How To Encourage Breeding?

[tara05]

Just curious here....would snails be more likely to breed if they were in a group of more than 2 (say I had 5 together)? Just wondering, as I'd love to experiment a bit with genetics (I'm a genetic nut, and have 10 years behind me of color genetic experimentation), but need an idea of the best way to encourage breeding.

Thanks in advance!

[sezzy5889]

I dont think it has anything to do with the amount of snails but the invironment you keep them in, i've heard that if you put them in a smallish container, not too small i must add, with a little substrate and a little food every night, no water bowl or any other objects, so that they have less surroundings to consentrate on or distract them and will therefore focus there attention on each other

[eric2]

there is also the solitary confinment theory
a while ago on cybersnail somebody reported seperating their snails for some reason and as soon as the were put back together they mated

[tara05]

Ok.....let's see. I just put them into their new (BIG) tank, although they are now both burried in the soil, lol. Maybe I will try sectioning off the tank, seperate them briefly, then put them back together.

[sezzy5889]

not briefly, you have to seperate them for quite a while like a couple of weeks, then put them back together, which species are we talking here?

[tara05]

I only have one species, smithii

[Arno]

sezzy5889 said:

I dont think it has anything to do with the amount of snails but the invironment you keep them in, i've heard that if you put them in a smallish container, not too small i must add, with a little substrate and a little food every night, no water bowl or any other objects, so that they have less surroundings to consentrate on or distract them and will therefore focus there attention on each other

I don't think that works though,in the wild they lay eggs and have plenty of things to distract them.Also as they normally burrow their eggs and the babies stay under the soil for a week or longer they'll need plenty of substrate.(be it soil or moss)

[tara05]

So, perhaps with this new setup, being larger and more natural (eg. natural substrate, housing, plants, etc), this may help stimulate them to breed?

I was just reading about how they can become upset with changes, so I really don't want to seperate them now :/ But, I supose that they will breed if and when they are ready ^.^

[Paul]

There was a study (Plummer) that showed margies breed more frequently in larger groups but not cramped conditions. Space and plenty snails which is unlikely in captivity. Sometimes snails reject each other so a new tank mate can stir interest. Also, a snail in the mood can invoke a response in an otherwise uninterested snail, so adding a snail keen to mate can encourage other older snails.

[Deleted]

i also think the more snails of one species together, the more likely breeding is.

e.g. i used to have some adult iredalei together and they had LOADS of babies but when i seperated them into 2 couples, the amount of babies they produced was less...

[tara05]

Hmm....that has gotten me thinking then. Perhaps I should bring in a few more of their former tank mates? I will contact the guy again and see how many he has left thanks!

[sonicsnail]

Ok, this may not be true, but possibly have deeper substrate??? I know sometimes when I have put a little more peat in they seem to lay eggs more often. It's not a case that they couldn't bury themselves to lay eggs before, it's just that's it's deeper.

[eric2]

so if i put all the albino snails in one tank then they could mate before being sent off?

[sezzy5889]

yup it is possible

[Deleted]

sonicsnail said:

Ok, this may not be true, but possibly have deeper substrate??? I know sometimes when I have put a little more peat in they seem to lay eggs more often. It's not a case that they couldn't bury themselves to lay eggs before, it's just that's it's deeper.

yeh i think theres some truth in that

[tara05]

That's interesting. My guys have a good depth now, and can dig and bury themselves. Hopefully this will help them get "in the mood", lol.