disturbedme

Just questioning whether or not mystery snails like being with other snails of their kind or do they not care if they are alone?

Right now I have two bettas and ONE golden mystery snail in my divided 10 gallon. I'm wondering if it would be happier with another snail? If I got another one, I would have to make sure it's another female though, as I do NOT want baby snails.

Just wondering is all.

Thanks!

Amanda

They do fine by themselves.
If you get more than one, you'll most likely get eggs.

agabr123

i'd stay with just one definitely if you dont want two to turn into...100

disturbedme

Even if they were two females? lol

Amanda

They're hermaphroditic (male & female).
So you'd always get eggs.

agabr123

honestly i have no idea how to sex snails so i would never feel certain that i had a male and not a female

disturbedme

Amanda, I thought mystery snails (which are a type of apple snail) are either just male OR female and have to have the other to make babies. At least that's what it says on applesnail.net (but for some reason it's down right now).

disturbedme

According to applesnail.net I have a female. It says that with a female you can see their female organs through the shell. They are dark so the dark shows through the shell somewhat. Mine has that, so I assumed mine was female.

Amanda

Mystery snails are not apple snails.
And they are hermaphroditic. My mystery layed eggs without another snail b/c they are able to store sperm from past encounters.

Amanda

kittenface14

I have baby snails running around in my 29gallon, i didnt see them at first because they were tiny and now they are growing and I keep finding little ones that are smaller, so Im not sure if they are the pesty tiny little snails that you can never get rid of or if they are the mystery snails that I already have...havent seen any eggs at the top of the tanks..guess I will find out what they are when they get a bit bigger.

But the two mystery snails i have like to dance alot if you know what I mean...lol

disturbedme

Just googled it and everything I am reading says that they are NOT hermaphroditic.

Gold Mystery Snail question...

Also:

"This family of snails is different from other aquatic snails in its breeding habits. They are not hermaphrodites; they show both male and female individuals within the species. Males can be identified by looking for a penile sheath inside the shell. This houses the male reproductive organ. It can be harder to distinguish in smaller snails. If you hope to breed your mystery snails choose at least 6 individuals and the odds of buying both sexes will be favourable." This quote taken from: http://www.e-aquarium.com.au/mystery_snails.htm

kittenface14

I have to agree with Amanda

"No, you need to have both a male and a female for these to reproduce.

What might be causing some confusion with them is that the females can store sperm from the males after a single mating, and they can lay fertile eggs for several months afterwards. This might give the appearance of them being asexual."

rainman

Ditto, I have been gone all weekend and have missed some interesting posts