Snail babies up the wazoo!

[thegrandpoohbah]

My P. bridgesii cluth is just about done hatching and I have over 100 little babies running around my tank. I plan to move them to a smaller tank to grow them out a bit. The question is, when is it safe to move them? They look so delicate right now that I'm afraid to try picking them up. I'd like to empty this tank ASAP so that I can set it up for the Mbuna.

[CACAdmin]

I should let Melody answer this one as she's the pro but in her absence I'll make a suggestion. You could use a gravel vac to scoop them up & deposit them to a small container (ice cream bucket, 2g tank, whatever). They usually do much better initially in a smaller container... they can find food easier.

That said, I had a clutch hatch in my 70G (never knew it was there... I'm assuming it was up behind the filter) and a lot of the babies did fine... at least as far as I can tell... I've got a bunch of little ones running around the 70G right now.:rolleyes:

[Melody]

Congrat's! They can be carefully moved - I swipe them with my finger so I can feel if they're being stubborn. I don't like to force them off too quickly, but I'm probably over-fussing. I usually hatch them into a container so moving them isn't an issue, but I've sold hatchlings that are only a few days old & used the finger-scoop method. I only sell off the sides of the tank because I know they're healthy and active.

Funny how things go - no clutches hatch until you decide to get out of snails....lol.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Thanks. I'm going to try and move them in a couple of days. I have a small 4G tank I can use to grow them out a bit. This morning I found yet another clutch of eggs on the glass! Anyone want some snails and/or snail eggs? :D

And I'm not getting out of snails, I'm just not going to actively breed them since I can't keep up with their calcium requirements.

[Melody]

If you can keep up with Cichlids, you can keep up with snails - you're just a perfectionist fish-keeper ;) .

Apparently someone forgot to tell them that you're not actively breeding them:laugh: .

Seriously though, they must be happy and they must be getting enough calcium or they wouldn't be producing eggs. However, I do adopt when the need arises and you know where my drop-off point is. I don't actually need any right now and I'm supposed to be cutting back on production, so just leave them in a box on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and RUN....ROFL.

[thegrandpoohbah]

If you can keep up with Cichlids, you can keep up with snails - you're just a perfectionist fish-keeper ;) .

Apparently someone forgot to tell them that you're not actively breeding them:laugh: .

Seriously though, they must be happy and they must be getting enough calcium or they wouldn't be producing eggs. However, I do adopt when the need arises and you know where my drop-off point is. I don't actually need any right now and I'm supposed to be cutting back on production, so just leave them in a box on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and RUN....ROFL.
*DING DONG*

<runs away>

[Melody]

ROFL Stop making me look! It wouldn't be the first time I've found fish or snails out there that I hadn't invited you know :laugh: , but somehow they all fit in and do well.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Melody, how do I pick them up to transfer them? They are so small that I can't do it without squishing them. Or should I wait a few days until they grow a little bigger?

[Melody]

I just wipe them off the sides with my finger. You can wait until they get a little shell thickness on them if it makes you feel better. I've also scooped them into a fingernail but I'm assuming you don't have that option...lol....and I do prefer being able to feel them against my finger so I know if I'm forcing them too much.

You're worrying too much again - let the force guide your finger, my young apprentice ;) .

Maybe Pamelajo will have some suggestions for you too when she stops in. I was the experienced snailer in a Provincial forum, but there's many very experienced snailers Canada-wide and she's one of them :smile: .

[thegrandpoohbah]

Ok, I managed to move everyone into the 4G by siphoning them all into the new tank. I didn't have to pick up a single snail!

Next question(s): What do you all feed your snail babies, how much and how often? Thanks.

[Melody]

I always worry about damaging them with syphoning, but it does work. :yes: They always seem to fight the suction too...lol...amazing how much they can resist.

I find that they don't eat much at first, or they don't seem to. They prefer vegetation - crave it even. I put lots of old plants in there like watersprite and duckweed. Thin-leaved stuff that degrades quickly. Pealed, softened, quartered peas are a fave - nice & soft. Boiled Bok Choy (just boiled enough to soften) & blanched Zuchini. Shrimp pellets a little farther down the road. They won't eat my regular homemade food at first, so I make the Baby Bottom Bites (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12) if I'm really fretting. Its their calcium intake that always worries me, unnecessarily apparently, but it does...lol. To that end, I get them into the homemade foods asap and feed the higher calcium vegies like the Bok Choy. If you can grow algae on rocks or grow it in the tank, that's the ultimate stuff.

They never need anything CLOSE to what you think they need in regards to portions. It will foul the water long before they eat it and fouling water will do them far more harm than less food.

Having said all that, many snails seem to make it just fine in a fish tank eating leftovers so I'm sure I over-fuss. We are talking about creatures who survive on all things rotting in the wild after all. However, when you're concerned about keeping a shell looking good, a proper diet and very clean conditions will be of major importance.