- In the aquarium hobby the term 'Mystery snails' is used for either of two types of freshwater snails: 'true' Mystery snails (family Viviparidae) and Apple snails (family Ampullariidae). What you have is an apple snail of the genus Pomacea.
- In nature, both types of snails break often for a number of reasons. Their ability of fixing breakages is remarkable, so long as the body is not damaged.
- It is not true that if the flesh is exposed to the water it will calcify (harden) by itself due to contact with the water. For calcification to occur (and it is done readily by a healthy snail), the snail's mantle (a specific tissue) has to secrete a mixture of proteinaceous material (conchyolin), and of minerals (CaCO3, MgCO3, and others derived from food) to make new shell, be it for growth (enlarging or thickening), or for repair (erosion or breakage). The shell of these snails is itself made of an external, thin and shiny proteinaceous layer (the periostracum), with the calcified material (shell) below.
- Your snail should be just fine and it will repair its shell relatively quickly (days to weeks), unless it gets picked on by inquisitive and pest fish. It will develop a thin repair, which will thicken with time. A permanent scar will almost certainly be visible but it is part of the snail normal life.
- In nature, both types of snails break often for a number of reasons. Their ability of fixing breakages is remarkable, so long as the body is not damaged.
- It is not true that if the flesh is exposed to the water it will calcify (harden) by itself due to contact with the water. For calcification to occur (and it is done readily by a healthy snail), the snail's mantle (a specific tissue) has to secrete a mixture of proteinaceous material (conchyolin), and of minerals (CaCO3, MgCO3, and others derived from food) to make new shell, be it for growth (enlarging or thickening), or for repair (erosion or breakage). The shell of these snails is itself made of an external, thin and shiny proteinaceous layer (the periostracum), with the calcified material (shell) below.
- Your snail should be just fine and it will repair its shell relatively quickly (days to weeks), unless it gets picked on by inquisitive and pest fish. It will develop a thin repair, which will thicken with time. A permanent scar will almost certainly be visible but it is part of the snail normal life.
