Will Apple snail eggs hatch?

**fishmommie** · 01-11-2013, 02:33 PM

Apparently I have a male and female apple snail in my 30 gallon tank. I've had these 2 snails for around 8 months and they've grown like crazy. One day I did notice them 'together' but didn't think much of it because there was a slice of zucchini involved - they LOVE zucchini and often wrestle over it with the pleco.
Anyway, last week I found a fairly large clutch of eggs on the tank glass right at the surface. A few days ago, there was another smaller clutch also at the top of the tank on the glass. I removed both right away. Today, however, I found another clutch at the bottom of the tank, attached to the stem of a plant.

I got as much of it as I could but I'm afraid some of the eggs escaped me.

I've read that nerites snail eggs are duds. Is it the same with apple snails or can I expect babies if these eggs survive?

**Brhino** · 01-11-2013, 03:22 PM

apple snail eggs need to be in a non-submerged but humid spot. Any that escape you underwater in your tank shouldn't hatch. Any above the water should be pretty easy to spot.

**fishmommie** · 01-11-2013, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Brhino

apple snail eggs need to be in a non-submerged but humid spot. Any that escape you underwater in your tank shouldn't hatch. Any above the water should be pretty easy to spot.

Thanks. Appreciate it. The first 2 clutches were very noticeable and came as quite the surprise. Those, I was able to remove, no problem.
Glad to hear that those laid near the substrate should not hatch.

Very interesting creature.

**fishn00b** · 02-06-2013, 10:10 AM

I had one lay many, many clutches in the hood of my tank (I must have bought her pregnant). Some of them I didn't remove in time but despite seeing what looked like a hundred little babies, none of them ever survived. Never knew why, but was a blessing as I wouldn't have known what to do with them. I also found her creeping across my living room floor during the same time period one morning, they apparently like to leave the water for egg laying because as fishmommie said they must be out of the water to survive.

**fishmommie** · 02-06-2013, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by fishn00b

I had one lay many, many clutches in the hood of my tank (I must have bought her pregnant). Some of them I didn't remove in time but despite seeing what looked like a hundred little babies, none of them ever survived. Never knew why, but was a blessing as I wouldn't have known what to do with them. I also found her creeping across my living room floor during the same time period one morning, they apparently like to leave the water for egg laying because as fishmommie said they must be out of the water to survive.

They are amazing creatures for certain. My snails have since laid several clutches - all above the water line but fortunately I found them during my weekly water change and was able to scoop them out. Have never had one crawl across my floor LOL and I hope I never do. the dog or the cat would surely get it before I found it...