Apple Snail Clutch

[Kimr]

Here are a few pics I took of the clutch. I didn't notice it this morning when I went down to feed the BN tank (which is where the snails are) but this afternoon is when I noticed them.

This is their second clutch in a week and a half. The first time round I freaked as I hadn't read Melody's sticky on them. So they obviously didn't make it.

That being said I am not sure what I am going to do this time, I may try to hatch them and see what happens, it is something I haven't done before.

At least I think they are apple snails, both Storm and I got some from the same person, so if I am wrong he will know ::D: .

I do know though that I have both a female and a male :laugh:


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/387d1087.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/f604752c.jpg


This is where she layed them

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/418ea85e.jpg

[Ursus sapien]

crazy gal! my apples aren't as frisky as your apples:-)

[Bina]

Amazing....me want some too.

[Kimr]

Well everytime I look at them they are "at it". Even my kids noticed and one of their friends!!!!

[CACAdmin]

Definitely an applesnail (P. Difffusa) clutch. Great pictures. I'm sure you'll do well hatching them. Dibs on any babies you get.:Smile:

[KristaLynn]

Argh! Jealous. Do you know how hard I've been trying to get snails? Stupid Saskatchewan.

[Kimr]

Thanks everyone, OK I will try to hatch them, then share :D

[Bina]

Thanks everyone, OK I will try to hatch them, then share :D
Good Plan !! :yes:

[Kimr]

I removed the clutch today from the spot she had layed, and I must say they removed quite easily.

I am following method #1 of Melody's, will take pics tomorrow.

[Laura]

Congrats and best of luck with them.

You should probably cover all the exit locations in your tank. When snails want to find a nice spot to lay they will head right out of the tank, and not be able to return. I've had it end badly.

If one does get out of the tank, don't assume that it's dead (unless it's been out for days and days). Pop it in water and see if it can come back.

[Kimr]

Thanks for the tip! I have lost a few snails that way too, so I have learned my lesson. I do have covers on the tank, just happened to forget to put one back on that day.

[Kimr]

Well my family of snails have been busy yet again :eek: . I took a few pics today of what I have done so far :Smile:


This is the new clutch I found this morning when I went to feed

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/0a41d63a.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/a5add58f.jpg



This is the first clutch

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/ff2707aa.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/5c777e0a.jpg

[Ursus sapien]

I'm soooooo jealous!

[Sweetpea]

Cool...congrats. Just out of curiosity, what is that white stuff in the rubber bands??

[Kimr]

I'm soooooo jealous!


Maybe I will have to lend you one of my males :wink:



Cool...congrats. Just out of curiosity, what is that white stuff in the rubber bands??


The white stuff is a piece of styrofoam, its all I had at the time and then I put the rubber bands on it. I am following Melody's method its a sticky here. Thanks!

I am enjoying this learning process of hatching.

[CACAdmin]

Now that one clutch has been laid, you may find the female laying others. They tend to go in egg-laying spurts (at least from my experience). Best of luck hatching it.

[Bina]

This is soooo exciting !!

[Kimr]

Now that one clutch has been laid, you may find the female laying others. They tend to go in egg-laying spurts (at least from my experience). Best of luck hatching it.


I will keep my eyes open for more, thanks for the heads up!!!



This is soooo exciting !!


It is exciting, we will see what comes out of it all :Smile:

[Pamelajo]

Good luck hoping it hatches for you.

[Ursus sapien]

I should board my brown coloured apples at your house for a while... I'd love to have more of those!

[wes&sam]

nice pics, I love those snails. Good luck with them.

[Kimr]

I should board my brown coloured apples at your house for a while... I'd love to have more of those!



you mean brown like this? :tongue:


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/029be1b6.jpg


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/afaca082.jpg

[Kimr]

Here's todays photo shoot, so far so good, altho I don't know what exactly I am looking for or not, so I'll just play with it until I know for sure there is something out of it or not.

These are still taken with my iphone and a flash.


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/45038288.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/235987d4.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/239e5a5d.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/89dbcc66.jpg

[Bina]

Oh, man....you are killing me with those pics... Me want some too !!

[CACAdmin]

Looking good. They'll start going whitish as they get ready to hatch.

