What do baby apple snails look like?

Apple snail babies, also known as hatchlings, emerge from their eggs as tiny, free-swimming creatures called veligers. Veligers are spherical in shape and have a prominent velum, a ciliated structure that helps them swim and gather food. They also have a small, coiled shell that protects their developing bodies.

As apple snail veligers grow and develop, they gradually lose their velum and begin to crawl along surfaces using their muscular foot. They also develop a longer, more pronounced siphon, which they use to breathe air and extract oxygen from water.

The appearance of apple snail hatchlings can vary slightly depending on the species, but they generally share the characteristics described above. They are small, transparent, and have a delicate, fragile appearance. As they grow and develop, they will take on the coloration and physical features of their adult counterparts.