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Apple Snail Question 05/27/09
Hi there. Nine days ago, we purchased two apple snails for our new pond
(the guy at the pet store said this was fine), we soon learned this
wasn't
good at all.
<Does depend where you live; if you happen to live in the subtropics or
tropics, then Pomacea snails can adapt well to pond life. But they
aren't
at all suitable for ponds in the temperate zone, and even in warmer
parts of the world they do need a "resting period" lasting some months.
Personally, I don't rate Apple snails as particularly good pets, and the
overwhelming majority of them die within a year, never reaching anything
like their full size.>
In our crash course on water care and snails we lost one and
surprisingly the other is still alive. We put in a new, bigger pond and
placed him in there to get him out of the old toxic water and he started
moving up and down the sides (it's about a 200 gallon pond).We were so
happy that he was still alive that we bought a ten gallon tank for him
and got him to other apple snails for company.
<They actually couldn't care less about company... more important you
provide optimal conditions for one snail than try to house a bunch of
them
under less than perfect conditions.>
Well, the first day we put all three in the tank, he was partially out
of his shell and wasn't moving for about twelve hours, and he appeared
to be
defecating and producing excess slime. We got worried and read that you
should remove the snail immediately from the tank if they appear as if
they are dying.
<You should certainly remove a dead snail from any aquarium, yes. But
removing one that's merely behaving oddly isn't a good idea.
Periodically
shedding mucous and producing copious faeces are both normal behaviours.
Unless the snail is constantly shedding mucous, small amounts aren't
anything to worry about, and like all herbivores, the more fibre-rich
their diet, the more solid waste they produce.>
We put him in a 1.5 gallon tank with a filtering system and there are
times he's floating on the bottom or in the middle of the tank and the
next day
he'll be sucked to the side.
<See, this is the thing. Conditions in a 1.5 gallon "tank" aren't
tenable for an Apple snail, and really, such "tanks" are useless.
Buckets are bigger! So, buying such a tank is a total waste of money. On
top of that, because water quality WILL be less stable and likely less
good in such a tank, moving from the 10 gallon to the 1.5 gallon will
simply make a bad situation worse. Much better to identify the problem,
and them act accordingly.>
Many times my husband has told me to just put him in the freezer, but I
can't.
<And shouldn't; freezing animals is not a humane way to kill them. While
I admit it's hard to empathize for a snail, what makes humans
(potentially)
special is our ability to see what's cruel from what's humane. If you
must euthanize a snail, use a humane method as described for fish. In
any case,
snails tend to be either "healthy" or "dead", so if the snail is active,
there's hope! Put the snail in the right conditions, with the right
water quality, and at the right temperature. In other words, an 8-10
gallon aquarium, with hard (10+ degrees dH) water at pH 7.5 to 8, with
no salt, and at a middling to low temperature around 22-24 C. Ammonia
and nitrite should be zero at all times, and the snail must have access
to air, so allow a good couple of inches space between the waterline and
the hood. For at least three months of the year, keep the temperature
lower so the thing can go dormant; ideally, remove it from the water and
keep in damp soil at around 18 C. Do note that Apple snails are neither
tropical nor coldwater animals, and can't be kept indefinitely in either
unheated tanks (outside of the subtropics, of course) or tropical
tanks.>
Then later on he'll look good and surprise us by how active he is. Any
way, he's been in separated for a day and a half now. How long do I wait
to put him back, I feel like all I'm doing is testing water on both
tanks and the pond. Is he behaving normal? The other two snails have not
floated at all
yet. I've read they do this but he does it quite a bit and doesn't close
all of the way. Is he permanently damaged by being put into the
untreated pond water? The nitrites were VERY high as was the ammonia.
<This is what's killing the snail; keep the snail in good conditions and
it should pep up.>
He's in stable conditions now. Any info would be a great help. Thanks.
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Apple Snail Question 5/28/2009
Thank you so much, I'm determined to keep them alive. I appreciate your
help, I couldn't get useful information anywhere else.
<Happy to help. Do try and track down "Apple Snails in the Aquarium" by
Gloria Perrera and Jerry G. Walls; it's the single best book on the
topic
published. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Apple Snail Question 05/29/09
Hi again, Thank you so much.
<Well, that's good news!>
He perked right up in the ten gallon tank. He's moving along with the
other two as if nothing happened. He must've just been adjusting to the
new environment before or something.
-MaLinda
<Sounds like you have everything under control. Good luck, Neale.>
Swimmer itch ... nematodes, ponds... 5/9/06
greetings-
i have been enjoying your snail reading-
We have the "swimmer itch"- so our water dogs tell us- so the reading on
this subject says some varieties of snails are hosts- so i
am looking for predator snails to eat all the other ones-
or turtles etc...
what do you think- and where could we purchase?
