Double Operculum Apple Snail!

Just wanted to share my apple snail because I think he's super cool! I've never seen or heard of a snail having a double operculum before, and I'm not sure of the cause...but this is Tooshu! (yep, pronounced two shoe for obvious reasons )






It's really hard to get a picture of, had to snap this while doing a water change so he was near the surface. They seem to be one on top of the other, but it is definitely two separate operculum(s).

 

Interesting, thank you for sharing. I've never seen that before

 

It's obviously an vicious alien masquerading as a snail. They always have something weird going on. If you put its blood in a petrI dish, does it jump in the presence of fire? Actually, don't bother with the test, just skip to killing it with fire.

 

hehe, I love my big guy! If he's an alien, he's already slimed his way into my heart and can continue to study me as long as I get to enjoy him, too.

 

That's a really cool snail! Maybe he has the deluxe entryway system, with a storm door and a security door

 

It's hard to see from your , but it's possible that the original operculum was damaged and a new one formed over top of it. Here is an of what a damaged operculum may look like.

Great picture, by the way!

 

That's a really cool snail! Maybe he has the deluxe entryway system, with a storm door and a security door

Love it!!
I guess that since I live in Florida...he came with hurricane shutters.

 

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but do you know if it is a Pomacea bridgesiI or native species of apple snail and not from South America? The US Department of Agriculture is having a difficult time keeping non-native species from invading US waters because aquarium hobbyists are the primary means of them escaping and causing trouble. They can escape as eggs or larvae during water change disposal. They are illegal here in Nevada and also Arizona.

For a cautionary read check out:

Good luck.

F

 

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but do you know if it is a Pomacea bridgesiI or native species of apple snail and not from South America? The US Department of Agriculture is having a difficult time keeping non-native species from invading US waters because aquarium hobbyists are the primary means of them escaping and causing trouble. They can escape as eggs or larvae during water change disposal. They are illegal here in Nevada and also Arizona.

For a cautionary read check out:

Good luck.

F

I'm honestly not sure, but I do know that my two apple snails are definitely plant eaters. They leave my amazon sword plants alone, but have almost completely finished off my large water sprite plant. They're definitely not just big mystery snails. I got them at a pet store in Sarasota, and I do know that unlike mystery snails, you can't take them legally across state lines. From what I've been told, they are legal to buy and own in my state, though.


(I do know that there is a place not all that far from me called Harns Marsh Preserve that is supposedly crawling with apple snails among other wildlife. They say the biggest issue they have with the snails is other wildlife getting sick from eating their eggs. I'd love to go there someday just to see everything, I've heard it's beautiful)