What Are Some Ways To Encourage Your Snails To Breed?

Hi, I currently have 3 gorgeous, young mystery snails (1 male, 2 females) and I would really love for them to breed. They have mated a few times over the last month or two, but both the females are still very small for mystery snails (they are pretty young) and have not laid any eggs. Could the cause be their age/ small size? Are there any ways I could encourage them to lay and/or mature well so they will want to? The male seems much more into breeding then them and keeps mating with them, so I’m thinking since he’s a few weeks older then them he’s more mature and want to breed more but the females are not quite ready to reproduce. I’m looking for ways I can encourage good growth/reproduction.

 

Hi!
First, I would lower your water level a few inches so the females will have a place to lay the eggs. It is possible they are ready to lay a clutch but can't fins a suitable location.
Feed them a lot of calcium and protein-rich foods and make sure your water quality is good.
Other than that, the only thing to do is wait.
Good luck!

 

Hi!
First, I would lower your water level a few inches so the females will have a place to lay the eggs. It is possible they are ready to lay a clutch but can't fins a suitable location.
Feed them a lot of calcium and protein-rich foods and make sure your water quality is good.
Other than that, the only thing to do is wait.
Good luck!

Okay, thx! I already keep the water very low for this reason, I will try to work some more calcium and protein into their diets.

 

How many inches should I leave at the top? I have been leaving around 2” since I saw the mating, but I wasn’t sure if the need more.

 

How many inches should I leave at the top? I have been leaving around 2” since I saw the mating, but I wasn’t sure if the need more.

2" should be fine. Also make sure you have a lid in case they get adventurous.
In terms of diet, dark green veggies (like blanched spinach or broccoli) and raw seafood (just spear a de-shelled shrimp for them) are ideal. But whatever you have available should be fine.

 

Okay, I do have a secure hood and none of these guys have tried to escape. I mostly have problems with the pest snails (bladder snails) escaping, more than one of them have died because they tried to leave and got squashed or something.
I do think the females (one in particular) may have a calcium or some other mineral deficiency. Her shell has a worn look to is and seems to have a lot of ridges and doesn’t look the strongest or smoothest, I’m thinking this may be the reason why no eggs. I made a bunch of snello a while back for one of my other snails who was old and having shell troubles (he has since passed, sadly) but my Betta loves it and overate on it once, so I’m not sure what to do with it or how I can give it to the snails.

I just dropped some blanched cucumber and chard in there and they have been enjoying that.