How to Raise Apple Snail Eggs

The various species of apple snail available for home aquariums tend to breed readily. The main consideration is keeping the baby snails away from the other inhabitants of an aquarium, especially fish, which may see them as tasty little snacks. Depending on the species of apple snail, you might raise a batch of little snails to sell or for your own aquarium or pond. Algae-eating apple snails, such as Pomacea diffusa, are useful in aquariums. Many hobbyists like these snails for their own sake; some apple snails have brightly colored and decorative shells.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquatic snail identification guide
  • Plant mister
  • Net breeder for fish
  • Plastic knife
  • Aquatic plants
  • Lettuce
  • Fish pellets
  • Frozen shrimp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify the species. Check your adult apple snails against an identification guide, paying particular attention to shell shape. Suppliers sometimes misidentify their snails and the different species have different needs.

    • 2

      Remove some of the water from your tank, to allow a gap of a few inches between the eggs, which apple snails lay above the water line and the water surface. A 2-inch or wider gap prevents opportunistic fish grabbing and eating the eggs or the eggs becoming saturated.

    • 3

      Mist the egg cluster lightly once or twice a day. Although you shouldn̵7;t submerge the eggs in water, it is important not to let them dry out completely.

    • 4

      Observe the eggs closely. Once you see the little snails beginning to emerge, clip a net breeder directly below the cluster. Alternatively, carefully scrape off the hatching eggs with a plastic knife and put them in the breeder.

    • 5

      Add a few sprigs of submerged plants to the net breeder and some floating ones. These provide shelter and some food.

    • 6

      Feed the juvenile snails on lettuce, pellet fish food and frozen shrimp. The exact diet depends upon the species. Remove uneaten food after a day and replace with fresh, so decaying food doesn̵7;t contaminate the water.

    • 7

      Release the snails into the main tank once they are 1/2-inch or longer and too big to form lunch for your fish.