Eggs (Helix pomatia or Zachrysia provisoria)

[Paul]

I have a tank with 3 species in, Helix pomatia, Zachrysia provisoria and a Pleurodonte species. Well, today I discovered 2 smal clutches of eggs, probably only 20 eggs in total.

I don't know which type laid them unfortunately because my new Zachrysia provisoria went in the same tank until I sorted something out. The other 2 types are massively different in size so I figured it would be easy to differentiate between their eggs.

I think it is the Helix pomatia, two of them are big enough and I saw one above the egg clutch last night.

Now, I'm in 2 minds what to do with them and I need your help to decide. If they are Helix pomatia I can always release any excess ones to the wild. This is not the case if they are Zachrysia provisoria with them being from Barbados, so I need to know if anyone would like some. They are both small species, Zachrysia being 3cm (shell), Helix pomatia being 4.5cm (shell).

Or should I now separate them, and then wait for more eggs. I'd have done that already, but my poorly snail is taking up a tank.

Here is an image of Zachrysia provisoria:

[Kevin]

I would always be interested in more snails

Zachrysia provisoria look like great little snails, Theyre quite different to the Barbados snails I have

[Leah]

Maybe you could just keep a few. How sort after are the Zachrysia provisoria? If they aren't that common surely you would be able to sell them, prehaps on ebay. I'd take some but I really don't have any room. What do they look like?

[Paul]

Just edited my post to include a picture. Perhaps if I keep just 10 eggs, that will be enough.

[Leah]

I'm sure it would. Theres a tiny chance I could find room for some somewhere. No promises tho.

[Paul]

Catherine keeps her Pleurodonte with her Archachatina and the size difference is massive. But they love the same conditions so they live together fine. And surprisingly they've never been squashed. It must be because smaller species are way, way faster than large African ones and can shift out of the way. But I've not done it, mainly because in the tank sizes of the larger ones, it'd be a task to see and find them.

Helix snails are so fast it is unreal. I love the way they are so active. The minute you open the lid and spray, they are off, and climbing. You really have to keep an eye on them if you have the tank lid off. Larger snails seem so much lazier. I suppose in some ways, it is because European species are adapted to colder temperatures. Indoors their metabolic rate must be a lot faster comparitively than African ones at the same temp.

[thegreatloofa]

At the moment I am open to any small/young snails needing a home, I'd love to have some more!

[Kevin]

thegreatloofa said:

At the moment I am open to any small/young snails needing a home, I'd love to have some more!

Same here ;D

I'll be receiving some Marginata, A.Acahtina, Iredalei, Smithii and more Fulica very soon, hopefully amongst other species as well, but you can never have too-many snails (can you?)

[thegreatloofa]

I have none coming in at the mo, I'm waiting 'till I get bigger tanks, which is why I can only have small/young snails for the time being.

Too many snails is probably when you are up to your eyeballs in them and not before!

I need to be put on that Species Wanted/Owned/Available List really...

[Arno]

Paul,if you have any Zachrysia babies i'll be happy to take a few.

[Paul]

Sure, I think I'll keep the batch coz there aren't many and with them being small snails it's not like I haven't the space for them until they are rehomed. The tricky bit will be identifying which they are because they are quite similar to Helix pomatia in that they both have similar shells and rough skin. The pomatia are paler bodied with a whiteness to their earliest whorls and they don't have the same level of spiral ridged sculpture. I bet juveniles are similar though. We'll see.

[anjieburdett]

spoken like a true addict Kevin. lol.

[Deleted]

if theyre helix pomatia or zachrysia provisoria i would be very interested. how big do zachy. get?

kind regards

mike

[Deleted]

arnobrosi.tripod.com/eiablage.jpg does this picture help?

[Beth]

Me! me! please! please!!! I'd take 4 which ever they are. I'm really keen to get some Helix pomatia but think the others look cute too!

I must get round to joining this forum,

Beth ;D (from Cybersnail)

[Kevin]

Beth said:

Me! me! please! please!!! I'd take 4 which ever they are. I'm really keen to get some Helix pomatia but think the others look cute too!

I must get round to joining this forum,

Beth ;D (from Cybersnail)

Hi Beth!

Are you the same Beth Ive been in contact with about the Leopard Slugs?

[Paul]

ok, here's an update, a few eggs have hatched and although they have light coloured shells I suspect they are actually my Pleurodontes. They have dark bodies unlike the others and very flat shells. And my god are they tiny!! So I think they are these:



I hope people still want some, I'm gonna keep 2 and any others that hatch will be given to people who do, just postage costs. They are cute little snails.

[Kevin]

I would want some definitly

I can take several of them if you like

[thegreatloofa]

They are a lovely rich chocolate brown colour.

I would also be interested in getting some.

[fatslug]

Can I join the queue as well please?

[Paul]

Sure, I'll look through this thread when I know how many I have. At the moment I have only seen 3 that have hatched, they are about 2-3mm in size! I'm gonna get some pics when I do my photo stint later this week, hopefully we'll know how many there are by then.

[Leah]

So what are they? I've never seen them before? Could ya tell me a bit more about them? PWEASE?! Then I'll decide if I want any.

[Leah]

Is that a five pence coin or 10p?

[Paul]

I'm not sure, Catherine took the pic in France so not sure when she last visited the UK. It looks like a new 10p to me, you can see the older looking queen.

They're only small, about 2-2.5 cm shell size. They have a fairly small opening, like other Pleurodonte. We can't be certain they are but they certainly look like them and they were collected in Martinique where a number are found. We both looked independently and came up with the same answer based on observations. So I think they are likely to be Pleurodonte. Not much to tell other than that they do have an interesting habit. They eat cucumber and courgette skin but not the flesh itself. Usually I find it is the other way around.

[Paul]

GREAT NEWS!! Just disturbed one of the Zachrysia laying an egg, much bigger than the others. So, I've burrowed a little hole and reburied it, the snail and eggs that is. I always seem to disturb them during laying. but at least we know they have mated.