First Apple Snail Clutch

[hooray]

Greetings All;
I'm new to the group and new to Apple Snails in the aquarium. Thanks to some wonderful people on this site I'm happy to share my first Apple Snail clutch photos.

The gold female was rehomed to me after she kept escaping from her previous tank - perhaps in search of "the perfect mate" (lol). Her resulting cracked shell seems to not hamper her at all as she is very active in her new 40 gallon tank.

Hopefully my next photos will be of a successful hatching.

Ray

[CACAdmin]

Congrats on the clutch. :red_dance: Great pics! Thanks for posting them. Have you left the clutch there or have you removed it for hatching?

Best of luck... if you have any questions, ask away... lots of 'snail folk' around here. And don't forget to keep us updated.

[Melody]

:Welcome: That's awesome! You must have been thrilled to find it.

A little research would have alerted the former owner to the problem - too bad she had to crack her shell. She may have been packing from the tank she was bought from - they can lay eggs from the last insemination for quite some time. They usually start to wander if they can't find a place to lay their eggs. She probably would have been fine had the previous owner lowered the waterline.

Sometimes they'll repair themselves, and if not, they can often be 'patched'. As long as there isn't a great deal of flesh showing and she isn't with aggressive tankmates, she should be ok.

Congrat's & all the luck in the world 2 U!

[Soggybottom]

Nice pics...
How far do they wander? Should I be worried about finding my golden snail on my pillow?
I like high waterlines! Maybe a special hatching board should stick out the back of the tank or what?

[CACAdmin]

They don't wander too far but you never can tell... let us know if you find one on your pillow. :laugh: How far they wander isn't the concern... it's that they can hurt themselves if they fall out of the tank. They like a humid area for hatching so a board sticking out of the back of the tank wouldn't work. If one starts to wander you'll know she's looking for a place to lay a clutch. So maybe you could drop the waterline in that tank or in another tank and put her in there.

[Pamelajo]

Welcome to the site
Should I be worried about finding my golden snail on my pillow?

Maybe
When I first started I came into dining room where tanks are to find a slime trail on the carpet all the way into the living room. Thank goodness for the carpeting or he would have hurt himself when getting out.

[Osprey]

I'm not sure how my sister would react to that (we share our house)... probably send me and all my fish tanks packing!:laugh: (standing by the side of the road, surrounded by fish in rubbermaid tubs and disassembled tanks...)
On a bright note, I've managed to succesfully hatch my first two clutches this last month. The little guys are still pretty tiny, though. I've definitely gotten some pinks from the one clutch, and I think maybe some blues from the other, as well as some ivories. (the originals are pink and purple).

[Melody]

Definitly have the box of chocolates thing going when it comes to applesnail colors - truly never know what you're going to get. I like that part. :yes:

What I don't like is how much space and time it takes to raise them to sale size....lol. That is often a surprise to hobbyists - messy creatures when there's a lot of them. That's why I end up adopting so many during breeding season. Its not impossible, it just takes work. I think everyone should experience clutch hatching at least once though - its quite a thrill.

You can sell clutches too, incidentally. Just wait a week or so so you can tell that they're fertile. Otherwise you can give them away or dispose of them (freezer when they're first noticed).

[hooray]

:notworthy:
WOW! I woke this morning to find a 2nd clutch from my very busy Apple snail.

[CACAdmin]

Congrats! Once they lay one they often lay a few on the next little while. Can you tell yet if the first one is fertile? If so, are you prepared for the number of little snails you'll be raising?

[hooray]

Here is a photo of my 6 day old clutch.

As I am new at this I'm not sure if it's even fertile. Perhaps someone can tell me from the photo? :confused: Thanks in advance for any advise/tips you may have.

As you can see I have to move it before they hatch.

[Melody]

That's fantastic Ray! Looks like a good size too! T'is the season!

[Melody]

Here is a photo of my 6 day old clutch.

As I am new at this I'm not sure if it's even fertile. Perhaps someone can tell me from the photo? :confused: Thanks in advance for any advise/tips you may have.

As you can see I have to move it before they hatch.

Its tough to tell at this stage Ray - its often trial & error at first. It does look like the size of the eggs is progressing. Make sure it doesn't get too dry but not wet either. If mine look too dry and I've left it in the tank, I run a wet finger over them once/day or so.

If this doesn't work, you can always try another hatching method (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129). :smile:

[hooray]

Greetings Snail Lovers;
Here is the clutch - now at day 9. :notworthy:

[Pamelajo]

congrats

[Melody]

By the looks of the size, I'd say you are going to have more snails than you know what to do with very soon ::D: .

It should start to turn whitish soon with dark spots underneath.

[hooray]

Hello Snail Fans;

Here is the clutch at day 16.

She has been a very busy girl and has deposited 2 more since this was laid.

One about the same size and a 3rd about half the size. WHERE do they put all those eggs!?! lol

What do all you experts out there think - are they looking viable at this age? :confused:

[Melody]

LOL Well haven't you received the blessing you asked for in great abundance!:laugh: Good 4 U!

As for being viable, they can take anywhere from about 10-30 days to hatch, which seems to depend on heat more than anything else, from what I've seen. I'll be hoping for you!

[hooray]

Greetings all;:notworthy:
Here is the clutch at day 21.

If any hatching is going to happen it should be soon.

[Melody]

It looks like some might just barely be turning whitish, which is good. Can you see any dark spots in them? They do like to stop developing mid-way, in my tanks anyway, but you can just try another method with the new ones if that's the case. I'm hoping for you though!

[hooray]

I think you are right Melody - it seems the eggs have stopped developing mid-way. Alas - no success on my first clutch.

As you can see from the photo I have a few more hopefuls. Perhaps I'll be more successful with some of them.

I've moved the original cluch to the tray (it's the one on the lower right) just in case.

:( Unfortunately the next largest clutch (middle right) likely drowned before I moved it as it spent overnight at the bottom of the tank. :Embarassing: As I am new to this I tried leaving some in place and some in the tray - carefully wetting them down once a day. That said - as soon as one fell to the bottom all the clutches got moved.

Interestingly enough, the first one was really secured in place whereas the others came of easily.

[CACAdmin]

Too bad the first one stopped developing... it happens. In fact, I have one at the moment I would guess is in the same state while others have hatched or look like they will hatch.

As for 'wetting them down', just a little moisture... a hint of dampness. Be sure not to get them too wet. Basically you just don't want them to dry out. Good luck with the remaining ones. And keep us posted on how it goes.

[Melody]

Is the tray up off the water? I can't tell from the pic. They have to be completely above the water. You can attach styro to the bottom to make it float above.

As mentioned, too much wetting makes them rot, not enough and they dry out. Some people use a mister once/day, I run a wet finger over them if necessary. In a container of water they should stay damp enough on their own if the cover is on. They do need air too, so if the container is air tight you may want to punch a small hole in it. Place the container somewhere warm, like on top of an aquarium light strip.

Some are simply infertile, nothing to do with what you're doing.

I had a horrible time with clutches at first, and I still don't do as well with them as some people. You'll get the right recipe eventually!