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Post by etana on Sept 14, 2015 4:44:06 GMT
Thought I'd make a photo thread for this. You might have seen in the other threads that I was planning on buying my Mauno, the lonely and lovely Achatina balteata, a friend. Anyhow I changed my plans and borrowed a balteata of the same age from another local snailkeeper, and she's staying with us for long enough for them to breed. Click on the thumbnails for bigger versions. Captions below the pics. Before she arrived, Mauno was getting really bored and frustrated very often LOL. Ahh I love this snail so much hahaha. his facial expressions are priceless. Here she is! Mauno was sleeping tightly in his shell when I brought her in, and didn't react at all to my finger pat, must have been in a bad mood. The slightest pat of an eye from the new friend though, and he came right out! Mauno: "Who knocked?" The lady is more interested in the sweet potato, she was living with a bunch of A. balteata in her real home after all.
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Post by etana on Sept 14, 2015 5:02:12 GMT
This was so weird of Mauno! The two had their foot edges softly touching along a long way, but instead of being his usual kissy huggy self, he decided it'd be best to try and get into the lady snail's carriage box! He was patting her shell all along while going there. I wanted to help things along a bit, so I took him out of her box, lol. They put their noses together and she patted him a bit, but then they both got very, very restless, so I released them in the tank. In there she ran around exploring, while he hid away and kept an eye from her from his hiding places. However, this morning it was a bit different: Bless them, they were both in Mauno's favourite sleeping place, she fast asleep and he watching over her sleep. When I first saw them, he was patting and stroking her with his eyes. I opened the tank doors to get a pic, he looked at me angry for a moment but then continued to pat her with his feelers. I am so happy. Here's hoping for Mini Maunos very, very soon!
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Post by GrandTouringShell on Sept 14, 2015 17:19:06 GMT
What a beautiful couple! I hope they successfully breed for you.
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Post by etana on Sept 14, 2015 18:09:19 GMT
Thanks! They are stunning indeed. Weird thing is I didn't realise how blonde Mauno was before I saw the lady! I'm very excited to see how things proceed, and I really hope to see their courting dance as I can't imagine it being as sleazy as the fulica kind!
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Post by kippen on Sept 14, 2015 20:55:51 GMT
They look great together!! Bet they'll have some beautiful babies one day soon!!!
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 14, 2015 21:03:07 GMT
Thanks for sharing such wonderful photos Etana hunny and it looks like love to me. Aren't they both so beautiful? I must get some photos of mine but my photography skills are not the best to say the least but I will have a go. Please keep us updated on the loving couple.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by etana on Sept 15, 2015 19:42:09 GMT
Thanks! Lady seems really excited about the tank and the food, she loves the sweet potato very much and has sat for hours eating it both yesterday and today, now she just woke up to eat more of it. Last night she was eating a piece when Mauno reached over from above and kissed her shell tip gently! She didn't react visibly so Mauno went away....but what a little gentleman! Mauno has stopped making the frustrated expressions too, lol. I really want to see the courting!
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Post by mangoandlemon on Sept 15, 2015 23:08:22 GMT
I wish him luck!
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Post by etana on Sept 16, 2015 4:26:02 GMT
Thanks Mango! Uhoh! You can tell Mauno is inexperienced lol. Yesterday Lady had finally eaten enough and they were making eyes at each other, both getting bulges and all so things were getting pretty hot...and then Mauno snailed down a root, pushed his face into the soil with his eyes sticking up funny and his tail still holding on to the root, and stayed there in that uncomfortable looking position while Lady decided it was time she approached him! She was taking forever snailing across the tank though so I had to go to bed. Darn!
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Post by mangoandlemon on Sept 16, 2015 16:05:38 GMT
Lol. I think you will have mini Maunos soon...
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 16, 2015 20:31:18 GMT
Oh bless him, maybe he has a lot of respect for ladies and wants to get to know them first LOL!! Good luck love, I hope we soon hear the patter of tiny foots !! Hugs Jo xx
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 16, 2015 20:32:32 GMT
Sorry, I meant to say, thanks for sharing such adorable photos, she is a little beauty. Hugs Jo xx
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Post by etana on Sept 17, 2015 21:11:52 GMT
Lol yes, they're all "I'm the loveliest snail on Earth, ever!" near each other. Mauno is worried about his shell always being positioned perfectly on top of his tail while Lady is more relaxed. They both twirl their eye stalks when they're near each other (both getting nicknamed Twirly Eyes II's as a result) and Mauno gets a tiny little cheek bulge hahaha, but they go near each other, then far again, near again, far again. It's like a dance. In the morning Lady did climb on top of Mauno's shell, but that may have been a hierarchy thing as it didn't lead to any kisses or anything. So things are proceeding slowly, lol. I keep peeking inside them as they climb the glass walls and will be able to tell if someone becomes pregnant. Very exciting!
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Post by kippen on Sept 17, 2015 21:38:29 GMT
Ooooooo... the suspense is killing me!!! Bet the babies will be gorgeous! They're pretty snails themselves!
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Post by etana on Sept 18, 2015 4:48:01 GMT
Young balteata are really cute, here is Mauno when he arrived to me a year ago. Of course he has a few whorls at this point already so not a newborn, but small nonetheless. "i am very very cute" Close ups of tiny balteata hatchlings can be seen at landsnails.org. Beware though, they make you want to give them a home.
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