Helix-Otala cross possible?

[coyote]

I got my WC milk snail Hercules (Otala lactea) in October 2007. A few months ago I got my WC Helix aspersa Buster, who was a juvenile at the time. Both of them have been living happily in the tank all this time, mostly ignoring each other.

But a couple of weeks ago one evening I saw Hercules nuzzling Buster. Since it was late at night I didn't stay up to watch if it proceeded to actual mating. A few days ago I saw Hercules nuzzling Buster again, and again I didn't stay up all night to observe, so I don't know what else happened.

. . . So, yesterday and today, Buster has been buried in the substrate, laying eggs!

It's not possible they're hybrid Helix-Otala eggs, is it? They're in the same subfamily, Helicinae, but is that close enough to cross-breed?

Mr Coyote said they'd be Frankensnails, lol! ;D

Is it possible Buster self-fertilized? Is it possible for Otala and Helix to interbreed? It is not possible Buster has been carrying the eggs all this time because he was a juvenile when I got him.

So, what could be the explanation? Otala and Helix seen nuzzling on more than one occasion just prior to Helix laying eggs . . . Could a hybrid be possible? Could Buster just have been stimulated to lay infertile eggs?

I'm very surprised and very curious about this. I'd put them in the same tank together on the assumption that they would not interbreed.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Deleted]

It's possible to have intergeneric hybrids. e.g. a goldfinch and a canary. They are quite similar snails - Otala lactea was initially called Helix lactea. I suppose you'll just have to wait and see whether the eggs hatch, and whether the Otala lays eggs too.

I've never heard of a Helix snail self-fertilizing, I think it's usually tiny species that do that.

good luck

[coyote]

I didn't think Helix self-fertilized. I think I've read that none of the land snails self-fertilize, but even so, definitely not Helix.

Hm, I'll be keeping a close eye on the tank! ;D

[Deleted]

well i know that Cochlicopa and Vallonia land snails can self-fertilize. but they're very small, i haven't heard of any large land snails doing it.

keep us updated

[Paul]

It's my understanding that self-fertilisation is possible, though very rare, for most if not all pulmonate snails.

Until that is determined or proven conclusively one way or another I think it's safer to assume it's possible.

[coyote]

Would self-fertilization occur after nuzzling with another species? To me it seems logical to assume that the eggs are a result of mating with the Otala, but logic is not my strongest suit, lol.

[brgwnth]

any news on them coyote?

[coyote]

No eggs have hatched yet. It's been about a month since I first saw the aspersa laying them. The odds don't look good, but I remain a little hopeful. I still check carefully every day.

[brgwnth]

fingers crossed!

[coyote]

Thanks! I'm beginning to think the eggs are not fertile, though. But I'm willing to be surprised, lol.

[coyote]

UPDATE: None of the eggs have hatched.

But this morning I saw the aspersa laying more eggs!

And I also saw a garlic snail in the tank, which I overlooked from when I moved my garlic snails into their own tank, and which escaped my notice until now.

Is it possible the garlic snail ate the aspersa's eggs? When I found it, it was near the last place I saw the aspersa laying eggs.

[Deleted]

I don't understand, so the new aspersa eggs are gone?

[coyote]

The new aspersa eggs are still buried.

The ones laid during my initial post are gone.

[apple]

I really doubt that Otala and Helix can crossbreed...
But who knows...
Let´s wait!

[coyote]

While changing the tank today I found 3 eggs, which I moved to a separate tank to observe more closely. None of the eggs from the original clutch could be found. The 3 I found today are from the most recent clutch, about a week ago.