Will Applesnails climb out of the tank?

[Gramma]

I would like to buy some Applesnails, but have a new light which sits above the tank, so I was wondering if the applesnails will climb out of the tank as it no longer has a lid?

[thegrandpoohbah]

Yup, they will probably go looking for a place to lay eggs. You could try Spixies which lay in the water so they are less likely to go wandering.

[Gramma]

Thanks for the suggestion. Do they eat plants?

[CACAdmin]

Spixis are smaller than Brigs and neither eat plants. You can always keep smaller Brigs in the tank until they reach breeding age and then move them to other covered tanks. (if you have room). It's the adult females that wander looking for a place above the water line to lay their eggs.

[Gramma]

I guess I don't have to worry about that for a while. The ones I got from Melody won't be adult size for a while. However I did buy 2 larger ones at the LFS, which are about 1/2 adult size. Thanks for the suggestion. I think that is probably what I will do. At least for now. I really like the applesnails and the various colours they come in. To buy more or not, that will be the decision.

[Pamelajo]

Gramma if you ever want spixis let me know I have a few little ones and I am in the same province.

[Laura]

I've had younger brigs go wandering. I wouldn't trust them in an uncovered tank.

[Gramma]

I have moved the brigs I have back to a covered tank. Thanks Pam, I will PM you regarding the spixies.

[OldMan]

I have seldom had briggs go wandering but I always keep some room above the water line, an inch or more, in my briggs tanks. Let's face it, why give them a reason to wander.

[Melody]

The females can wander when they're laying regardless of the water level, but certainly a high waterline would encourage it. Usually if others wander too far from the water it's for another reason. I've had acclimating snails try to leave the tank, for example. The occasional youngster goes too far up sometimes and I think they get confused for some reason so they keep going in the wrong direction. Babies sometimes go up and simply don't come down - they stay there until they dry out.

I rarely see wandering but it's consistent enough to take prevention measures. I always have nightmares of them leaving the larger tanks that I can't move, and landing in the back where I can't reach them - eeeewwwww :wideeyed: .

Don't be too quick to pronounce them dead though - they can stay alive in their shell for days and if they find a moist spot, they can stay there until they starve.