Instructions
Gently lift the gold snail out of the water and turn it upside down for one to five minutes to dry off the snail. It should come out of its shell.
Blow air on the snail's body until it stretches its foot out of its shell. The snail will relax and stretch its foot out after one to two minutes and try to turn itself over.
Look inside the right mantle cavity located in the top lefthand side of the snail's shell when it's facing you. If the snail is a male, there will be a penis sheath, which looks like a long round tube in front of its gills. If there is no penis sheath and you see only the gills of the snail, it's a female.
Place the gold snail back into the water.
How to Tell a Female Gold Snail From a Male
Gold snails are a common addition to many home aquariums. Also known as mystery or apple snails, these mollusks are readily available in many pet stores. Gold snails are relatively easy to care for and are compatible with an array of aquarium fish species. These snails can lay up to several hundred eggs at a time. If breeding gold snails is not the intention of the aquarium owner, it may be in the best interest to keep male and female snails separate. Determining the gender of your gold snails can be simple if you follow a few instructions.