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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 28, 2013 16:15:34 GMT
There's no one answer to that, I've found out by testing. Sometimes better to leave them in, sometimes better to take out.
But a few things to ask about any batch of eggs that I've found helpful when deciding on this, for example: How big will the newborn be and how difficult will their presence make it for you to maintain the parents' tank? How easily might they escape from vent holes parents cannot get through? Are the eggs in danger of getting moldy/already starting to show signs of going bad? Will a change save them? Do the newly hatched/other occupants eat eggs they encounter?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 28, 2013 16:06:41 GMT
There might be colour variation depending on the genes of the parents and their parents. That's the only plausible thing I can think of if the species of the parents is certain. But how big is the difference? Can you post some pics?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 28, 2013 13:15:33 GMT
I'm also curious of any info anyone has on this, especially research material. I've not seen this happen myself but lots of folks have. I wonder about the evolutionary benefits of a test egg; as comments suggest it's usually a tiny amount of eggs or just one laid and thus not a large amount of resources wasted. Since it is done there has to be some reason for it. Are they perhaps comparable to human periods in some way (where the egg itself is not a huge wasted resource, but the effort is put into the baby after fertilisation)? Why do they do it?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 28, 2013 12:58:32 GMT
Yeah. He was such a cutie and looked very elderly for a long time now! The species has those stripes on the face but they look quite different on young animals. A.vulgaris is really common here and a big pest but they are actually some of the nicest slugs I've had personality wise. Never fighting or being mean, even if they do eat their dead (and dying friends, as I once witnessed a barely dead slug getting his face eaten...) which makes them, along with the copious slime produced by all Arionids, a bit yucky to most people.
Love the new avatar btw!
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 26, 2013 22:45:25 GMT
Thanks for the info! Looks like a nice podcast overall, and there's always room for more science podcasts on my DoggCatcher.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 26, 2013 20:45:21 GMT
He seems to be able to move in a way that twists the bulge, like over his own tail. So perhaps it is not painful. Now I didn't see him eat anything and he is looking even worse. He has those scratches on his tail and they also look pretty bad now. And the very thick slime is suspicious. I will keep him moist and offer food still, I guess all there is to do is to keep him comfy for the last days. He's such a nice slug and a real miracle how long he has lived! I hope he's been happy, surely the food I offered him has kept him very healthy as he's lived this long. Fish food is all he has eaten since his last buddy died. Edit: just looked at him and he is almost dead, not reacting. RIP old sluggy. You've had a good life even if I don't think you got any offspring out. Or who knows, maybe you did before i adopted you?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 25, 2013 16:58:01 GMT
Btw, for a free resizing tool try www.irfanview.com or www.picasa.google.comI used IrfanView for years and years as my primary photo tool, though now I use Picasa mostly thanks to Android making it so easy. But I highly recommend IrfanView, it does a lot of neat organising tricks on photos, most functions also in batches. It's a top notch tool if you keep photos on your hard drive or don't want to let an online gallery automatically adjust stuff for you.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 25, 2013 16:54:31 GMT
It's possible they are babies of a species that lays eggs before winter to hatch as the first thing in the spring. Are they all similar and about the same size? Could very well be a batch of eggs that has hatched, but impossible to say for sure without photos.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 25, 2013 11:03:52 GMT
That is lovely. Is it your tylo? I read somewhere they are not easy to breed.
Oh man I'd love some of these. How to convince the BF that we really need a tropical aquarium. With tylos in it. And baby rays, too. In my dreams. (Dunno if the rays would eat the tylos actually...)
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 25, 2013 1:49:54 GMT
Bleh, the second last of my leopards is dying (dunno why I failed to post about Castor and Pollux passing months ago, when I had lots of deaths due to gut extrusion. RIP little ones). Poor Ceres looks like she's simply reached her lifespan. RIP old girl. Maitri is left alone now though she is doing well and growing.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 25, 2013 0:20:41 GMT
Poor Ruby, my granny slug that has outlived the averages of his species by almost half a year, has a big bulge on the left side if his body now. There's been a small bulge for some time but still he's been eating well. I wonder if it's his time soon. Dunno really what to do about the bulge, could I drain it somehow with a sterile needle or would that make him suffer more? He's just a plain Spanish slug but since he was left alone I've gotten really fond of him, hoping that he keeps going and going. So far he has. I hope he's not in pain. He does seem to move around a lot. I see his thicker than usual slime everywhere in the tank. Attachments:
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 23, 2013 18:28:15 GMT
Mommy and a baby. Not even the size of momma's eyestalk. Attachments:
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advice
Feb 22, 2013 9:23:05 GMT
Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 22, 2013 9:23:05 GMT
Do you mean the website or the forum? Or what exactly do you mean?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 22, 2013 7:28:00 GMT
Depends. I offer both versions of some veg. I notice cooked carrot is more attractive than raw, but sweet potato is preferred raw. Cook small amounts and see which ones they prefer. I trust my snailies when it comes to choosing the foods they need out of the selection I offer.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 21, 2013 20:29:13 GMT
No topic yet for these, so I will start one.
Notes on this species, behaviour, breeding etc relevant.
