Some questions about snail breeding....

[hc8719]

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Also I've found that heat helps speed up their growth rate. Their metabolisms are temperature dependent, so heat is good. I do some without heaters, and they grow about half as fast as the ones where water is 75-80 degrees.

They don't require an airstone or filtration. Their slime would just gunk up the filter, anyway. They breathe air by going to the surface.

agreed that heat speeds up the metabolism, but will dramatically reduce the life span, which i guess doesnt matter if they're going to be fed anyways. however no airator or filter, doesnt your water get stagnant?

 

[plah831]

lol plah. I pictured your snails living in a bucket of sludge.

I may be breeding them as feeders, but I'm not stupid : Obviously, forcing them to live in thick dirty water does not make an appealing image. Yeah, I am lucky with the water chem. I was actually thinking I should bottle it and sell it online as "snail tonic" or "snail breeding medium" :joke:

HC, no the water doesn't get "stagnant". Like I said, I change the water 100% at least every other day. That way, the water is always clear. After particularly large feedings, I always do a water change because not only does the water turn cloudy overnight, but the amount of poop is just amazing.

As for the slime, Mr SnailZ, I don't know why but if I throw in an algae wafer, by the next morning the food is coated in a layer of slime. I used to think it was mold that miraculously grew overnight, but I've since realized it's slime. Do I just have extra slimy guys?

 

[Mr SnailZ]

Your snails may need a bath =). What type of snails are you keeping that leave slime? If I throw algae wafers in a tank they are gone in no time at all. Perhaps the slime on the food is just a side effect from your magical water. =)

Try selling it on eBay, you'd be suprised at what people will buy!

 

[plah831]

they're just common ramshorns. Maybe it is a chemical reaction with the magic water

This only happens with Bio Blend slow dissolving bottom feeder wafers. They soften eventually, but it takes awhile. Maybe the snails are laying down slime as they're trying to rasp through it?