Mystery Snail Incubation Questions

I have a 60 gallon tank with livebearers and 9 mystery snails in it. One of my mystery snails laid a clutch of eggs a couple of days ago. I waited until it was hardened and then removed it from the glass to incubate it. I had looked up DIY incubators and chose one that I thought might be best. I have my eggs in it but they seem to be drying out. This is my first clutch of eggs so I do not know how they are supposed to look at this point in time. Because I am thinking they are too dry, I went ahead and put a damp paper towel with on top in the incubator and placed the eggs on them. How dry/moist are they supposed to be? How do I tell if they are healthy eggs?

I am sure it will take a few clutches before I know what to expect. I just really want these eggs to hatch! I am attaching 3 pics, 1 is an empty incubator so you can all see what it looks like, the next is the one with the eggs in it (now on paper towel), and then finally a picture of the eggs.

 

Mystery snails eggs need humidity and a bit of warmth. I think you are better off placing them on damp paper towel and then placing that in a Tupperware container and floating it in the main tank to keep them warm.

 

I will get a different container today so I can do that. Thanks!

 

What Demeter said. Turn the heater up in your tank if you're able to. I'd say not over 80F though. I've got mine in a tupperware container with one damp paper towel that I change out every other day with a dry paper towel on top. I cut a few small holes in the lid of the container but not too many so it can still get humid in the container. I float my container in my tank with no issues but if you have a HOB filter, make sure the container can't float under the water coming out of the filter. It'll drown the clutch. If that was an issue for me, I'd take a long piece of tape and tape the container to the lip of my aquarium to keep it in place. Once daily, I sprits my clutches with a tiny spray bottle filled with tank water. You can find these anywhere online! If you're in a pinch and can't get those, you can use a dropper and drop a couple drops of water on the clutch every day to keep it from getting too dry. If you don't have a dropper, you can just use your finger by dipping it into the water and letting the water drip off of your finger onto the clutch. I recommend getting a floating breeder box if you don't have one already but since you have livebearers it sounds like you probably do. When the clutch gets to the point where it looks 'moldy', take a small piece of styrofoam and float it in the breeder box with the clutch on top. This'll allow the baby snails to crawl into the water and not go directly into your tank. Chances are with that big of a tank, you'd be trying to find a needle in a haystack with the little babies. Keep me updated on your little ones!!!

Oh by the way, your clutch looks good. If it's only a few days old I wouldn't expect much change. Around 6-7 days in my experience, the clutch starts getting black dots in each cell of the clutch so that's how I know its fertile.

 

I use a square ziplock container. Poke holes in the top. Then I put a damp paper towel, just under the dry paper towel, then the clutch, and then a lid. I just tried it with my first clutch 2 weeks ago. None hatched, so they weren’t viable. I found more yesterday, but tossed them. I will try again with the next clutch I find.

 

Oh by the way, your clutch looks good. If it's only a few days old I wouldn't expect much change. Around 6-7 days in my experience, the clutch starts getting black dots in each cell of the clutch so that's how I know its fertile.

Thank you both for the help! I got some square containers and have the clutch incubating in my tank now as instructed in the pinned thread. I had already increased the temp some. It is currently about 78 degrees. I do already have some breeder boxes and was planning on putting the babies in it when they are ready to hatch. I will let you guys know how it goes. I have seen my golden male (didn’t know his gender previously) breeding with several of my other snails. I did not see who laid the eggs, but I am excited to see what hatches out! I have several different color snails!

 

I use a square ziplock container. Poke holes in the top. Then I put a damp paper towel, just under the dry paper towel, then the clutch, and then a lid. I just tried it with my first clutch 2 weeks ago. None hatched, so they weren’t viable. I found more yesterday, but tossed them. I will try again with the next clutch I find.

That is exactly what I do. Square container and everything lol!

Thank you both for the help! I got some square containers and have the clutch incubating in my tank now as instructed in the pinned thread. I had already increased the temp some. It is currently about 78 degrees. I do already have some breeder boxes and was planning on putting the babies in it when they are ready to hatch. I will let you guys know how it goes. I have seen my golden male (didn’t know his gender previously) breeding with several of my other snails. I did not see who laid the eggs, but I am excited to see what hatches out! I have several different color snails!

I can't wait to hear some updates!!

 

I'm going to piggy bag here and ask a question or two if its ok.
I was floating my new clutch the same way stated here. but it wasn't staying humid enough so I took it out using same tupperware contaainer and wet and dry p. towels. but I now have it on a small reptile heater. the side where the clutch is is off the heater and the otherside of the container with no clutch, the heater is underneath. the humidity is much better. is this a good idea. it went from white to a light pink color, and now its day three and they get more pink each day. does this sound right to yall?

 

I'm going to piggy bag here and ask a question or two if its ok.
I was floating my new clutch the same way stated here. but it wasn't staying humid enough so I took it out using same tupperware contaainer and wet and dry p. towels. but I now have it on a small reptile heater. the side where the clutch is is off the heater and the otherside of the container with no clutch, the heater is underneath. the humidity is much better. is this a good idea. it went from white to a light pink color, and now its day three and they get more pink each day. does this sound right to yall?

Should be ok as long as it’s changing color! How is it? Sorry it took so long to answer.

 

that's o, thanx for the reply. so I have 1 almost 3 week old clutch and I can see it is getting slightly darker but barly. that clitch is from ivory n yellow parents.
second is almost 2 week sold and is doing the same.
3rd is almost a week old and I think its a dud.
I ended up changing my sysem and floated the tupperware in the main tank with lid on loosly, I sprey it everyday 1 to 2 times. I did this because it just wsnt progressing much so I thought a change was in order. but its still not progressing well. I no 2 of the 3 clutches are fertile because I watched the parents mate multiple times, then she laid. the 3rd cluch was from a magenta, but it looks to be a blank...lol