Snail Questions

eveliens

eveliens

AC Members
Mar 5, 2005
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NWA, USA
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First, I found some olive netrites locally. I love them; beautiful and algae eating machines. However, I apparently have some females... and subsequently little eggs all over the glass. I know they don't hatch in fresh water and apparently the fish aren't interested in eating them. How long before they go on their own? Or should I just remove them? Of course, her favorite part to lay on is the front glass :silly:

Second, my briggs recently laid a huge clutch of eggs. The parents are purple/pink; should I assume the babies will be too? If there's enough humidity, how long does it take the clutch to hatch?

And, while I'm at it, in my 40 hex, I have ramshorns. They are not completely invited guests, but I've noticed their shells look like they're dissentigrating. I don't have this problem in any other tanks and it's the same tap water. Very hard with a pH of about 7.8. I remove them to another tank when I see them and they're fine, but I just thought that was odd.

I think that's it for the snail questions.
 
wow I can't believe you found nerites around you *jealous*!

The clutch can open in two or so weeks, sooner if it's warmer, later if it's colder. Check out this link for the babies colors... http://www.angelfire.com/va/myevolution/snails/applet/color_cross.htm

Snails need calcium for their shells. I don't know if they're getting enough or not, but you could add a cuttle bone and see if that helps :)
 
1. Never known a fish to eat the eggs I think. You can always remove them with a razor blade though.

2. The babies could be pink and purples but there may also be other colors from the past generations.

3. Do you have driftwoods in your tank that leaches tannins? Have you tested the pH of that tank? What test kit are you using?
 
if you don't mind me asking, where are you located that you can find nerites locally?
 
Yeah, I was pretty excited when I found the netrites. And all because I was diddling around, waiting for assistance. I don't think the guy's ever seen anyone quite that excited about snails :D I dropped a hint that zebra netrites would be even better.

And thanks for the link! But it prompts the next question. What's LSP mean? And as far as I know, the parents of my snails were also pink/purple.

No driftwood yet (although I need to find an ugly piece to hide in the back for my clown plecos to gnaw on). I think it's the API liquid test kit? It comes out a very dark blue. I just thought it odd the snails do wonderful in my other tanks (except the ones with the large cichlids or loaches) but not this one.

Edit: I'm in Kansas City. I found them at a local Petland of all places. I don't know if you have Petland, but you might see if they can/will order them in. Honestly, this fish department manager is known for ordering random things, which makes it fun to go down there and see what he's got.
 
LSP-light striped purple but I believe it is also referred to as "peppermint" or "magenta". That's the trouble with color codes. There are so many names made up. I'd expect you may find yourself some burgundy colors as well.

Perhaps, try to give the ramshorns there with snail jello with calcium added, calcium pills or plaster of Paris pucks.
 
Very cool :) I have a petstore like that around here, only they don't really do that with aquatic stuff. I did manage to get my hedgehog Simon from there though :)
 
Ah, thank you. Yes, too many names for each color. Lots of colors! After look at a chart and reading descriptions, the ones I was referring to as "pink" are actually LSPs.

I'll just keep picking the ramshorns out and relocating them. I don't really want to encourage them in that tank.
 
wait i shoulda clarified, did you find them at a pet shop or in a local body of water?
 
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