BettasfortheBabe

We have three gold inca snails - two in a divided 10 gal (one in each side with a betta: the betta's ignore them) and another in a seperate 3 gal, also with a betta. We've had them for about, oh, a little over a month - they are doing great, keeping the tanks pristine, and eating lettuce and supplemental algae like there is no tomorrow. Two of them have been mating continuously, and are general attached to each other for most of the day (everything that we put in our tank seems to pro-create rapidly...LOL).

We've noticed that, while all the snails have grown, our man snail in particular has like tripled in size (and yes, we KNOW he is the male for obvious reasons!) - it is most noticeable on him because the area of new shell growth is still super clean with (the rest of him has some green algae).

What could be the reason for this rapid growth, and what should we do about it, if anything? I will grab a snapshot of him and post it when I get a chance today - perhaps of them in the act of mating? Should I be worried?

MeGustaUnaPez926

I'd guess he's just really happy, eating well, breeding well...

Amanda

Well, the question is: are they Gold Inca snails? Or Apple Snails?
Gold Incas sold at many stores are actually mystery snails, which stay small.
Apple snails, can get to be the size of a baseball.

BettasfortheBabe

I was told (and read) Gold Incas ARE a type of apple snail, and will act accordingly - and these snails were out of a tank filled with different variations of "apple snail". Admittedly, the one that is particularly orange/gold and not just orangish is not growing at the same rate as Gary, the big boy.


A BASEBALL? Oh man.

Amanda

Some Apple Snail info:

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Bug,%20Snails,%20Apple.htm

BettasfortheBabe

Thanks Amanda!

So, they all look like apple snails in comparison to all those photos. They all also look like "gold inca" snails, though. LOL. They look less like mystery snails, however.

I guess its a mystery either way!

MeGustaUnaPez926

Well, once they get bigger you'll know!

Amanda

haha. You'll know once they pass the size of a marshmellow, according to that site.
I actually read an account where someone had a baseball sized apple snail & an over foot long pleco in a large tank & the snail closed it's shell over the plecos mouth. She said that it sounded like someone was knocking over the tank. She had to go seperate them herself. Crazy!!

MeGustaUnaPez926

That would be so scary!!

rainman

A problem that you could have with growth is shown here:

Regular shell growth (Pomacea canaliculata).

Malleated shell surface due to fast growth (Pomacea canaliculata).

griffin

not sure if it's quite what you're looking for, but here's a page to help you id your snails if they are apple or mystery snails. (gold inca snails are the same as canas on that website if i recall correctly). hope it helps

http://www.applesnail.net/content/species_genera.htm

KyWildFish

rainman is the snail guru, I'd go to him for other snail related questions.