Wow, stupid snail question.

[rexi_doll39]

I found a little bundle of pink eggs JUST above the water line in my freshwater tank. i looked on google(with very little help) and found pictures of eggs that looked EXACTLY like these, and from what I've learned, they are from my apple snail. I only have one snail. I know some species can reproduce on their own, but can apple snails? If not, then why are these eggs here and what should I do about it? I'm clueless when it comes to snails!

[black hills tj]

IIRC apple snails are NOT hermaphroditic.

[gzeiger]

Even hermaphrodites need two! Apple snails do have separate sexes though.

Have you had the snail long? It's quite possible it mated before you bought it.

Good info on breeding here: How to take care of apple snails: food, housing and breeding.

[rexi_doll39]

Originally Posted by gzeiger

Even hermaphrodites need two! Apple snails do have separate sexes though.

Have you had the snail long? It's quite possible it mated before you bought it.

Good info on breeding here: How to take care of apple snails: food, housing and breeding.

I got my snail 2 weeks ago. Is that too long of a time for the eggs to be fertilized?

[JasonC]

Did some digging and found this:

"The female snail can store active sperm for months in her genital tract enabling the female apple snail to reproduce even if she does not meet a male for the months thereafter."

Pretty crazy.. persistent species.

Check out Ecology of apple snails (Ampullariidae). for more info.

[rexi_doll39]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Did some digging and found this:

"The female snail can store active sperm for months in her genital tract enabling the female apple snail to reproduce even if she does not meet a male for the months thereafter."

Pretty crazy.. persistent species.

Check out Ecology of apple snails (Ampullariidae). for more info.

thank you sweetie!!! =)

[OldMan]

Those apple snail eggs may well be fertile. If they are, they can be easily drowned by getting the cluster wet. It can typically take about 3 weeks for an apple snail clutch to hatch. By the time they hatch the eggs will no longer be the pretty pinkish color they started. they will start to look grey as if they are fungusing before they hatch so don't give up on them too quickly. As has already been said, a female briggs can carry viable sperm to produce fertile eggs over and again for 6 months or so.

[rexi_doll39]

oh wow. the eggs hatched and it laid 2 more little egg things. this is cool!