How big should Snail be?

[mistyanita]

I have the sweetest little jade fulica called... Snail (I tried to come up with an inventive and original name but failed dismally)

But... she was 3-4 weeks when I got her at the end of october (so she is about 3-4 months old) and she is only 2.2cm long. I would have expected her to be bigger by now.

She is in a nice sized tank with a heat mat and she has an abundance of food and cuttle fish but seems so small... Is she just a runt or is this a healthy size for a snail to be?
Thank you

**Just realised this should be in the growth section- Sorry!!**

[xyz]

I have had Jades bought last year at about 5-6 cm and they have not grown at all, and have bred , so I am presuming they are adult at that .
I would like to hear of any bigger.

[Kevin]

When I had 50 or so captive farmed adults available they were all around 4-6cm. I think its down to inbreeding, and possibly poor conditions. I dont know if the young bred in Europe would get larger.

[Rachel]

i've seen one of 8cm but that was about 10 years ago, he was english bred but they made sure not inbred.

[Kevin]

I didnt know there was albino bodied fulica in the UK 10 years ago? or was it albino shelled?

They are likely inbred because they originate from China, where they are intensively bred as food, Ive yet to see any wild caught albino bodied fulica.

[Rachel]

i'm pretty sure it was uk, i have not seen my friend for 7 years cos he moved so i can't check.

[xyz]

I wonder if I try mating two albinos with two unrelated large "normal" fulicas,
Then mate any resulting albino offspring from each pairing, if any of their albino young would be bigger ? any ideas on this ?

[Rachel]

it might work, although it won't always be that a clutch will have albinos in it, also what will you do with the non albino?

[xyz]

The problem of what to do with the non albino is a good point, and one I had not thought of, that is the value of having forums like this one !

[mistyanita]

Thanks so much for your replies. I thought it could be something to do with in-breeding. I thought Jades tended to be a bit smaller than normal fulicas... but not that much smaller!
Aww i love her no matter how small she is. She is 3.5cm now (and still growing fast). Plus she seems healthy so i guess I couldnt ask for more

[cleo]

I got my white-jades now for some weeks, and they have about 5 cm now and I can see them grow and grow....
kab: Can you tell me how big the adults jades are?

[xyz]

My remaining young have overtaken the adult at about 6cm. And I think they are still growing. My one remaining adult ( one of Kevins ) is only 4.5- 5cm.