[Kimr]

Oh, man....you are killing me with those pics... Me want some too !!


Dont worry, I will share, so long as they hatch!



Looking good. They'll start going whitish as they get ready to hatch.

Thanks Jay, so far they are looking good, I think.

[KristaLynn]

How are things going with the clutchs? Clutches? Hmmm. :confused:

[Kimr]

So far so good, nothing really new to report. The first clutch looks like its drying out a bit more, but that was the one I was worried about from the beginning. The second one seems to be fine. I haven't noticed a change in colour on either of them yet.

I do keep them moist during the day (still following Melody's method).

[Bina]

Keep up the good work...good luck !!

[CACAdmin]

It's been so long since I hatched a clutch that I can't recall how long they take... however, I do remember waiting impatiently... so they do take a while. We've all got our fingers crossed for success.

[wes&sam]

I think its 3 weeks for them to hatch... could be two it's been a while for me as well.

[Kimr]

Only thing to report is that the first batch is dried up, the second batch is hanging in there.

[CACAdmin]

The first one may have been a "test" clutch which was infertile. Hope the second one hatches for you.

[Bina]

Good Luck with the second clutch :)

[Kimr]

The first one may have been a "test" clutch which was infertile. Hope the second one hatches for you.

I never thought about them not being fertilized, sure hope the second one is!



Good Luck with the second clutch :)



Thanks I hope the second one works out too and is fertilized.

[Killerbunny]

I bought two apple snails from Petsmart for my 75gal. They went all crazy and laid like 12 clutches above the waterline in my tank.

I don't remember exactly how long they took to hatch- there were so many clutches that I had a hard time keeping track!- but I know it felt like AGES before one finally did! Now I have way too many snails, but seeing them all growing has made me slightly attached to them... good thing my fish bioload is small!

Be patient :D It's SO worth the wait!

[Kimr]

I have nothing but patience, don't mind how long it takes, if I see tiny new snails, I know it worked, if not, well there is always next time.

[Kimr]

Sooooooooooo I woke up yesterday morning to find a new clutch, and now have added it to the other 2, altho as I said the first one seems to have be dried up. The 2nd is still hanging in there, not dried up, but I don't see any snails yet.

Good thing I have patience :D

[CACAdmin]

Congrats on the new clutch... busy snails you have there! Best of luck hatching them (and yes, it is a test of patience.)

[CACAdmin]

Any hatchlings from any of the clutches? Any more clutches?

[Kimr]

Nope have had none that have hatched just dried up, but have had 2 more clutches so I keep trying.

My problem is the moisture I think, they are in a tank, just as in the photo's but when the water begins to evaporate in the tank, the moisture part in the breeders container lessens and lessens, so now I am trying to keep it topped up. Apart from that, I don't know, but not giving up!

[Ursus sapien]

hi Kim, my brown apples have laid eggs, so I did up a raft like yours... but the parents keep capsizing it! The next clutch will go to a seperate tank.

[CACAdmin]

Nope have had none that have hatched just dried up, but have had 2 more clutches so I keep trying.

My problem is the moisture I think, they are in a tank, just as in the photo's but when the water begins to evaporate in the tank, the moisture part in the breeders container lessens and lessens, so now I am trying to keep it topped up. Apart from that, I don't know, but not giving up!
Glad to hear you're not giving up.
hi Kim, my brown apples have laid eggs, so I did up a raft like yours... but the parents keep capsizing it! The next clutch will go to a seperate tank.
Yes, adults love to tip it over. If the clutch falls in the water, the babies will drown. What I found helpful was to put the clutches on a piece of stryofoam and float that in a container which I floated in the tank (wedged under the glass close to the lights to provide warmth)... had to be sure to keep the water level up or the container would float free and had the potential to be tipped.

[Kimr]

hi Kim, my brown apples have laid eggs, so I did up a raft like yours... but the parents keep capsizing it! The next clutch will go to a seperate tank.


Its tough, for that reason, but mine are now in a tank where there is nothing (its the grow out lab tank) so its much easier to maintain that way.

Congrats!!!


Glad to hear you're not giving up.


Never give up!!!!