Eggs hatched in about 20 days at average 21C room temperature. The soil was kept quite moist. The parent wraps the egg chain into a tight ball during laying, securing the ball with a few rounds of slime thread. I unwrapped the egg package however, as I noticed some mold and had to wash the eggs. I also separated them from the chain. This had no effect on the embryos inside. After separation I kept the eggs on top of the soil, moistening them daily. Did the same for second batch that is now incubating.
I put the 2nd batch in with the hatched babies yesterday but just now noticed a few ruptured eggs, which were just fine yesterday. I suspect the babies might have nibbled them, saw a few climbing over the eggs. So they are back in separate boxes.
I see little poops in the baby box but I don't see any signs in the food that they have eaten. Offering same fare as for the parents. Fish pellets, lettuce, apple and cucumber now.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 21, 2013 15:55:32 GMT
You can get potting soil from any gardening or flower shop. Buy the organic option if they stock it, or ask for a type that comes with no added pesticides. Calcium, phosphorus and other basic minerals added as fertilisers are harmless, but more complex additives should be avoided.
I like to bake fresh-out-of-bag at 200C for 20mins before use to kill spores and sterilise it. I've noticed much more mold appearing on non-baked soil even if it's fresh.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 21, 2013 15:31:25 GMT
Ah that's the guy who did the Rubber Ducky too! He should bring those slugs home to Amsterdam... they'd look great nearby in the Flevopark, or maybe Oosterpark for more visibility.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 21, 2013 15:26:04 GMT
I love that chocolate colour skin!
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 17:29:38 GMT
They may not yet have accustomed to the new home and that's why they look like they're escaping. Snails have a very strong homing instinct and usually settle on one living spot, a home. Yours will adjust in a few weeks and eventually you'll see them turn back if they slime too far along the edges of the terrarium.
Or they could simply be exploring. Snails sometimes do that even after they are established their new home in the terrarium.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 17:08:46 GMT
Sorry for your loss. RIP snaily. It does sound like his life came to a natural end due to old age and frailty. I'm sure he had the best life a snail could hope for, being loved and cared for, safety from predators and a neverending supply of tasty foods to rasp on. Did he leave any offspring to continue his memory (and genetic line)?
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 16:52:58 GMT
Spiders being super cute?! They are! Jumping spiders are probably the cutest spiders overall, but these guys are adorable. There's this video of baby (jumping?) spiders moshing which is really cute too. I will dig it up later, but here's some more ray cuteness for now: a ray momma giving birth to cute little pink pups! www.youtube.com/watch?v=51f4UY2TYX8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 14:30:55 GMT
I thought this might be a fun topic idea. To cheer people up with cuteness. Post all sort of baby animals doing what they do best: acting or simply being utterly, devastatingly adorable! The more it melts your brain the better. Also post adult animals if they're being cute, but babies in particular since they have that infant superpower of cuteness. I start with the stingrays that have been making me squee today. Enjoy! See them do a little dance: io9.com/5954628/here-is-your-daily-dose-of-baby-stingrays-being-adorableSquee! ;D
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 10:03:07 GMT
High five for being vegan! I'm not anymore/currently due to health reasons (my body after surgery is the problem; not vegan diet itself) but obviously a veg*n advocate at core still.
As people mentioned cuttlefish bones are leftovers from the animals fished/farmed for food so using them does not add to the killing. But as with all animal products it's a choice between using the leftover "trash" and preventing waste, or choosing not to support the industry in any way. Both can work for snail keepers.
Calcium carbonate powder made into blocks is an excellent option. You can even use calcium sulphate aka gypsum/plaster of Paris to make a harder block, if it's pure calcium sulphate. Which one is available to you. Carbonate has higher bioavailability.
You can also use human supplements, provided there's no other additives than calcium and starch fillers. Vitamin D I don't recommend in constant use for healthy snails to avoid overdose, though it might be good for broken shells.
Snails eat limestone in nature but pampered pet snails may find it odd at first. Powdering it and sprinkling over food might make it more appealing.
Have you thought of a protein addition to their diet btw? Snails are opportunistic omnivores in the wild and benefit from a bit of animal protein. For the most ethical option free range certified organic eggs might be the best option, hard boiled. Unless you don't mind a bit of fish food. That's usually the easiest as it keeps well for ages.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 20, 2013 9:37:16 GMT
Yeah, especially the slugs that eat mushrooms as their main meal like L.cinereoniger. They are very fond of the most poisonous shrooms in Finnish nature, along with the ones people like to pick. It's a good thing people know this slug and are proud that the biggest land slug is native to Finland, so mostly mushroom pickers just remove the dining slugs insteadof killing them. And the biggest individuals end up in the newspapers with photo evidence.
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Post by pinkunicorn on Feb 19, 2013 23:09:51 GMT
A lot of slugs like mushrooms but not all. But it's safe to try for all of them. I got a third batch of eggs, also some pomatia eggs (the previous didn't hatch). I wonder if I should freeze the leatherleaves this time... the second batch has already developed quite well and all of the first batch are out of eggs. These guys will need loving homes eventually
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