Evening star., 1936-10-20

Kinds that will not shower down
through thewater are best, although even
here there is q great latitude, because
these creatures are intelligent and locate
. fresh supply Of food almost as quickly
as fishes, although IT takes them q
longer time TO get to 1t and longer to
finish 1t.
Uneaten food. however and especially
the droppings Of the snails will set up an
acid reaction which Is fatal to their
beauty and often to their life.
The best authorities, such as Innes,
say that in order to grow good snails OF
this species free from white marks and of
tial to grow them quickly The eggs
are laid in "clutches"-small masses of
jelly-like substance, usually on the long
leaves Of such plants as eel grass, or on
the glass side of the aquarium.
According to the temperature at which
the water Is kept, the eggs will hatch
out from 10 to 80 days, which brings US
to another essential, which Is that of
proper temperature. Although 1t Is not
necessary to keep them at as high a
temperature as tropical fishes, q good
average Of 10 degrees helps them to
hatch and grow quickly.
II Matched In the Spring, they should
be full grown by this time, or slightly
later. Quick growth means that there
will be less time for any acidity OF the
water to spoil their shells. 1t must be
remembered that even in the separate
snailery 1t Is always q fght to keep the
shells unmarked.
Although the water in such q vessel
will stay clear for months on end with
out change. it probably will be acid in
reaction unless some is siphoned of every
day, care being taken to get up as much
of the droppings Of creatures as possible.
Fresh-tempered water then replaces
the old which has been drawn of and
helps offset the slight acidity which has
been caused as the result Of the passage
of time.
The clearwater aquarium Is deceptive
in this respect. More often than not 1t
Is decidedly on the acid side. 1t may be
all right, most often Is, for most Of the
exotic fish specimens, but Is FOOLS
paradise for snails.
There is q great deal Of interest in
watching the snail aquarium. The egg
masses are plainly visible, and the eggs,
each with its nucleus. are easily seen
with small reading glass.
The growth of the snails and their
Matching can be watched from day to
day, a1ording an interesting object lesson
in natural history, instructive both to
old and young.
Aquarium snails are repulSive to some
persons, but acquaintance soon leads
those who look at them askance to accept
them as part Of the scheme Of things.
+*+*
Red snails when just Matched are
tender and easily eaten by small fishes.
That Is one reason why the separate
snailery is best for them. In such q place
the baby snail has no foes to contend
with except acid water. which may be
avoided il the keeper is vigilant.
Overcrowding must be kept in mind.
1t 10 impossible to say just how many
snails may be kept per gallon. but If the
keeper may be sure that he either has
too many snails or IL feeding too much
food. part of which Is not eaten and
Of water. then OF the snails.
Growing frst-class red snails Is an
achievement at which most fail simply
because they will not give the creatures
enough ROOM" in the first place, and
then will not take steps to keep their
water alkaline. The old role Of snails
in the aquarium as scavenger Is known
to be overrated; in an aquarium by itself
it is . pleasing novelty and q much hap
pier creature.