Yes, adults love to tip it over. If the clutch falls in the water, the babies will drown. What I found helpful was to put the clutches on a piece of stryofoam and float that in a container which I floated in the tank (wedged under the glass close to the lights to provide warmth)... had to be sure to keep the water level up or the container would float free and had the potential to be tipped.


Yup this is what I am doing, just remembering to keep the water level high enough in the tank for the moisture.

If its meant to be it will be :Smile:

[CACAdmin]

Sooner or later it will happen... when you least expect it.

[mikebike]

I have 6 large apple snails that have been laying eggs for 2 years now. No hatches

I'm going to have to try the hatching methods posted here.

[Kimr]

Sooner or later it will happen... when you least expect it.

Probably! At least now I don't watch the tank 24/7, only when I go to feed everyone :Smile:



I have 6 large apple snails that have been laying eggs for 2 years now. No hatches

I'm going to have to try the hatching methods posted here.


Well I don't feel so alone now Mike :tongue: . But by all means try this method out, maybe it will work for you! Honestly I am having fun with the whole process even if the eggs don't hatch.

Is it possible they are not fertilized? my batches anyway.

[Sprucegruve]

hey i just found this post.i have been breeding apple and mystery snails for awhile
now.
i have tried many differnt methods of hatching these guys,the methods above work pretty good.
but i find the method that works best for me is to just leave the eggs where they were laid,and put a air stone under the eggs,the constant splashing hatches them really well.
im getting 95-100% hatch rate right now

[Kimr]

hey i just found this post.i have been breeding apple and mystery snails for awhile
now.
i have tried many differnt methods of hatching these guys,the methods above work pretty good.
but i find the method that works best for me is to just leave the eggs where they were laid,and put a air stone under the eggs,the constant splashing hatches them really well.
im getting 95-100% hatch rate right now


Thanks, I'll give it a try next time I get a new batch!

Do you have any pics of your babies?

[Sprucegruve]

heres some of my snails i raised

golden apple snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00099.jpg
ivory apple snail
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00389.jpg
purple striped apple
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/Picture022.jpg
brown apple
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/Picture032.jpg
baby purple striped
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/Picture020.jpg
fresh hatched ivory apple snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00736.jpg
ivory apple snail clutch
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00738.jpg
spixi snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00642.jpg
spixi snail eggs
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00643.jpg
black spotted rabbit snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00651.jpg
baby black spotted rabbit snail babys
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00653.jpg
orange rabbit snail
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00605.jpg
chocolate rabbit snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00608.jpg
assassin snails
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00624.jpg
zebra/zig zag nerite snail
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/Zebraneritesnail.jpg
leopard/tire track nerite snail
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/LeopardNeritesnail.jpg
tiger nerite snail
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n537/SpruceGruve/snails/DSC00739.jpg

i dont feel like posting more pictures but you get the idea.....im crazy about snails

[KristaLynn]

Hey, I know those pictures! :wink:

[Kimr]

Thanks yup guess your crazy about snails!!! Me too.

The picture of the snail clutch is where mine layed theirs as well, so I will def try your method that you suggested next time.

[Sprucegruve]

hope that helps next time kim.

oh kim i almost forgot,if the snail eggs fall in the tank before hatching,then my favorite second choice is the raft idea,they usually stay up the entire time tho.


hey krista,good to run into you,when i was talking to you about snails did i mention this method of hatching?
if my snails breed for you krista, it seems like you wont have a problem getting rid of the babys. good luck

[KristaLynn]

I don't remember if you mentioned this method, I'd have to look back through all the e-mails! If they do start laying clutches for me I'll probably post about it anyways because I'll be so excited. I've already informed everyone in the office that I'm taking a half-day off work when the snails get here. :laugh:

[Pamelajo]

Hey, I know those pictures! :wink:

Ditto!

[Bina]

Sprucegruve....those snail pics are totally amazing.....I'm going crazy.
By any chance, do you live in Ontario ?

[Sprucegruve]

im sorry bina i live in spruce grove alberta.

but i shipped snails to krista yesterday,if they breed for her she will have tons to sell/give away.

or maybe in the spring or summer i could mail you some

[Kimr]

hope that helps next time kim.

oh kim i almost forgot,if the snail eggs fall in the tank before hatching,then my favorite second choice is the raft idea,they usually stay up the entire time tho.