<I would utilize either a copper based algicide to kill the intermediate hosts
(the snails) or other purposeful molluscicide here. Are you in the U.S.? There
may well be a government or university agency that can/will tell you what they
specifically advise here. We used to use "blue stone", copper sulfate... with
about ten percent citric acid mixed in... in the infested lakes we maintained,
for this purpose. Bob Fenner>
> thank you
> Alexander Eriksson
Re: New pond, worms 8/18/05
Hi Bob
<Wendy>
Decided to get back to you and update you on the worms.
My vet said she could not dispense medication without seeing a patient. I
told her my dead fish are buried in the garden.
I found this site:
http://www.kensfish.com
to be EXTREMELY helpful. I was able to obtain some Prazi (Praziquantel)
without any difficulty, and have used it. 2 doses recommended to get rid of
eggs etc that may have been shielded by the adult worm/fish on 1st
application.
I still have newts in my pond, and have seen then swimming around with the
fish and eating the fish food at feeding time! Lovely! I am so glad the
Prazi didn't harm them.
<Ah, good>
I am thinking of adding a few pond snails. Could you tell me what fish
medications would harm them.
<Most any of the metals, dyes... when, where in doubt, leave them out>
Anyway, thanks for all your help. I really want to recommend Kens fish site
to anyone having difficulty getting Prazi in the UK. They are excellent.
Wendy.
<Thank you for this valuable input. Bob Fenner>
Need to buy pond Snails 6/29/05
Hi Robert I am looking to buy snail here in Orlando Florida can you tell me
of any place that may carry snails. They are for a pond.
Thank you for your help.
Marie.
<Mmm, I'd look in your local "Yellow Pages", under "Gardens", "Ponds" or call
your local fish stores re such. Bob Fenner>
Snails in the Winter
I purchased 3 gold Inca's for my 1000 gallon pond this summer and they sure
kept it clean. The filter never had to be changed it was wonderful. Now winter
is coming upon us fast here in Connecticut and from what I have read I do not
believe they are hardy snails.
<Definitely coincides with what I've read, as well.>
Will I have to bring them indoors and how do I keep them alive for 5 months?
<A great informative site on apple snails (gold Incas are in this group, I
think): http://www.applesnail.net/
. I'd probably bring them in for the winter, in perhaps a 20 gallon 'long' or
'breeder' type aquarium, with the water level a couple of inches low (to
facilitate egg laying if it happens and prevent the urge to escape). A small
power filter, heater, lid and light, a bit of substrate, and some
anacharis/elodea to munch on, some dechlorinated tap water, and you're all set.
I hate to see them die. Sandy Rich
<I'll admit, I'm a plant-tank gal myself, so snails are pretty much, eh, how do
I put it nicely.... "evil".... in my tanks, and become fish food. I am quite
fascinated with the apple snail-types, though, and perhaps will try some for my
ponds some day. -Sabrina>
Pond snails in the winter
Hello,
I have a small water garden in a pot, about 30 gallons (I think),
<Pi R squared times height... in inches... divided by 231 (cubic inches per
gallon)... will give you an approximation for cylinder volume>
on my front porch. A landscaper friend gave me several snails out of her
man-made ponds and now I am wondering what to do with them for the winter.
<Best to "bring them in"... perhaps your container can be re-set up in a garage
(if it doesn't get freezing cold, or an enclosed patio...>
I live in NE Ohio and already the nights get down to 50 degrees. I am
planning on bringing in the plants and just keeping them in my basement in
buckets of water.
<Do the same with the snails>
I had thought to just put the snails in the buckets with the plants but now I
am thinking I might find a tank and keep them as "pets" for the winter. What do
I need to do and should I go ahead and bring them in now?
<I would bring all in before it gets any colder. The tank can be run with a
simple "box filter" or even easier, a hang on power filter. Your local fish
store can show you these>
Will this work, and do they need water to live in or just moist soil?
<Likely in, as totally aquatic conditions. You can ask your friend if these are
amphibious species or not>
I am assuming they are pond snails and will need at least several inches of
water. How do I set up this temporary home for my snails (and the many babies I
have noticed clinging to the roots of my floater plants!). Speaking of, will I
have too many for a small tank?
<Doubtful... most larger species (Ampullaria) are not bisexual... are slower to
reproduce>
If so, what do I do with the extras?
<Trade them in at a shop, give them to neighbor children...>
How do I feed them, or
can I add some of my floater plants for them to nibble on ( I have plenty and
can get more for free if they devour them). So far I have just used water from
my spigot (un-softened, well water) and they have survived the summer, so I
assume I can just use the same for the tank. I have a lot of questions and any
info you can give me will be helpful. Thanks!
Kim in Ohio
<Please peruse the many pond and freshwater snail files (articles and FAQs)
archived on these subwebs on WetWebMedia.com for much more of a complete
understanding of what you are about. Bob Fenner>
Giving Snails the heave-ho from a Taro farm
Hi, I am a Hawaii taro farmer and I was wondering how can I eliminate the
golden apple snails or is there a method used that I have tried to kill these
plant killers ??? Without destroying my crops.. Thanks and Aloha James....
