About Apple and Mystery Snail Reproduction

In the evenings I feed two aquariums filled with fish, snails and whatever random aquatic creature I bring home. After a liberal sprinkling of tropical flakes, shrimp pellets and algae wafers, I noticed a white clump stuck to the aquarium glass of the tropical fish aquarium.

Was it calcium build up from our hard water?

After a quick Google search, I learned that we would soon become a grandparents. The snails laid eggs!

But, how do snails reproduce?

While anxiously awaiting the miracle of tiny snails, I decided to investigate the process, and here's what I found.

Unlike land snails--which are hermaphrodites-- aquatic snails have male or female organs, according to veterinarians Doctors Foster and Smith.

Visually differentiating the male snail from the female proves difficult. The shell colors and patterns do not vary between the sexes. When viewed from the underside, male snails appear to have a larger opening where the penis sheath is located. When viewing two snails side by side, the absence of this opening helps identify female snails.

In the evening, female Pomacea snails will creep just above the aquarium's water line and deposit a clutch of 200 to 600 pinkish-white eggs. This location protects the eggs from potential predators.

Since the white mass in the aquarium rests just above the waterline, near the top of the heater, I believe we have Pomacea snails. In the pet trade, retailers refer to these snails as Apple or Mystery snails. The small mollusks have both gills and a lung, making them able to survive out of water for a short time, according to The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service.

If the water temperature stays favorable the aquarium will teem with baby snails in two to three weeks. The hatchlings will be tough, eager eaters and have a great chance for survival, according to Columbia University.

The magic began on Father's Day, ironically. The furry dog children gave my fiancee two snails for Father's day. The pups had no idea their aquatic selection included a male and a female pining to start a family.

Luckily the aquarium hovers around 76 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature for Apple and Mystery snails. At 2 1/2 inches in diameter, or roughly 2 months of age, the snails can begin reproducing. After a quick glance at the two snails, they appear within the size range of consenting adult snails.

One of the parent snails has a brown striped shell. The other is gold. Apple and Mystery snails also come in shades of pink, red and blues. In a few weeks the aquarium may become a rainbow of colors.

Apple and Mystery snails enjoy a 2- to 3-year life span when given at least 2 1/2 gallons of space per snail.

Sources and Suggested Further Reading:

Doctors Foster and Smith's Pet Education: Freshwater Snails
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+1911&aid=2570

Columbia University: Introduced Species Summary Project Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata)http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Pomacea_canaliculata.html

The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service: Invasive Species, Island Apple Snail
http://www.shellfish.uga.edu/invasive%20webitems/meet%20guests/apple%20snail.pdf

Applesnail.net: Apple Snails
http://www.applesnail.net/

University of California: How to Mange Pests, Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html

Badman's Tropical Fish: Apple, Mystery Snails
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile92.html

Aqualand Pets Plus: Caring for your New Apple Snails
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Bug,%20Snails,%20Apple.htm

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