Again thanks, and will remember if they fall into the tank. I see some small, small snails on my "raft" but not sure if they are the apple babies or just ramshorn I'll keep watching them.

[Melody]

Just received your PM Kim, I've been nursing a neck sprain since Christmas so I haven't been around.

I have the best luck in a bag, clutch wrapped in damp paper towel, and placed on an aquarium light or other heat source. They take about two weeks to hatch if they're warm enough. Cana's hatch better in the open, but I think I keep the house too cool for Bridgesii/Diffusa to hatch without a good heat source.

I've just been maintaining a few breeders due to time constraints but now y'all are giving me slime fever again, so cut that out, if you would please. LOL

[Bina]

Yep, "slime" or snail fever is contagious. We will all keep each other busy and sated. <wink>

[Kimr]

Just received your PM Kim, I've been nursing a neck sprain since Christmas so I haven't been around.

I have the best luck in a bag, clutch wrapped in damp paper towel, and placed on an aquarium light or other heat source. They take about two weeks to hatch if they're warm enough. Cana's hatch better in the open, but I think I keep the house too cool for Bridgesii/Diffusa to hatch without a good heat source.

I've just been maintaining a few breeders due to time constraints but now y'all are giving me slime fever again, so cut that out, if you would please. LOL


No worries, hope you are OK!

I have a new clutch saw it this morning, so I have the option of leaving it there and doing the suggestion of putting an airstone under it as Sprucegrove mentioned. OR do it your way.

So I am guessing that once you have placed the clutch in damp papertowel ( just one or 2 pieces of towel?). You then place it in a bag, and then ON TOP of a light OUTSIDE the tank?

[KristaLynn]

Just looking at the picture she posted it looks like the bag is outside the tank ontop of the light with a cloth pot holder between the bag and the light.

Good luck with this clutch Kim!

[Melody]

No worries, hope you are OK!

I have a new clutch saw it this morning, so I have the option of leaving it there and doing the suggestion of putting an airstone under it as Sprucegrove mentioned. OR do it your way.

So I am guessing that once you have placed the clutch in damp papertowel ( just one or 2 pieces of towel?). You then place it in a bag, and then ON TOP of a light OUTSIDE the tank?

I'm much better, thank you. I'm half in love with my massage therapist now...LOL...he brought me relief.

Yup, I keep them just as they are in the picture. I turned the bag whenever I thought of it, and kept a potholder under it so it wouldn't get too hot. I open the bag every day to check the progress and let fresh air in.

What worked for others didn't work for me quite often, so you should try any suggestions you receive until you find what works for you. I don't recall ever hearing about using an airstone, but it sounds like a good idea to me as long as the clutch doesn't get too wet.

Looking forward to hearing the birth announcement :Smile:.

[Kimr]

I'm much better, thank you. I'm half in love with my massage therapist now...LOL...he brought me relief.

Yup, I keep them just as they are in the picture. I turned the bag whenever I thought of it, and kept a potholder under it so it wouldn't get too hot. I open the bag every day to check the progress and let fresh air in.

What worked for others didn't work for me quite often, so you should try any suggestions you receive until you find what works for you. I don't recall ever hearing about using an airstone, but it sounds like a good idea to me as long as the clutch doesn't get too wet.

Looking forward to hearing the birth announcement :Smile:.


Yes I love my chiropractor and massage too, don`t think my back would hold out without them!

Thanks for clearing up on your method, I will try that one too.

[Kimr]

Here are some pics of baby snails, now these babies were underneath the styrofoam thing I had done, so I am assuming they are apple snail babies, but I am not 100% either, as there is ramshorn snails in there.

If they are baby apples, woot for me! If not, thats OK too.

I am trying Melody's method of putting my latest batch in the paper towel, then bag, then on top of the light.


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/babysnailsand33004.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/babysnailsand33005.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/babysnailsand33002.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/eatdis2/apple%20snail%20eggs/babysnailsand33006.jpg

[Bina]

Kim, this is VERY exciting. Good Luck !

