Incubating Nerite Snail Eggs

[Chiquarius]

Hello,

I have two zebra nerite snails who have been busy laying eggs. I have learned that these will not hatch unless they are incubated in brackish water. I’d like to give that a try, if realistic.

Last week, I noticed a nice trail of eggs on one of the rocks. I was hoping to place this rock in a gallon jar of brackish water to incubate.

For one, the eggs are already at most two weeks old, currently immersed in fresh water. I was wondering, can anyone tell me if they are still viable?

Also, how much salt should I add to water? Can I use untreated pure sea salt from the grocery store, or do I need a special aquarium brand?

Are there other conditions I need to aim to meet in my incubation column/jar? (oxygenation, temperature, etc.)

I would love any wisdom from anyone who has had luck hatching nerite snails before.

Thanks,

 

[sdlTBfanUK]

I had a look in my book and to summarise, it may be easy to get the eggs to larvae stage but then it is unlikely to work 'they feed on microscopic unicellular organisms' at that stage. They like a PH over 7. Of coarse there are quite a few vids out there claiming that they can breed in freshwater but I think these claims are definitely false, one had some very tiny snails (probably introduced with plants etc and looked like common pond snails) which looked a different shape and obviously weren't, and what happened to the larvae stage????

I can't even see much out there on the www even, so it must be difficult and probably not generally worth doing, but this seems to have some good info to help you decide whether to give it a go,

https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/nerite-snails/

Hopefully someone may be on here that has successfully bred them but it is a real long shot! Fingers crossed though!

Simon

[Chiquarius]

Thanks for the link!

It’s worth a shot transferring the eggs to brackish.

In case they hatch, are there any ideal larval food products out there anyone know of I should have to make sure I can feed them? I was thinking of getting one designed for my baby shrimplets anyhow, but not sure if the hat hadn’t the diatoms and things the entire larva would need.

[sdlTBfanUK]

As you say, worth a try! The eggs may not be fertilized of coarse?

I found this and it is rather long but nearer the bottom it has quite a bit about the larvae etc

https://aquariumbreeder.com/nerite-snails-detailed-guide-care-diet-and-breeding/

Most sites I saw they think it won' t work beyond getting to the larvae stage BECAUSE of problems feeding them at this stage?

Simon

[Chiquarius]

Thanks sdiTBfan,

I’m setting up a one gallon tank for the nerites with my daughter. We’re going to slowly add a bit of reef salt each week and monitor gravity levels. We’ll see if they breed and hatch.

if they do, I hope the First Bites fish food will work for them. I’ve read the snail larvae like fish food and especially Artemis/diatoms, things baby fish like. I’m a little worried because I saw copper as one of the nutrients. Perhaps too negligent an amount for damage, but I don’t think I should be feeding any copper to snails!

If anybody know I’d any great snail larvae food, please let me know.