Apple Snail/mystery Snail Breathing?

[Chrs]

Do I need to leave 2 inches of the aquarium empty at the top so my Snail can leave the water? I read that I need to do this and then I read that they have a breathing 'snorkel' that they use so I dont need to leave space at the top. Which is true?


Click my eggs and babies!!!

 

[saltynay]

They defo have a snorkel its a strange thing to watch they go to the top and tub comes out about halfway up the glass once they reach the top there head hides slightly and starts sticking in and out of the shell like they are pumping they then return to whatever they are doing. Sometimes they use their snorkel to draw flake food across the waters surface towards them and feed on it, sometimes they just put their mouth on the surface to do what I assume is breathing air.

They need a humid area between the hood and the water line to lay eggs in and to some extent to stop vast temperature contrasts between the air and the tank water as it enters their lungs like anabatoid fish such as bettas. Having said that I don't have a lid on either of my tanks without incident so far.

 

[Chrs]

I'm just getting one snail so no need for egg laying. But theres no need to leave the tank empty about 2 inches?

 

[saltynay]

Not really in my experience, mine are happy enough to never go on a wander even though they are overcrowded, my aquariums are not covered at all and the water line is 1cm from the top and the other is 1" from the top. 3 horned nerites and 4 apple snails live in the one 1cm from the top of the tank.