Breeding Snails

[crackmonkey]

I need to start breeding snails for when I get my freshwater Puffer tank going. I have a small 1 1/2 foot tank I could use, do they need light to breed and a heater? Should I just wait for them to appear in the tank or buy some to get it going?

 

[Ethos]

Buy a few live plants from walmart.
You'll get more snails than what you'll know what to do with -

 

[Dubby]

Buy a few live plants from walmart.

A long way to travel for a couple of snails . But Ethos has given a very good suggestion, buy some live plants from your LFS or online. They generally have snails on them.

 

[Fella]

It would be a much safer bet to actually buy snails though, or have someone send you some. This is a great topic though, I've been wondering the same thing.

 

[kris-b-]

There are loads of snails on ebay or if you look on the buy and sell here you might find some!

 

[GSD]

depending on what types you want you can get apple snails etc from your lfs
or you can be given free pond snails maybe by someone who has too many(you will have to oay shipping though)

 

[emma12321]

Here are some on ebay at the minute http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/REAL-AQUARIUM-SNAILS...1QQcmdZViewItem they look like pest snails that multiply like mad. Cheap as well for the amount you get. They will breed faster with heat and light but they would also breed in a bucket so it depends how many you need. Put a lid on as they will escape otherwise.

Emma

 

[qwikimpss]

The pest snails that piggy-back on plants are, to my knowledge, asexual. They don't need partners so you can get one and quickly be over-ran.

 

[izzie]

take some of mine i cant get rid of them tried everything and they just keep multiplying ill get down to 1 or 2 then they decide they need more company and im back up to hundreds. I got them pigy backing on live plants thought the ONE looked kinda cool not knowing it was asexual

 

[qwikimpss]

I got snails BEFORE i even THOUGHT about live plants! I have no idea how they got there.

 

[Walleye]

Snails are generally very easy to breed, but they do seems to prefer to breed in a planted tank that's heated.

 

[crackmonkey]

Here are some on ebay at the minute http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/REAL-AQUARIUM-SNAILS...1QQcmdZViewItem they look like pest snails that multiply like mad. Cheap as well for the amount you get. They will breed faster with heat and light but they would also breed in a bucket so it depends how many you need. Put a lid on as they will escape otherwise.

Emma

They Ebay link said "They are very pretty and can grow to about 2 cm, not only that but they have great personalities, especially Fred, the big one!"

I might feel a bit cruel when feeding them to my Puffer if they have personalities

 

[Synirr]

Haha, "personalities"... right
Those look like the pest variety of ramshorns I used to have tons of. They do indeed breed like crazy and puffers love them, so they'd be a good purchase in my opinion.

 

[Lynden]

I have had many snails, do not worry about breeding them, they will breed in a puddle of water during a volcano if they get half a chance. Buy two or more, pretty soon you will have snails in the gravel, snails on the walls, and snails on your hands if they are submerged for more than 10 seconds.