Carnivorous Snails Care & Breeding

[johananv]

Hello Everyone,

How are you?

About two weeks ago, I caught a single pair of Hunter Snails, Genus Gulella. I believe that they may be G. salpinx(Arkive has some nice photos if someone wants to see what they look like before I get around to posting photos). I've been struggling to find a food source for them, because I couldn't find any small snails that they would eat. However, after reading the meager information available on the internet I discovered that they also eat soft-bodied invertebrates. So, I tried woodlice, and they worked! I don't want to limit their food type, though. SO, I was eondering if anyone else out there keeps carnivorous snails, and what they feed them. Have they ever bred them etc.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you in advance.

All The Best,
JV

[tsrebel]

Really cute snails! I don't keep any carnivorous snails - yet. I plan on getting some this year and intend to feed them norwegian wild caught slugs (everyone I know is urging me to come collecting this intrusive slug that plague their gardens) and breed some during winter. I'm really interested in knowing more about how to care for carnivorous snails!

[corvuszombie]

you could try your local pet store if they can eat aquarium snails. i bet the pet store would give you the snails free. or if you know anyone with a fresh water aquarium im sure they have loads of snails in there.
worth a try.

[johananv]

Update: I had these for several months, and had great success, but unfortunately no breeding... Gullella are supposed to feed on worms, snails, and things along those lines. But, the thing that I had the most success with was baby Isopods. They worked great, so they might be worth a try. Never gave slugs a go. But, might be worth a try some day.

[Dumbledore]

Possibly get some of the huge fat worms from a fishing store, and cut them up? I don't have any experience with carnivorous snails, so I don't know. You could possibly give them like unsalted meat with no preserves or anything, but I'm not sure where to find that.

[johananv]

We only get prepared baits, unfortunately. But, next time, maggots may be worth a try. The Gulella didn't take to earthworms.

[vallery]

Are your snails Trumpet-mouthed Hunter snails? I believe these are an endangered species.

[johananv]

I believed that they may be, but they resemble a different species. I need to check the specific name. I can't remember it off the top of my head. I will post the specific name when I get home.

[johananv]

The species is Gulella infans. :-)

[vallery]

Hi johananv

I have carnivorous predator snails, not the same species as yours and they survive completely on vegetables, fishfood and cuttlefish bone and have survived two years and have breed a great deal.

I think your snails were a great find.

Also there is an on-line thesis by Vanashrie Govender: Patterns of distribution, Diversity and Endemism of terrestrial Mulluscs in South Africa. It is lengthy but very interesting. On page 23 ; six families , Chlamydephoridae, Charopidia, Ryttididae, Streptaxidae,, Uroycyclidae, Veronicellidae contain species that are considered threatened. Included in IUCN Red List.

Also a site Gulella infans-Uniptot. List includes lineage of Gulella infans which down the list has Streptaxidae.

So if it does turn out your snails are a threatened species it would be great if you could figure out how to care for them so that they will breed and you can set the babies free to help the species. It would be a great opportunity.

All the best with your snails.

vallery

[brunni]

@ Johan
Good luck with identifying your Gulella snails. Many species are known from southern Africa.
In Gulella infans the foot of the animal is yellowish-orange with the upper part bright orange. Tentacles orange.

@ vallery
Now that's a big surprise ! I also just been studying the thesis of Vanashrie Govender, 2007
( in relation to Achatinidae ). researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/366/GovenderV_2007.pdf
Keep up the good work !

[vallery]

Hi brunni ,

Good to hear from you . That thesis is very interesting isn't it. I have been trying to study up on different species from different countries instead of sticking to what species I have.

vallery

[johananv]

Thank you for the interesting information. I actually released the snails during a time when I didn't have time to make sure that they were eating( my personal policy is to never keep a wild caught species that I've had for under a month if I know I won't be able to care for them). But, the species is locally abundant, I am going to try and find some more now. All my animals are organized so that I can feed them all on a schedule. It makes it easier, and gives me time to make sure that troublesome species do eat. I had a bit of a problem with feeding the Gulella, but I collected some Deroceris slugs that have been breeding like crazy, so I should have a good food source for the snails. Thank you for the link to the Thesis, fortunately I like information, so I don't mind heavy reading. Here is a photo of one of the Gulella.

[vallery]

What a beauty.

[malacophile]

D'awww, he's cute as a button! He looks too adorable to be carnivorous. But you know what they say, evil things come in cute packages!

[johananv]

I agree. They are a very cute species, despite their habits.