Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources

Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/)

- Invertebrates (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/invertebrates/)

- - snail reproduction question (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/invertebrates/snail-reproduction-question-46177/)

ozznet

06-28-2010 09:41 PM

snail reproduction question

I know snails have both male and female parts but do they still need 2 to reproduce?
I was wondering because I would like to get 1 snail for my take but I don't want to worry about getting over run with them. So if I just get 1 will it reproduce?

Lupin

06-29-2010 10:34 AM

In that sense, snails would be classified as "asexual" or "hermaphrodites". Not all snails, however, are like that. A lot of snails are sexual. A few that are hermaphrodites are pond snails and their subspecies. Yes, you need two of them. Only their sperm exchange can trigger them to produce otherwise they cannot.

Finatic

08-12-2010 10:30 AM

It depends on the species, but most asexual snails can reproduce on their own. If you're worrying about being overrun with snails, I recommend getting the snails called "mystery snails" in pet shops. They have genders and they don't 'take over' tanks like many snails do.

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