yep, lowered water a couple inches below the top of the tank and feed em lots, but don't let your water quality go downhill - do water changes often (i would do 50% twice weekly, with a gravel vac on one of those twice weekly changes, on that small a tank with that many snails).
is this 5 gallon tank cycled? i would not advise trying to breed anything in a tank that is not cycled, due to the increased ammonia/nitrite. do you have an API freshwater test kit for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? if not, get one.
yes the tank has been set up since January, i have an API liquid test kit too
have you noticed two snails sorta 'wrestling' with each other lately? that is them breeding, and a male and a female are needed to make apple snail babies. eggs should appear above your water line soon, within a week i would say. do nothing to the eggs unless you see them getting really dry, then lightly mist them with some tank water in a little spray bottle. it could take up to 4 weeks for the eggs to hatch, have patience! mine took almost that long the first time.
yess they "wrestle" a lot!! the last 2 days ive been watching my tank they are doing it!! hehehehehe
but the first thing to do before any of the snails have a chance to lay eggs is move them to a bigger tank. 5 gallons is not enough for the 4 adult snails, never mind the babies. snails make a lot of waste, especially if you are overfeeding to make them breed. i would get at least a 10, preferably bigger, to breed your snails.
once they lay the eggs im taking them out and my friend is gonna take them for his 4+ tanks
what filter are you planning on using for your baby snail tank? if it is a hob (like an aquaclear), you will need to modify the intake tube so that lil snails don't get sucked up. get a filter sponge and cut a 'tunnel' down into one side of it and shove it on the intake tube of the filter, so that the lil ones don't go for an 'impeller ride'.
im using the Red Sea Nano Filter..i like it alot its small and doesn't give off a lot of current
babies get fed the same as their parents, algae wafers, left over flake, pellet fish food, veggies, snail jello, etc. they do not need anything special.
if you have any fish in the tank you plan on breeding the snails in, i will give you a heads up that the fish might get rather plump after the snails hatch out, since lil tiny escargot is very appetizing to fish. the male betta i had in my snail tank was so grateful for his smorgasbord......lol. but don't worry, snails lay so many eggs that you will have lots that will grow up and not get eaten.
lol i have a betta in there..this is an experiment so well see
anything else you are wondering about, just let us know!