[KristaLynn]

I hope they're apples!

[Ursus sapien]

they don't look much like rams...
fingers crossed!

[CACAdmin]

It's hard to tell when they're that tiny but I think I see little spires which would rams wouldn't have. Fingers crossed for you.

[Kimr]

Thanks for all the fingers crossed!!! Guess time will tell. Yes they are tiny and its hard to see which they are.

Again, hoping that b/c I turned the styrofoam over and saw them, that they were apples. I haven't seen a ramshorn go on or near it so thats why I didn't think it was those.

[Sprucegruve]

good luck

hopefully its not those pesky pond snails that you get from store bought plants

[Kimr]

Thanks sprucegrove! I am hoping, they are moving a bit more each day, still in the container, but moving.

[Kimr]

Well I am pretty sure that the snails in that breeders container are ramshorn, I'll try and get pics tomorrow, its not a loss tho b/c Yurdle eats them anyway and I breed them for her.

I am still doing the other 2 clutches in the paper towel and bag on the light, so far so good, if nothing hatches this week, then it will be a bust - again.

[CACAdmin]

Hope to hear that the ones in the bag hatch. Best of luck!

[Bina]

Yurdle has her claws crossed for more Ramshorns ;-)

[Kimr]

So as I said in another thread, none of my clutches hatched and the ones I thought maybe were, indeed were not, they were rams horn which is fine Yurdle eats those anyway.

I have also lost all my apple snails, not sure why, nothing in the tank has changed, but I don't know how old they all were when I got them.

That being said, I will be getting more eventually, as I truly think they are an amazing snail!

[Bina]

Kim, sorry to hear about the apple snail loss. Hope you try again soon :-)

[Pamelajo]

I have also lost all my apple snails, not sure why, nothing in the tank has changed, but I don't know how old they all were when I got them.



Hi Kim,
The diffusa seem to be a delicate group, maybe because of all the breeding to get the colours. I am not sure why for sure. I have a cana who has lived 4 years so far and only supposed to live two. My spixis also are made of tough stuff, but the diffusa give me trouble from time to time even when kept them in the same tank as the others.

[CACAdmin]

Sorry to hear you've lost all your Diffusa. I, too, have none at the moment. Mine eventually died off and was unsuccessful hatching clutches at the end (although I did have great success at one time).

I, too, would like to get some more at some point. I love those snails.

[Ursus sapien]

what a shame!

[Kimr]

Hi Kim,
The diffusa seem to be a delicate group, maybe because of all the breeding to get the colours. I am not sure why for sure. I have a cana who has lived 4 years so far and only supposed to live two. My spixis also are made of tough stuff, but the diffusa give me trouble from time to time even when kept them in the same tank as the others.


Thanks for the info, I will get some more, as I do love them. Whether the new ones breed or not, doesn't matter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the clutches.



Sorry to hear you've lost all your Diffusa. I, too, have none at the moment. Mine eventually died off and was unsuccessful hatching clutches at the end (although I did have great success at one time).

I, too, would like to get some more at some point. I love those snails.


Thanks Jay, it was alot of fun for me.

[KristaLynn]

So sorry to hear you lost them all Kim! If any of mine lay a clutch some where other than the lid I'll try to hatch them and you can have some of my babies. :yes:

[Kimr]

So sorry to hear you lost them all Kim! If any of mine lay a clutch some where other than the lid I'll try to hatch them and you can have some of my babies. :yes:



Thanks very much! Enjoy the learning process of yours, it truly is amazing to watch and I tried all 3 different ways to hatch them.

[Melody]

I think the regulations in the US that were launched a few years ago have made inbreeding worse, since they can't be freely traded across state lines without permits.

Most of the farms only breed the basic blue, gold, ivory, and black/brown in large pools. They do fine in that environment but are often shipped with large numbers in one bag, which of course results in filthy water within hours. Then as they sit at the retail level, there is often little understanding of what they need and what they can't be exposed to, so they may be weakened over time. If that wasn't enough, in most of BC our water is soft, whereas the snails are raised in hard water, so acclimation can be tricky.

Don't give up! I've had them brought in from all over North America and also purchased locally with only rare issues - it's the exception, not the rule.:Smile: