Breeding zebra Nerite snails

[lucas]

Does anyone have experience breeding zebra Nerite snails? I have done lots of research but there is lots of conflicting information about breeding them. I know that they need brackish or saltwater to reproduce. Is it even possible to breed zebra Nerite snails in captivity? This is what some people say and I have not found any proof of zebra Nerites being bred in captivity.

[littlegoldsnail]

I think it’s possible to breed them in captivity, but I’ve heard it’s very very hard and rare they will actually breed. Most nerites are wild caught for that reason.

[lucas]

What do you think I could try to breed them?

[littlegoldsnail]

I wouldn’t try it unless you are already experienced in brackish water habitats and breeding snails. I doubt it’s gonna be very fruitful. Nerite snails only cost about $3 a piece, it’s going to be a very complicated process to breed them, it’s gonna cost a lot of money to get the right setup, over all, not worth it (even if you could get them to breed). If you really want to breed something that would be interesting, an easier alternative would be livebearers (both fish and snails). If you have a cycled 20-50 gallon aquarium, you could try Sulawesi rabbit snails. They are much more fun to observe, easier to breed, and the babies would actually be worth something. The cheapest I’ve ever found a sulawesi rabbit snail was $8, and that’s pretty cheap. You could sell them for $5-10 a piece plus shipping on eBay. I’ve seen them up for sale on eBay for pretty expensive. I think it’s like $30 for a couple babies.

[lucas]

How much would it cost for and what is the right setup? None of the pet stores near me sell Nerite snails so it is a lot more expensive than $3 for me. On eBay.com I see that they usually sell for less that $20 but I am in Canada. All the Nerite snails ship from the U.S.A. And can't ship to Canada because it is illegal to bring snails from the U.S.A. To Canada. I found a website that ships Nerites in Canada ( danaquatics.com ) but it still cost in total $65 for 5 Nerites. I got 5 and they are on there way to me. That is why I want to breed them.

[littlegoldsnail]

Oh. You could try it, but I would do a whole lot of research on brackish tanks before setting one up. Also, most likely the snails you receive will have been in fresh water for the bulk of their life and will need proper acclimation before going into a brackish tank.

Best of luck.

[lucas]

The Nerite snails I ordered are here now but they won't come out of their shells. Is it normal for them to hide like this after getting them? Are they just scared (they where in the mail for 10 days). I have smelled them to see if they are dead and they smell normal so I know they are alive.

[littlegoldsnail]

10 days is a very very long time to be in the mail. Honestly, I’m gonna be shocked if those snails make it. Most places have overnight or two day shipping for live aquatic life.

The reason for this is, in a shipping bag, even if they fill it with pure oxygen, the snails (or fish) still run out of oxygen fairly quick. If you don’t get them out of the air tight bag in a couple days they can suffocate. Second reason is, in less then a gallon of water, ammonia builds up really fast. Ammonia is gonna be through the roof if they’ve been in a shipping bag for 10 days.

Just acclimate them as quick as you can using this method: m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ep7gkQZhWM

I hope they are okay, but I wouldn’t expect much.

[lucas]

They are already acclimated and in the tank. I checked again to see if they are alive and realized that only one is actually alive (I ordered 5). I have smelled it and it smells like nothing and have done what this website says www.myaquariumclub.com/is-my-snail-dead-or-how-to-tell-if-your-snail-is-dead.-9709.html and it is alive, but is still hiding. My question is, what would make him come out of his shell and should I try to get him to come out or just leave him alone? And if I leave him alone how long do you think it will be before he stops hiding.

[littlegoldsnail]

You could try coaxing him out with some food. Don’t touch him or bump him and leave the lights off (if they’ve been in a dark shipping bag then lights can be stressful. They are also primarily nocturnal). Just try dropping some boiled carrot or cucumber or cabbage or something (it’s more enticing and it sinks if you boil it first) in the tank. He’ll come out and get it when he is ready. Don’t try and poke at him or set him on the food, it will only make it more stressful. Just leave him where he is and have some food available somewhere in the tank.

Don’t constantly pic him up to smell him or poke at his trapdoor. Only check him once daily if he doesn’t move. If he is alive you don’t want to stress him out.

[lucas]

Thank you. I have the lights off now and have some food next to him. I have a question about one that I think is dead. It smells terrible like it is dead but it's trapdoor looks like it is holding shut, is he alive or dead? Is it possible that he has died and it is just stuck shut?

[littlegoldsnail]

If it smells really bad it’s dead.