Helix Aspersa Breeding

[pickalilly]

Hi,

I have two new Helix Aspersa juveniles - they are about 3 cm long when fully stretched out. I am currently bathing them in cuttlefish (salt free!) daily, giving them crushed eggshells and romaine lettuce (and cucumber etc.). They probably wont breed this summer but will be the right age to next summer. So, if I just have two snails, but they are very happy and healthy, are they likely to breed? Or should I add a third snail?

In the past my Helix Aspersa breeding 'colonies' have consisted of about eight young adult, thriving snails and I would get eggs every two weeks or so - it was such fun! Due to the large amount of snails in great condition they each mated with another snail each night! Will two snails mate to produce at least one 'litter' if in the same state as my previous ones?


My snails also live outside (in a tank). I live in the UK. When it gets chilly at night, should I bring them in? I like to stay natural and am not a fan of snails in my bedroom - let me just say my current A. albopicta are not far off becoming a disaster. There is a terrible amount of mold, flies, bugs etc. that reappear hours after complete clearing. Today, one of my Albopictas actually got eaten alive (yes, I found him hollow) by maggots....

[pinkunicorn]

Oh gosh that doesn't sound good. I've a bit of a similar problem with my slug tank. Ever since moving to this house we've had a problem with some type of fruit fly, that doesn't actually come from fruits. But now they have found my tanks and they go in to lay eggs so I've found some maggots (transparent with a black stripe down the body and a dot in the head). I've found one an hour after changing substrate. I actually suspect it hitchhiked along with slug eggs or a piece of lettuce.

I would suggest baking the substrate at 200C for 30mins. Wash any sticks or pots with hot water and a brush/sponge. That gets rid of spores and most bacteria. When it's cool you can moisten it again suitable for the snails.

[pickalilly]

Thanks so much! I did this and it lasted for a couple of days before they moved in again! I have decided to take the snails out about four times a day, out of the tank, to eat. This might reduce the issue - I do hope so for my snails' sake and, plus, They are in my bedroom!

[amilynn]

Have you considered getting an air-tight tank and just airing it out periodically? If you're already taking the snails out a couple times a day they're probably not going to be starved for oxygen, and it'd reduce the opportunities for their unwelcome guests to move back in.