<There are indeed commercial molluscicides... do you have any other invertebrate
or fish in culture with your taro/poi plants? If not, I would look into using
simple "blue stone" (copper sulfate pentahydrate) with about ten percent (by
weight) citric acid mixed in (to keep the cupric ion in suspension longer) and
broadcast this (with a hand spreader) at about two ounces per hundred square
feet. Won't hurt your plants (but will kill back algae). Bob Fenner>
Re: floating snails
I bought a couple of snails for a very small pond last summer. I don't
remember what kind they are (they're large and yellow in color). Almost
immediately, they disappeared into the "depths" of the pond and we didn't see
them again. Today my husband found them both floating on top of the water. We
live in the northwestern U.S. (500 feet from the Canadian border).
<Brrrrr!>
We've never changed the water in the pond, though in the summer we added fresh
water and lately we've had A LOT of rain.
There is also no fresh vegetation, since most everything has shut down for the
winter.
Are the snails okay? Are they dead?
<Not okay, but not dead yet hopefully>
Do I need to do something different? This is the first "artificial" pond
we've had - as opposed to natural ponds with their own ecosystems.
<Also coldwater... the snails you have don't, can't live in such cold water. Do
collect them and bring them in (to the garage if it's attached to the house) at
least... and if they still are floating a week from now, into an unheated
aquarium or other large container in the house till a few weeks after freezing
weather next year. Perhaps take a read through our snail and pond articles, FAQs
stored here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/Pond%20Sub%20Web.htm>
Thanks for you help.
<And you for your concern. Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Cynthia Bateman
Golden snail
We have couple of about 3 inch size snails in our pound. They laid eggs
frequently however none of the eggs produced baby snails. Perhaps we need to
get male snails, is there any way one can differentiate male from female
snail when we buy them?
<Mmm, not this species. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailspds.htm>
Also once in a while one of the snail would venture
out of the pond and travel on the land. I s this normal?
<Not normal unless there is "something" wrong for them in your system... Your
baby snails may be being lost for related reasons. Do you have sufficient
alkalinity in this pond? Do you ever see any young at all, or do the eggs just
disappear? Maybe a predator is eating the young (turtles, fishes...), or they're
unable to find sufficient food, biominerals in your pond to build their shells.
Bob Fenner>
Thanks for your
help. sincerely yours, T, C, Yao
Snails, again
Hi Bob,
Hey do you write in french too or did someone translate for you? I was
looking around on the net and found your article on snails in Le jardinier
aquatique. As I was glancing through it I thought, gee that sounds like Bob's
article... and then saw your name at the top!
<Interesting... could be our friend Claude who transliterates, provides our
website in French (there are other folks in German, Japanese)... Ces
magnifique!>
Anyway, could you please tell me the difference between Viviparus malleatus
and Ampullaria cuprina? And which one is called the Japanese Trapdoor Snail?
<Neither as far as I know... please use your search engines here (am on holiday
in Miami, on way out on a liveaboard... so no access>
Would you have another identification for those cone-shaped snails that are
in two of the photos, since they're from our pond here in northwest Indiana
and can't be Melanoides tuberculata, which aren't hardy around here?
<Oh they might... very commonly "let go" in the wild...>
Also, just fyi, we are switching over to computer-to-plate for printing and
have picked up a new place to do scanning of photos, and we're adding a week
to the production schedule to make sure everything works out okay. This means
that we'll need copy for the Jan/Feb 2002 issue by October 8 if possible...
Just let me know if this will be a problem.
<Copy of? The swimming pool to pond piece? Other title?>
Thanks much
Best
Sue
<Chat with you soon. Back on the 30th. Bob Fenner>
Pond Snails
We have a couple of Ampullaria austrailis in our pond. Lately they laid
orange colored egg clusters on the rock and plant stems near the water
surface. However these eggs never seem to hatch. After couple, three weeks
the cluster just drop off into the pond. Is there any way we can help to
hatch these eggs? Thanks, we appreciate your time to help us out. Sincerely
T. C.
<Could be a few things at play here... You may have a "couple" of females! And
need a male (these are dioecious species, boys/girls)... Could be your
temperature is too low (not likely too high)... and you would have more luck
moving them egg clusters indoors... to a heater aquarium setting... Bob Fenner>
comments on: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/snailsagb.htm
Hello Robert,
I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading your webpages. Very thorough,
descriptive, and fun to read! I have bookmarked your page for further
perusal.
<Thank you for your kind words. Very encouraging>
I just added some black mystery snails to my goldfish tank....and boy am I
glad I picked those ones and not some of the other more prolific kinds.
I just felt after reading your information on snails and plants in
aquariums. I had to say thank you, extremely well done!! I also enjoy the
humour you put into the
descriptions makes it highly enjoyable to read.
<Thank you again my friend. Be chatting. Bob Fenner>
Best regards, Heather O'Connor :)
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