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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 10, 2015 14:30:23 GMT
I currently own 3 cornu aspersa (common garden snails) in a relatively large enclosure. To the best of my ability, all needs such as misting twice a day, calcium powder, food, and hiding locations are accounted for. Over the past few weeks (starting about 3 weeks ago) 2 of them have been trying to mate every six or so days. They seem to attach and then stay that way for as long as they seem to need to, and I keep the room dark until I see them detach. However, they have laid no eggs despite 3 mating attempts. On a possibly unrelated note, the snails have been starting to dig snail-sized burrows in the soil, emerging either in midday or at night. As I recently moved the enclosure closer to the window, could that be trying to keep cool or out of the sunlight? I have since moved them back. I will attach pictures of the burrows to the best of my abilities. Thanks for the help! I'd like to see them lay eggs so anything I could do would be appreciated. Pictures are here. imgur.com/a/TjG3o |
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Post by etana on Jun 10, 2015 15:50:48 GMT
While I'm no expert on aspersa, that sounds like pretty normal snail mating & laying behaviour to me. It's not uncommon that they mate many times, then dig burrows as if to find out which place in the tank is just right, and then later lay the eggs in one of them.  In other words this behaviour doesn't sound like they're having problems at all. Sometimes they just seem to need to really think about where to lay, lol...but I'm sure it won't take long for you to see it. |
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 11, 2015 5:09:36 GMT
Thanks for the reply! However, I'm concerned that they spend the day in these burrows (is that normal?) and also that no eggs have appeared despite 3 matings and an average egg lay time of 2-6 days. Could they be uncompatible?
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Cashell
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,124
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Post by Cashell on Jun 11, 2015 18:19:38 GMT
By incompatible, do you mean infertile? I doubt that would be case, they're probably just taking their time to figure things out.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 12, 2015 0:46:15 GMT
Hmmm... Is there any other reason they would bury themselves? Perhaps the light of summer? If so, that's disappointing because I'm really eager for some eggs.
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Post by etana on Jun 12, 2015 9:58:17 GMT
Snails do burrow to escape sunlight yes, but since there has been mating, it's likely to also serve the purpose of finding out where to lay.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 13, 2015 0:51:26 GMT
Ok. Just to make sure I am not a total idiot, this is mating, right? imgur.com/a/oMeLw Is the white spine in pic one a love dart? EDIT: after more research, is it bad that the spine went through the snail? Does that mean it failed? |
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Post by etana on Jun 13, 2015 5:07:22 GMT
Yes that is mating. I'm on my phone right now so I'm not 100% sure what you mean (will look again at a computer though), but love darts are thin, little, actual dart-like white/grey things made out of calcium. They carry hormones that are intended to make the mate more receptive to mating, so that sperm doesn't end up guided down the digestive tract. Snails are actually rubbish at shooting them so sometimes really weird things happen, but even ones going through their heads haven't really been known to do permanent harm. I would suppose it's a possibility that if the love darts keep failing, the mating might not be so successful either. I THINK (just my gut feeling) that only one that never pierced the mate's skin at all would be a total failure. |
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 13, 2015 16:07:32 GMT
Hm... I have a pic of it as it either fell out or never was in to begin with. Will post later when I can.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 13, 2015 22:49:12 GMT
Here's a better picture. Hopefully if it is a love dart it actually punctured and didn't miss. Thanks! imgur.com/CUORHhXEDIT: if it missed does the mating automatically fail? |
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Post by Liguus on Jun 14, 2015 0:29:29 GMT
Yes, that is a "love dart" in the picture.
The "love darts" increase the chances of fertilization, but even in the case of a mis-fire both snails can still be fertilized successfully. The love darts will fall out shortly anyways, I find them on the sides of my terrariums all the time.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 16, 2015 15:13:25 GMT
I have read various sources on egg laying times- how long does it take for your helix aspersas to lay after they mate?
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Post by Liguus on Jun 16, 2015 16:33:06 GMT
About two weeks.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 16, 2015 22:30:26 GMT
And another 2 weeks to hatch? If so that's kinda disappointing because I'll be away and without Internet but at least my parents can take care of them.
EDIT: how do I explain to my parents how to check for eggs?
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 18, 2015 22:23:55 GMT
Sorry for asking more questions but some of my snails are digging tunnels and staying there. This is slightly concerning because some posts say they only dig tunnels for eggs and they are not laying them- only staying in the holes for days. Is this a type of dormancy?
If my snail does happen to lay eggs would I be able to move them? I know it's new space would be suboptimal but my parents want me to release them in a week max so keeping them in a smaller place would be preferable.
Edit: one of my snails that mated last week is mating with a different one- does that mean the attempt failed?
EDIT 2: found some eggs! So excited! That explains a lot about the previous burrowing. Please, can I move them? I need to know soon!
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Post by Liguus on Jun 19, 2015 1:15:29 GMT
You can move the eggs, just be very careful. I recommend using a large spoon and scooping up the surrounding soil as well to cushion the eggs.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 19, 2015 3:34:19 GMT
Thanks! Though unfortunately they're at the bottom and touching acrylic so that may be tough.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 20, 2015 1:53:58 GMT
While I did make a nest box, I may have not done a good job. I put in the dirt before the eggs and they are therefore at the top. One picture shows the eggs exposed- that has been taken care of. However, they are still pretty high up. Also, they were jostled around quite a bit as my snail laid them super deep. I may have hit a couple with my digging spoon pretty hard- the shells are intact but could they be okay? How should I change in the future so I don't jostle them or put them at the surface (and will jostling them kill them? I heard what sounded like a little rattle which I assume to be the shells touching). imgur.com/a/EQKpa |
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 25, 2015 1:53:59 GMT
After setting up a nest box the ones at the top are already snail-y with a foot and shell (no movement) while the lower ones are still in their white sphere form. Should I be concerned for any?
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Post by Liguus on Jun 25, 2015 2:24:18 GMT
If they didn't pop while transporting them to the hatching container, then they should be fine. I also notice some seem to mature quicker than others.
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Post by lifesmeaning42 on Jun 25, 2015 5:40:39 GMT
Sorry for all the questions but my Tupperware is not doing well in the air holes department. When you raise babies what do you cover the Tupperware with to prevent escape? Even the ventilation on my normal snail tank is too large- babies could slip through.
EDIT: noticing babies in my main tank- how do you guys go about finding and removing eggs efficiently so I don't have to deal with them? Do you just let the babies be in the tank?
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In other words this behaviour doesn't sound like they're having problems at all. Sometimes they just seem to need to really think about where to lay, lol...but I'm sure it won't take long for you to see it.
