Snail Mix?

[koppite]

does everyone keep different species together in the same tank/tub - is it safe to do so?

if so, what species can be kept in the same housing, and do you have to separate them anyway when they get to a certain size so there is no hybrid/interbreeding issues?

I know should this be attempted with torts, then sooner or later it all ends in tears

regards
phil

[Dusk]

There's no harm in keeping species together if they require the same conditions.

All other things being equal, I tend to keep one achatina and one archachatina per enclosure - makes it very obvious who eggs belong to

The inbreeding thing... there is very little evidence of actual crossbreeding between different achatina species. Mating, yes. Fertile crossbreed eggs, no - and nothing at all confirmed by any kind of science, to my knowledge. And none at all for achatina/archachatina crosses either. The only time interbreeding can really be an issue is if you keep two varieties of a species together - margie ovums and margie suts, for example, which are close enough to interbreed and produce babies with a mix of characteristics or the phenotype of one but the genotype of both. This can be a pain for later breeding projects

There's really just a size issue if you're concerned about tiny baby achatinas in with larger adult archachatinas... and I've never had a problem so far

[koppite]

nice one dusk

so in a nut shell, you can keep the same species that require the same conditions together, BUT not the same species with 2 different variations, like margie sut's and ovums and others etc

Out of interest, is there a considerable egg size dfference between achatina and arachatina's, that would be plain to see?
is t just size or are they different coloured egg also?

from my reading so far, is it just the Panthera that tend to be partial to a bit of the old 'hanibal lector' activites?.....or are there others too

[Dusk]

Jan 12, 2010 14:22:24 GMT koppite said:

so in a nut shell, you can keep the same species that require the same conditions together, BUT not the same species with 2 different variations, like margie sut's and ovums and others etc

Pretty much. You *can* keep ovum and suts together, but it's probably best not to if you plan to breed - it's a matter of opinion rather than of biology

Out of interest, is there a considerable egg size dfference between achatina and arachatina's, that would be plain to see?
is t just size or are they different coloured egg also?

They're the same colours - anywhere between white and daffodil yellow. Achatinas lay lots of very small eggs - usually about 4mm in size - while archachatinas lay a few larger eggs, usually about 12mm.

(Small achatinas obviously lay smaller eggs than their larger cousins, but they're still much bigger than any achatina's eggs.)

from my reading so far, is it just the Panthera that tend to be partial to a bit of the old 'hanibal lector' activites?.....or are there others too

They're the only ones known to munch on their fellows while still alive, aside from specifically predatory species (not GALS).

[koppite]

many thansk Dusk - appreciate your help

all mine will have their separate enclosures as they do now, but also as the collection grows - always good to have the knowledge stored upstairs

[crossless]

I rather keep everyone separately even if same condititions. Hmmh.. If I had more species and if someone would be left alone like other snails from that tank would be dead. Then I think I would then put it same tank with others, 'cos I think it would little bit waste of time keep one tank up for one snail even if there would be already in nother tanks snails with same conditions. Maybe I would put then in same tank if there would be enough space for everyone but if not then species will get own tanks.

[koppite]

rather than just have 1 snail all on it's lonesome in a tank, you could always.......get MORE ;D

Jan 12, 2010 17:43:59 GMT @crossless said:

I rather keep everyone separately even if same condititions. Hmmh.. If I had more species and if someone would be left alone like other snails from that tank would be dead. Then I think I would then put it same tank with others, 'cos I think it would little bit waste of time keep one tank up for one snail even if there would be already in nother tanks snails with same conditions. Maybe I would put then in same tank if there would be enough space for everyone but if not then species will get own tanks.

[Dusk]

Jan 12, 2010 17:50:37 GMT koppite said:

rather than just have 1 snail all on it's lonesome in a tank, you could always.......get MORE ;D

That's always been my approach - not 'oh, I can close down one tank if I move the last snail' but 'Oh no! I'll have to get it some friends'

This may explain why somehow, snails keep happening to me.

[crossless]

Yes that's always possibility get more snails, but if you are not planning to keep anymore some species and changing it to other after all die or it's winter or something else that's not easy to get any snails then. I think I need to buy next snails when first ones has been died somewhere abroad, so hard to get any interesting ones from Finland or then they are some much inbreeded that I don't want to support that kind of action.

[koppite]

yep .....my thoughts too, hence why me thinks i may end up with 15,16,17....tubs........18....19,20

Jan 12, 2010 18:37:33 GMT Dusk said:

Jan 12, 2010 17:50:37 GMT koppite said:

rather than just have 1 snail all on it's lonesome in a tank, you could always.......get MORE ;D

That's always been my approach - not 'oh, I can close down one tank if I move the last snail' but 'Oh no! I'll have to get it some friends'

This may explain why somehow, snails keep happening to me.

[Rachel]

Jan 12, 2010 18:37:33 GMT Dusk said:

Jan 12, 2010 17:50:37 GMT koppite said:

rather than just have 1 snail all on it's lonesome in a tank, you could always.......get MORE ;D

That's always been my approach - not 'oh, I can close down one tank if I move the last snail' but 'Oh no! I'll have to get it some friends'

This may explain why somehow, snails keep happening to me.

Yes, and it was the theory toffee was lonely without poor old fudge that led to the descision to allow the hatching of a few more grandchildren of the two. Only got one out and about that hatched two days early, not sure if the other eggs are ok or been killed by the cold, but ickle baby immac = yay ;D

[Dusk]

And then you decide you may as well turn a room over to them - but then with a whole room, there's room for a few more tanks and the cycle starts all over again

Not that I'm complaining - <3 my menagerie

[Dusk]

Jan 12, 2010 20:17:53 GMT Rachel said:

but ickle baby immac = yay ;D

I found three test eggs in the immac var. immac tank... Randy and Dandy firing a warning shot, I expect, before the immac 'splosion that is inevitable with snails at it as much as those two XD

[AlienSnail]

Oooh well good luck for future eggs then