apple
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Post by apple on Oct 29, 2005 20:30:41 GMT
I´m about to start breeding here,native, rare and endemic species of my country. Method: I´ll catch some adult,then I´ll give them one year or so to adults mate if they don´t breed I´ll release them in the wild anyway and catch some more to see if it´s an individual aspect or a specie aspect. If adults put some eggs and hatchlings born, I´ll release adults. Then I´ll release the hatchlings, when they get into a size that enables and increases their chances of survival in the nature. Before that I´ll catch another adults again, to start do the same again. Why this? Because, snails are declining everywhere in the world, due to climate changes, pollution and habitat destruction.Vulnerable species like rare or endemic ones are priority. Also, to observe it´s behaviour, feeding, mating and growing aspects. And because I like snails. How I can do that?: First it will be important to reproduce the natural habitat. That´s a lot easier when the habitat it´s on your country. You may try to use the same conditions that are used to GALS, but smaller. ;D It´s expensive to do that?: Not at all, if you are able to get some extra for them( fruits, lettuce), and they also may eat wild plants that grow on the fields, forests and so. It´s worth enough to do that? You are helping the environment, you are learning and you are able to admire snails, while you help them. Snails play a huge role on the ecossystems, they turn vegetables into fertilizers and a lot of animals depend on them. Have fun.
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Post by section8angel on Oct 29, 2005 20:53:08 GMT
I think it's a great idea. Good luck
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apple
Archachatina degneri
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Post by apple on Oct 29, 2005 21:50:16 GMT
Thank you Sian. It would be a great idea, if more people from this forum will do the same. Discus bulweri.Endemic from a island here ( Madeira). Gittenbergeria turriplana.Endemic from Algarve. Exists on a small area only
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Post by section8angel on Oct 29, 2005 21:55:04 GMT
I'd like too, but all my tanks will soon be full and the room for anymore taken up with other things lol. If I ever get some spare tanks and room I will have a go though.
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apple
Archachatina degneri
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Post by apple on Oct 29, 2005 22:21:55 GMT
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Kevin
Archachatina dimidiata
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Post by Kevin on Oct 29, 2005 22:24:39 GMT
Those are some really nice snails, are you planning on keeping those species pictured?
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apple
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Post by apple on Oct 29, 2005 22:27:58 GMT
Yes.
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Kevin
Archachatina dimidiata
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Post by Kevin on Oct 29, 2005 22:30:11 GMT
Yes. What sizes are they?
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apple
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Post by apple on Oct 29, 2005 22:40:50 GMT
I don´t know by now Kevin... But I´ll know and then I´ll be able to answer you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2005 12:10:58 GMT
well discus is a very small family, theyre only like 1cm big. that gittenbergia one looks 12mm cus theres a ruler underneath it. are you sure you can look after such small snails and know what they eat, habitat etc? its a nice idea but im usually reluctant to keep very small species.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 2, 2005 0:44:10 GMT
Hi I´m back after a trip! I´m interested also in small species, even if I don´t know how small are Geomitra and Lampadia. But I already observed species with less than 5 mm, and they were really strange, beautifull and tiny snails. Usually when species are small, more vulnerable they are against external agressions. Some big snails were already observed being partially eaten, and they managed to survive, small species usually dont have that luck. I´m interested in very small,small, medium, big and huge species, without any kind of separation.
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Post by Paul on Nov 2, 2005 0:48:01 GMT
I was reading the other day about British snails and the majority are very tiny.
I was only thinking the other day, that if you made a small container out of cheap, plastic fresnel lenses, really small species (if you can find them) could be observed much better before returning them to the wild. A flat-packed magnifying box would be a great way of studying small snails in the field.
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Post by Paul on Nov 2, 2005 0:52:11 GMT
The idea is as great one, I asked various organisations about programmes in the UK for Helix pomatia. They weren't receptive at all, even though they are considered non-invasive. But there are rarer snails that perhaps would benefit hugely from what you suggest. Really though, I think the breeding bit is a small part of something much wider that is needed. The ones at risk need to be studied in more detail to assess the impact on the food chain. And it would be fantastic to get the blessing of conservation groups who have more ability to assess things like this.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 2, 2005 1:03:37 GMT
Mike: I´ll have information about habitat, and some informations about the plants that they eat. That is possible to do. Paul: Your ideas are great! One of the purposes for why I´m doing this, is to know snails better and then help them. I´ll have support of an environmental organization and from Malacology Institute. I´m sure that Uk has it´s unique and rare species too, and some will need some kind of protection. One important point is to know, when species will need humankind help... Maybe when the number of specimens are decreasing in a so fast rate, that hardly or never they will come back, by it´s own means in the wild, into a safe zone. Or when the threats are much bigger than the optimism... Usually endemic ones are specially vulnerable, because only live in a small geographic distribution, and on a single day all the specimens can be vanished. Thanks to share your opinion, here, Paul.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2005 14:20:32 GMT
well if they eat plants it should be ok, and you have information about their habitat, i was just worried they eat algae in the wild or something. good luck!
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 7, 2005 0:23:13 GMT
Thank you Mike. Last thursday at night, in a small place, around 3 square meters, I saw LOOOAAADSSSS, thousands of snails, on a garden and on the wall, where it´s possible to see lots of cats too, ( people feed the poor cats there). I could see virtually 5 or 6 different species there easily, and without paying great attention. I´ll have to check if in more wet nights they are out there too. Maybe a certain plant is there and they love it. Caseolus bowdichianus Endemic, from Madeira island.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 12, 2005 16:48:48 GMT
A snails cemetery on the small desertic climate islands of Selvagens in South Madeira island. Leptaxis azorica minor, endemic from Santa Maria island, Azores islands.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2005 15:18:34 GMT
awwww so gorgeous
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 22, 2005 0:35:28 GMT
I like that too Pyramidula rupestris continental Portugal
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 22, 2005 0:52:55 GMT
Continental Portugal, the bar has 0,5 mm.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 24, 2005 18:25:08 GMT
Zebrina detrita. It looks big, but I don´t know the size. Native in Portugal and in more european countries.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 24, 2005 18:35:43 GMT
Specie native from Portugal,Spain, Italy and Turkey. As far as I know.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 24, 2005 19:16:55 GMT
Cernuella virgata. Ive seen this one here where I live. Its present also in Spain.
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apple
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Post by apple on Dec 7, 2005 16:26:55 GMT
" " " " Ochthephila madeirensis Wood, 1828 endemic from Madeira island
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