What is this....

[James0816]

So I'm at PetSmart looking at the tanks and I notice the gold mystery snails. one of them was high up on a piece of driftwood and had this long tube like thing coming from him. he retracted it briefly and then extended it again. what in the world is this?

 

[pixl8r]

Did the snail extend it up to the surface of the water? I think it's the siphon tube used to breath air.

 

[Becca3711]

It's called his siphon. Snails have gills and lungs to breathe oxygen. The siphon is used to stick out of the water to breathe through his lungs.

 

[James0816]

didn't quite make it all the way to top of the water

 

[J double R]

sometimes it doesnt.. but theyll try.