide on top, and 2'' deep!?

Like this...

Bugshelves.jpg



See the cups inside for houses? They are cut in half red solo cups. and just placed on top of the soil.
 
Okay, now I get it :rolleyes:
Thanks so much for taking pics, it's a huge help :)

How many snails are under each cup?

Have you tried giving them crushed egg shells for their calcium?
 
Okay, now I get it :rolleyes:
Thanks so much for taking pics, it's a huge help :)

How many snails are under each cup?

Have you tried giving them crushed egg shells for their calcium?

I have way too many snails, lots of the small ones can fit under each cup and a few big ones. I give them cuttle fish bone and also occasionally dust the food I give them with plain calcium. I havent tried eggs shells. Seems like too much trouble to clean them and everything.
 
Great! (except the poop!!), sound like a new adventure for me!
Hope I have better luck with these guyz then I have with silkies :eek:

Thanks again pigglett for all your help, you have been very patient with my
questions :)
 
Great! (except the poop!!), sound like a new adventure for me!
Hope I have better luck with these guyz then I have with silkies :eek:

Thanks again pigglett for all your help, you have been very patient with my
questions :)

I just realized your a marylander like me! :D I rarely see that. *off topic*

I'm really debating on buying these.. Then I'll have 2 types of multiplying food for my chameleon (3 if I can get my crickets to breed!) My boyfriend might kill me though. He says the chameleon eats better then we do. :p Kind of true though!

& I love your setup pigglet. Everything is nice and neat and right there where you need it. I have my supplements and cricket food/roach food in one room next to my chameleon cage and the roaches/crickets in a backroom. Doesn't make sense to me :eek:! I need a nice shelf like you have.
 
I just realized your a marylander like me! :D I rarely see that. *off topic*

I'm really debating on buying these.. Then I'll have 2 types of multiplying food for my chameleon (3 if I can get my crickets to breed!) My boyfriend might kill me though. He says the chameleon eats better then we do. :p Kind of true though!

& I love your setup pigglet. Everything is nice and neat and right there where you need it. I have my supplements and cricket food/roach food in one room next to my chameleon cage and the roaches/crickets in a backroom. Doesn't make sense to me :eek:! I need a nice shelf like you have.

Ha, thats just a tiny part of it, you can see the rest of my set up in this thread

https://www.chameleonforums.com/cham-room-setups-reptile-rooms-feeder-room-picture-thread-121536/

My boyfriend didnt know what what happening before I all of the sudden was breeding dubias, red runners, isopods, silk worms, horn worms, snails, and more to come im sure LOL.

Edit: Just hide it all in the closet and then one day he will say hay what is all this? haha
 
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