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Post by vallery on Dec 16, 2013 19:10:42 GMT
Hi Everyone  , In regard to my Pleurodonte Isabella and the twisty clear little string left over after they mate (don't know the name of that) I have witnessed several times different snails eating that thing. Is this normal or are they eating it because they are lacking something in their diet? Thank You vallery |
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Post by malacophile on Dec 16, 2013 19:55:17 GMT
The stringy thing is probably snail sperm, in which case, it's likely an excellent source of protein for any snail who happens by it.
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Post by vallery on Dec 20, 2013 19:57:04 GMT
Thank You malacophile , Gee such a tasty treat ugh! Sorry it took so long to reply I had to change my modem and had so much trouble with it 3 techs later it finally works. What else can I give them for protein? vallery |
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Cashell
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,124
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Post by Cashell on Dec 20, 2013 20:10:19 GMT
I swear snails will eat the grossest things imaginable... deer feces, dog feces, decaying animals, you name it.  |
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Post by vallery on Dec 20, 2013 20:18:15 GMT
Yucky! Didn't know that one Cashell . Feces oh man  . Don't want to think about that one LOL. vallery |
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Post by wreckoning on Dec 20, 2013 20:28:21 GMT
Don't knock it til you ... oh nevermind, snails are gross.
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Post by vallery on Dec 20, 2013 20:40:45 GMT
Don't knock it til you ... oh nevermind, snails are gross. LOL |
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Post by muddydragon on Dec 21, 2013 8:34:59 GMT
well someone has to fill that niche and act as natures clean up crew, better than it hanging around. I read once that cats in particular are bad at fully digesting their food (which is why cat food is richer than dog food) and why cat poo is like pate' to dogs... so to be careful to not let (young dogs in particular) near cat poo... ughh! So snails probably love it, it's a sort of pre-mashed cat food... the highest quality poo!
But snails are very good at digesting all sorts of stuff, i mean damp cardboard! what on earth?! it's very impressive really.
(fun fact: there's a group of fungi that digest glass!...)
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radular
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26 
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Post by radular on Jan 4, 2014 3:01:43 GMT
Feeding on the sperm may be a sign of rejection by that animal of the partner's sperm (it's energetically costly to have to build eggs; better off impregnating someone else & letting them take care of the work of making the babies). Additionally, the snail may be eating it for hygienic reasons (no hands, so any self cleaning has to be done by either sloughing the mucus film or by mouth).
Additionally, it might be part of a vaginal 'plug' to prevent sperm removal and repeated matings, though I some how doubt that since... how many times does a snail mate in a day? I'm pretty sure it's just once, right?
Some animals produce nuptial and post-coitus gifts. Male katydids produce protein packets at the end of the spermatophore (sperm packet) that the female can eat while the sperm emptied into her (snails aren't katydid's, but I'm just throwing out any possible theories as to what's going on as I can).
Also, Pleurodonte snails are GORGEOUS! I'm very jealous! I wish I knew where to get some captive bred animals here in the states.
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