Do snails need partner?

[vikingsnail]

As you know, I've had a snail for about three weeks now - but I've only got the one. I decided that as much as they're sociable creatures, it's my first snail and I didn't want to get over run with babies and I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing before I considered getting others.

(Also, I'd feel mean freezing any eggs, because I wouldn't be able to keep/rehome them all I don't think - and my parents didn't seem keen on two either! lol)

I was wondering if different species snails still mate with eachother? I'm pretty sure what I've got now is a fulica, and my dad just asked me whether I knew if different species mated, and if they didn't (or it wasn't very likely) then maybe we could look into getting snaily a friend

Although, even if this is a possibility, I don't know if my tank would be big enough - the shop I got my snail from recommended I got a tank about a foot and a half in length, which is what I have (it's about a foot high and about a foot deep I'd guess) - would this even be big enough for two?

Renamed - CroSSLeSS

[Arno]

Vs,certain species can mate(like your fulica with immaculata),while with others it's not very likely or they won't.So you could keep a young Tiger or Margie with your snail(I say small,because once they reach adult size your tank would be too small).Get one of about 3 cm shell size and you would be able to keep them together for a few years.After that......maybe start over again?

[vikingsnail]

I'd love an iredalei - I think they're gorgeous and someone on another forum told me she kept one with her fulica because they won't breed (or at least her's haven't) - although I have read recently that they can.

I'll have a look into the snails you recommended, thanks!

[Val]

I have kept iredalei with fulica and they seem to go well together, I think it is very very unlikely that they would mate!! Or have another fulica and just remove any eggs, don't feel mean about it the eggs only contain liquid when they are first laid.

Val

[vikingsnail]

Hmm, if I was to get an iredalei and they did try to mate - what is the likelihood of mating being successful, and would you get live babies or eggs?

It's sounding good for my case to my parents for an iredalei, though hehe

I would get another fulica and remove the eggs - although it took quite a bit of time to convince my parents to let me have a snail, and I don't think they'd be too happy with the likelihood of hundreds of eggs and getting a bigger tank. I don't think my tank would be big enough for two fully grown fulicas, but one fully grown fulica and one fully grown iredalei should fit fine, I think

[Val]

I have NEVER heard of an iredalei mating with a fulica, so don't worry about that either!! ;D

Val

[vikingsnail]

Found this picture on the homepage of this forum...

www.petsnails.co.uk/images/care/fulica_iredalei_mating.jpg


Ah well, I'm sure it's very unlikey, that's all that matters when convincing my parents

[Val]

vikingsnail said:

Found this picture on the homepage of this forum...

www.petsnails.co.uk/images/care/fulica_iredalei_mating.jpg


Ah well, I'm sure it's very unlikey, that's all that matters when convincing my parents

I've never seen that pic before!!! I wouldn't think that the mating was 'successful' though, unless you are now gonna show me pics of the resulting babies!!! ;D

Val

[vikingsnail]

Haha, unfortunately not

I think I might accidentally leave out that pic when convincing my parents gettting another snail is a good idea

[Val]

Yes, definitely forget about that pic!! but if you had a fulica and an iredalei successfully produce young, I can assure you that you would have NO problems finding homes for them we would ALL want one!!! ;D

Val

[vikingsnail]

They sure would be special ;D Infact, I quite want them to breed now!

All sounding good ;D I think in a month or so when my snail's grown a little more I'm going to go on hunt for an iredalei ;D

[apple]

valerie said:

vikingsnail said:

Found this picture on the homepage of this forum...

www.petsnails.co.uk/images/care/fulica_iredalei_mating.jpg


Ah well, I'm sure it's very unlikey, that's all that matters when convincing my parents

I've never seen that pic before!!! I wouldn't think that the mating was 'successful' though, unless you are now gonna show me pics of the resulting babies!!! ;D

Val

They may try to mate but with no sucess.
I have been observing the way A. reticulata interacts with A. fulica hamillei and they don´t inbreed. That doesn´t mean that´s all the time like this.

[vikingsnail]

Well, it's fine by me if they mate with no success. All the pleasure, no responsibility! haha

[apple]

lool

[donut]

i was reading this with some interest as i have 2 Achatina fulica in seperate tanks for the same breeding reasons
i THOUGHT it was a great idea to get them iredalei BUT having read up on them they say they are fairly fragile & i have 2 toddlers (the snails are theres) so i guess they wouldnt be a good idea BUT ill keep the idea in mind for the future

thanks

[Snail Lover.]

Well, i have a nearly fully grown achatina and a half grown achatina i think, and there tank is 1 and a half foot deep and 2 and a half foot long, and i intend to keep this tank for alot longer, im pretty certain my parents wont let me get a bigger one they will just say the one i ahve is big enough plus i only recently got this, is this tank big enough ?

[Dusk]

@jasmine - it's easily big enough for your snails if they're achatina fulica, and room for one or two more. If they're achatina achatina, well, those're a bit bigger than fulicas (A few more detailed pictures and we can determine which species you have.) There's a rough snail-calculator here:
www.petsnails.co.uk/snail_calc.php

[Snail Lover.]

Oh wow dusk youc am in handy , i did the thign with the tank size and mine says 4 snails at maxium wow ! Oh and can 2 achatina fulicias breed ? , thats what i have i think, so if they bred my mum said i can keep a baby or 2 , everytime i do a picture to show you it goes giant !

[Dusk]

Two achatina fulicas can breed with each other, yes However please bear in mind that they lay huge clutches of eggs! If your mother says you can keep a couple, it's a good idea to remove nearly all the eggs and place them in the freezer as a humane alternative to letting them all hatch. This way you can have the fun of one or two baby snails without ending up ovverun with them

[Snail Lover.]

Yeah thats what i was thinking, but im unsure they will breed they dont get close much and ones 8 in diameter and the other 11 in diameter lol , i hope they will one day but until then ill just look after then as best as i can hows your snails ? Oh and how much sunlight do snails need ?

[Dusk]

How much sunlight? Some.

Just because they're not cuddling now, doesn't mean they won't mate - some snails are completely oblivious to all other forms of life until they feel a bit frisky, and then try to mate with everything that doesn't run away fast enough.