Eggs from a mixed tank

[jayne]

Normally I wouldn't consider hatching eggs from a mixed tank.
However I have found 3 batches of eggs today during a clean out (20 eggs in all)and I am thinking I may not freeze them as the adult snails in the tank include some unusual species.
They are 2 Archachatina Puylaerti Togo Albino Body, 2 Archachatina Marg. Grevellei Cameroon, 2 Archachatina Purpurea Quinea albino, 1 silver body reticulata and 1 albino reticulata.
I suppose they'll be retics lol, but I will see what I get Obviously if they are yellow shelled dark bodied I'll assume they are Grevellei, but if they are white bodied I will just rehome them as 'unknown' to suitable people who won't sell them on as a rare hybrid. That's if they hatch of course

Edit - They are not reticulata they are suturalis sorry for mistake!

[tsrebel]

Retics usually lay a lot more than 20 eggs in one batch (mine lay ca 150 eggs). Their eggs are also smaller than the Archachatina species' eggs.
I wouldn't hatch them unless you'd keep them to yourself. There is no way to guarantee that the new owners won't forget their heritage, sell them on as something else or breed them (with dozens of opportunities for new mix ups).

[jayne]

I have just realised my mistake, they are suturalis not reticulatas. All the snails in the tank are Archachatina. Must learn to put brain in gear before typing

[muddydragon]

Subspecies of Archachatina marginata can cross breed very easily, but these cross breeds tend to have shorter life expectancies, so i'm sure your suts and grevellei could easily have crossbred. (not sure about whether it's possible with the others - could be) I would not sell them as pure Grevellei even if they are yellow shelled as they could easily be a cross.

[jayne]

If they do hatch,I won't really be looking for money for them, just experienced homes with people who are interested in this type of thing. I know a lot of people find genetics interesting, as do I, so hopefully they will be homed as 'curiosities' on the off chance they are cross breeds. Over the years I have taken a few in myself from other people in the same situation, but have never hatched eggs from them.
I suppose as they grow it will become possible to have a guess at their parentage, I'll have to do a 'guess the parents' thread with photos (Where's Jeremy Kyle when you need him?)

[muddydragon]

excellent. the problems with crosses or potential crosses is them getting bred back into the hobby and misidentified, you especially dont want this with the rarer species as it can introduce problems further down the line - such as reduced life expectancy. aslong as the homes they go to are not going to breed them or keep eggs it should be ok.

If you keep them i look forward to seeing them