Snails can be seen almost everywhere in aquariums. These mollusks, firstly, serve as an excellent decoration, and secondly, they are quite good cleaners, since they eat food that has not been eaten by fish. Among other things, snails destroy the mucus that settles on the walls of aquariums and plants. At the moment, there is simply a huge number of aquarium snails. 
They come in a variety of sizes and designs. Some types are heterosexual, others are hermaphrodites. In any case, these creatures multiply instantly. Therefore, their population must be monitored.
To do this correctly, you need to know how aquarium snails breed. The opposite sex, for example, ampullia, lay eggs on the walls of aquariums, coverslip or lid, that is, not in water. Eggs hold quite tightly, and therefore rarely fall to the bottom. Small snails appear in one and a half to two weeks. As for hermaphrodites, even if only one individual is planted in the aquarium, she will definitely have offspring. These snails can also mate with members of their genus. In this case, a larger mollusk always acts as a female.
Large aquarium snails, such as ampullia, can be a pretty good decoration for an artificial pond. However, in a regular aquarium (50-100 liters), the presence of 5-7 individuals will be quite sufficient. As for small hermaphrodites, in a short period of time they are able to fill the aquarium almost completely. The red snail is especially fertile - a small brown mollusk familiar to everyone from childhood. The number of hermaphrodites is more difficult to control, but it is quite possible.
There are only a few ways to get rid of excess aquarium snails. Firstly, since they feed mainly on the remains of fish food, it is worth first of all to follow the fish after feeding. If after 4-5 minutes after placing the food in the aquarium, it will not be eaten, then the portion needs to be reduced.
The second good way is to acquire some predators, natural enemies of aquarium snails. This can be, for example, battles that attack mollusks and literally pull them out of their shells. The growth of the population of nats, which often enter the aquarium by pure chance (with soil, plants, snags and stones), can be stopped by running catfish or ancistrus into the aquarium. These fish willingly eat eggs and young snails. 
Some cichlid species do the same.
If for some reason these fish are not suitable for keeping in your aquarium, you can use another method. This method is called salad. To get rid of aquarium snails, take a leaf of lettuce and scald it with boiling water. In the evening, this bait is put on the bottom and pressed with some pebbles so that it does not float up. In the morning, taking out a leaf and turning it over, you can see many small snails on the back. By performing this operation several times, you can significantly reduce the number of individuals.
You can also use specialty chemicals that are sold at pet stores. However, this method has one significant drawback. By killing snails, these products also destroy beneficial bacteria. As a result, the biological balance in the aquarium can be disturbed. As a radical measure, you can also rinse plants and soil in warm salted water. This should surely help.
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The microcosm of your aquarium is made up of many components. It contains the soil - a sandy bottom, and plants - algae of different types, and all kinds of fish that easily get along with each other. It would be a mistake to think that this is the end of the elements of the aquarium world.In addition to them, there are also snails (special, also aquarium), unicellular plants and animals, live food that you throw into the water from time to time.
Removing any of the elements means disrupting the inner harmony of the aquarium. And if you notice that there are no snails in it, for example, you should get them.
Snails are different from snails. Grape, small garden - not for an aquarium. If you intend to catch them and put them in the water, it is better to abandon the idea. Aquarium snails are certain types of snails. They are bought at a pet store or asked to share familiar aquarists.
In the aquarium, snails are also found not of the same species. They are all different. You choose those that are compatible with the rest of the aquarium inhabitants. The volume of the container also matters. Ampularia, for example, will need 10 liters per 1 individual. Other species are not as picky about large spaces. Fed up with small things.
By the way, there is no need to provide food for snails: they find it themselves. Have you seen that in an aquarium with even a few snails, the water does not become cloudy so quickly? It is the clams that filter it. They eat the plaque from the inside of the glass, clean the bottom. Another proof that they are necessary in the aquarium environment. But if there are too many snails, they will no longer have enough food, they will have to say goodbye to the plants: their leaves will go for food.
