Hitchhiking Mystery Snail

I got my biggest hitchhiker on my new plants from my LFS and I’m pretty sure it’s a mystery snail. I don’t really know anything about them, but this guy is really active already and they were sticking this thing out. I think it’s a tongue? Can anyone tell me what they’re doing?

hitch hiker

• oodelally
• Jun 25, 2018
• 1

 

What color is it? all white or same color of the skin?

 

It’s not quite all white, it’s shell is a little bit light blue.

 

That's not a tongue. It's his siphon or snorkel that they use to breathe at the surface with. Mystery snails have a lung. Sometimes they will extend it for no reason when they are submerged. If you got a blue one for free, congratulations. they are usually not easy to find.

 

It might be his privates or his siphon. What side is it on? his left or right?

 

That's not a tongue. It's his siphon or snorkel that they use to breathe at the surface with. Mystery snails have a lung. Sometimes they will extend it for no reason when they are submerged. If you got a blue one for free, congratulations. they are usually not easy to find.

I’ve never heard of a snail having that before, weird! Thanks!

It’s not quite blue, the tight spiral part of the shell is pale blue while the bigger base part is white. When ever I think of mystery snails I think of them as blue but I know they come in all colors, I didn’t realize they were the uncommon ones.

It might be his privates or his siphon. What side is it on? his left or right?

His left.

 

If that's it in the picture I believe it's his syphon. I've owned mystery snails for several years and have never seen any "private parts" sticking out -- even when two snails are mating. They just look kind of tangled together, for want of a better way to describe it. Mystery Snails come in lots of colors blue, ivory, gold, a striped version that is often called pink or purple. Do a quick Google on them and you might be surprised. 3 blue Mystery's cost me $20 not too long ago. You're lucky if that's what you got! I would love a hitchhiker like that.

 

The Mystery snails found in pet stores are usually the Black type, Gold, or Ivory. I have never seen any other color. My current one is Magenta but I bought him from a member of this forum who breeds them.

 

I was really surprised because he is so big! He’s the size of my other 3 snails combined. I have no idea how he was missed. And all the plants were from plant only tanks so he must have been hiding out. Not complaining in the least bit!

I hope he survives cycling the new tank... unfortunately there is nowhere else for him to go. He’s in a little container now but he’ll have to go in tomorrow with some TSS unless I can figure something else out.

 

Actually my black Mystery and my Nerite lived through my entire cycle. The ammonia never went over 1.0 but stayed there for at least 2 weeks. The nitrites also never went over 1.0 and as soon as I saw that, I added the rest of my bottle of TSS. The nitrites were gone in 2 days and I saw my first nitrate reading of between 5 and 10.

 

I think I might have already killed him.

Last night I saw him at the bottom of the container in his shell and there was high nitrate readings. Changed the water, went to bed, and he still hasn’t moved after being so active before. No smell yet though and I read they stink when they die.

 

False alarm! He’s alright at the moment and put him in the big tank with the other survivors of last night/yesterday’s catastrophe. My only concern now is if my betta thinks his eyes might be fun to nip at.

 

Aren't mystery snails so fun? Mine just love to play dead.

 

Looks like this guy was hiding out in the bag! Lucky for me this is the one they grabbed when they were bagging my plants. I had so many in there I’m not surprised he blended in.

When you reuse bags

• oodelally
• Jun 25, 2018