Aquatic snails escaping?

[Dusk]

I have a few ancistrus fry isolated in a small tank until they're big enough to go in the community tank, and I put a couple of apple snails in with them. It's a small tank that started life as a 'my first aquarium' kit, maybe 12"x8", and it has a condensation tray instead of a hood.

Today when I woke up and stumbled about my morning rounds to feed the menagerie, I found one of the apple snails had industriously left the water, pushed up the condensation tray and made a run for it down the side of the cupboard unit and across the carpet, a total of about ten feet out of water. I looked him over and he seems unaffected by his adventure, and back in the tank he's happily hogging all the algae wafers so he'll probably be fine. I'm just slightly boggled - there's enough food and I've double-checked the water conditions, there's nothing he'd be trying to get away from except possibly the other apple snail, who's his sister (same clutch of eggs). Is he just filled with wanderlust or is it possible something is bothering his small snail psyche causing him to want to end it all on dry land? A great mystery. Anyone else had aquatic snails making a run for it or do I just have a weirdo as usual?

[lizzie97444]

haha..
lol
I have aquatic snails and they do climb out since there's a big hole, big enough for them to cum out but they cum back in most of the time.
LOL

[monday]

I wouldn't wory about any harm that could be caused by your apple snail going wandering. It's quite common for them to escape, they're as bad as crayfish in that respect.

You'll be supprised as to how long apple snails can survive out of water, you may notice that they climb to the surface often. They have to be able to get oxygen from the water and air, so make sure the tank isn't too full, leave about an inch of space between the surface and the rim of the tank.

just to mention the water chemistry for snails should be Ammonia and nitrite at 0ppm Nitrate below 20ppm and a ph of above 7.

you didn't say how tall the tank is but it sounds a tad small for two apple snails, once you've got a few hiding spots in there, they wouldn't have much room.

try weighing the tray down with a book or something simerlar, just make sure you don't block the airholes.

here is a link about apple snails www.thinkfish.co.uk/fish/Apple_Snail

[Dusk]

It is a bit small for long term, agreed, but they're subadults and they're mostly in to serve as cleanup crew for the fry. After that they can go back in one of the big tanks. This is the only one I have without a proper hood, so I've never had them escape before! I'm glad his adventure won't hurt him. Thanks.

[whodoesntlovesnails]

i used to have all kinds of mystery snails (that's a breed) and i never had problems with them comming out, but my tank didnt have an open top, so maybe u should get a cover with some holes in it.