I HAVE EGGIES

[jolovessnailies]

She has had some long sleeps Etana love and it eating well. I have put extra food in there for any prospective mums and for those who want a meal after laying. I am doing my very best. Another large snail has buried herself and this time I have just left her alone. If she is there still tomorrow, I may have a little look to see what is going on. It is so difficult to know what to do for the best. I love these little things so much but am sure I am getting things wrong sometimes.

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

Glad to hear the mum is all right, well rested and eating.
A good rule of thumb is that most of the time they know what they're doing, but if they don't move for days or appear distressed (moving much faster than usual, squirming, making tons of slime, or stuck in a weird position trying to straighten themselves but can't) it's good to check on them. I understand you're nervous, but with time you'll learn to "read" your snailies' body language and will know when someone is just lazy and when they're unwell.

Did the snail you mentioned in this last post lay eggs, or was she just digging for fun?

[jolovessnailies]

Thank you so much for your kind reply Etana love and yes mum is doing very well. Thank y9ou to for telling me the things to look out fr and I always stop and look as I go past and hope I will know if something isn't right. Not that you would have noticed LOL but I worry a lot abut my pets, most of the time unnecessarily but I try now to make a mental note of where everyone is to make sure to check that they have in fact moved. They get into some weird positions anyway which I love but think I will know if they are in a strange position which isn't right, I hope I will anyway. The other snaily I mentioned was just digging for fun. I am leaving an update on my thread honey. Laziness seems to be qute catching in my snailies abode LOL!!

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

Any hatchlings yet?

[jolovessnailies]

No love, I cannot even find any eggs now. Have the snailies eaten them?

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

Probably not if you have been offering egg regularly. Hatchlings eat their own egg shells for their first calcium dose. Look under decorations and the bottoms of food dishes, the bath and cuttlebone, tiny babies gather under items in groups. They are very small the first few days.

[jolovessnailies]

Thanks Etana love, I have been out for a lot of today but tomorrow I will do a thorough search. If they don't lay any more eggs does that mean they are unhappy? Everyone seems very jolly, all eating well and getting along but I would love to see some hatchlings. They have been having regular egg and plenty of it.

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

The hatchlings are most likely hiding somewhere. I suppose that only if the eggs were deformed somehow the adults would eat them, since their diet is so good. The babies are fragile, but learn their way around the tank very quick. They love to go as high as possible as well so be careful when you move the lid.

Some reasons why they may not lay eggs for a while:
- You have only 3 mature fulica and these are some of their first eggs, so they're learning and getting used to it. A more experienced mom lays lots more, but even Halonen rests some weeks in between laying
- Your Margies probably won't lay for now, the temperature is at the low end of their preferred range and I suspect they're a bit young for it too (how long is the longest albino though?)
- Lack of daylight in the winter.

I find lots of eggs because I have so many fulica here who are of breeding age, and now mature Immacs too who are egg machines, but I wouldn't worry yet if your next clutch appears in January. Keep doing regular checks though, it's good for the soil too, and if the snails let you look you can peek inside them to spy for developing eggs.

[Zorst]

Don't remind me about the Immac's being egg laying machines LOL. That's sure one I wont forget in a hurry. I like surprises just not that kind. LOL

Zorst

[jolovessnailies]

Thank you so much Etana love and I have made a note of what you have said. I did a quick egg check today and just found a few, so I don't know if someone is practising. I did pick them all up to see if anyone had any eggies still attached but no, they were all just covered in what they are usually covered in in LOL!! I would like to put an LED light in but I do not have the fittings for the tank hood which means I will have to buy a new one with fittings and I don't know how much that will cost, but if that is what they need, I will find a way. I will measure the longest Albi tomorrow and let you know but they are pretty big snailies now and the small ones are growing at a rate and are so cute. I would like to up the temperature a bit but again, I need a tank hood with fittings. How do I look into the snailies for developing eggs please, this is fascinating?

Hugs
Jo xx

[jolovessnailies]

Oh yes, sorry, thank you for the advice on hatchlings too, I will always be aware that there may be some in there and be very careful.

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

Jo, I'll do a photo shoot of a pregnant snail if I have one, and make a new thread about how to check inside a snail for developing eggs. I think it'll benefit our other readers too. I have that one photo of Tauno very readily letting me see his eggs when he was on my hand, but usually snails aren't that exactly easy about it. Hopefully I have a preggers mom here after all the crazy laying last week.

[jolovessnailies]

That would be lovely Etana love thank you, it would be great to see. I can understand that they don't want to be held when they are preggie, they are probably a little defensive generally. I still haven't had any more eggs, I do so hope everything is OK.

Hugs
Jo xx

[etana]

Hmm, I found a snail who had Post Egg Laying Exhaustion pretty bad, I did give him a lot of attention and eventually had him pose perfectly well in the right positions for checking for eggs. Obviously his lung cavity was empty, but the pics give you the idea of how to see inside; the eggs would definitely have shown if he'd had them. I'll post them when I can.

Usually you have to be a bit patient, let them eat something yummy first and relax on your hand, and then as they're eating, very gently turn their shell to the right position and take a look with a very bright (but NOT hot!) lamp. My Halonen knows what I'm doing though and puts her face in the way haha.

[jolovessnailies]

Ha ha clever girl. A lady must keep her secrets LOL!! I note what you say Etana love and will see if anyone has any although I think it is doubtful.

Hugs
Jo xx