Snails are bred if heterosexual individuals are settled in the aquarium. Racking your head and finding out the sex of the snail is not necessary. Of the 5-7 planted in 1 container, there will definitely be a suitable pair.
Reproduction will go by laying eggs. Snails breathe air, eggs are also laid in the air or closer to it. You can find masonry on the wall of the aquarium, on the lid, which should cover the top, and on the leaves of plants.
After a short time, baby snails will hatch from the eggs. At first, it is dangerous for them to be in the main aquarium: although they have shells, they are easy prey for fish. And you can crush them by starting to clean the aquarium. Therefore, it is worthwhile to determine the caviar in a separate container in advance. For example, a 3 liter bottle. The already matured generation, fed with boiled yolk and steamed lettuce leaves, can be returned to the microcosm of the aquatic world in a couple of weeks.
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How are aquarium snails bred ?, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating
They need different conditions than fish. Also, everyone is concerned about the question of how to feed the snails in the aquarium. Often these bodies of water are full of rotting plants that provide shelter and food for snails. The lack of oxygen in the water of such reservoirs is not critical for them, the coils have long been adapted to breathe atmospheric air.
Ampullaria is easy to keep in an aquarium or pond. They can coexist with most types of fish and also cleanse the aquarium of algae. However, not all varieties of ampullaria are good for an aquarium, because large fish with a good appetite can destroy all vegetation, especially in a small aquarium.
Such gluttons can turn a well-kept aquarium into a desert in a few days. It would be great if everyone used the correct names for snails, but the most common English names are: mystery snails, golden apple snail, ivory snails and so on ... And most of them are used for completely different types of ampullaria. Pomacea bridgesi is a good choice for a plant aquarium and what's more, they can starve to death among the plants if you don't feed them enough.
Keeping and breeding ampullaria
You may not feel anything by eating such foods, but it will hurt the snails a lot! In addition to vegetables and fish tablets, snails do not disdain frozen fish food and even dead fish. Just look at how much they eat in a day from a knowingly larger amount of feed - feed like this. Less in winter, spring and summer, and more during the breeding season.Seasonal differences are mainly due to temperature, so if you keep your snails at a constant temperature, the differences will be smaller, but will remain.
However, even in good conditions, some individuals have small defects, especially in the old part of the shell. However, it's a good idea to change the water in a jar with ampullaria (especially if there are a lot of them) in the same way as you do for an aquarium with fish. From the translator: If you keep the ampullaria with the fish, then I, for example, did not observe the turbidity of the water. After the guppies nibbled his gorgeous mustache, the snails had to be planted.
If there is enough oxygen in the water, then they mainly breathe with gills. The volume of water for one ampullaria depends on the size of the snails, temperature and filtration. The water level should not be too high (2 or more times the height of the sink).
It is very important to have enough free space in the water (at least the size of the shell) so that the snail can get out of the water to lay eggs. Alas, this is often forgotten. Since ampullaria prefer to hide in the shade during the daytime, it is advisable to equip the aquarium with stones, driftwood and some plants.
Ampullaria do not need additional lighting, but you can install any aquarium lighting to observe them. The optimum water temperature is from 18 to 28 ° C. Like many cold-blooded animals, ampullaria are more active at elevated temperatures, eat faster, crawl and grow.
At 18 ° C, ampullaria freeze, hibernate, or become very lethargic. These snails, laying eggs above water, need sufficient space (height) above the surface (> 15cm).
Even if you only bought one snail, there is a chance that it will produce offspring. But the female ampullaria can lay eggs without a male at all, though nothing will come out of it. And the last thing: not all ampullaria do masonry above water, some do it in water. The rule is simple - where the eggs are laid, in such an environment it should develop.
Reproduction of ampularia
After such a period, the female gains strength for some time. Variety of ampullaria, temperature and amount of food are the main determinants of fertility. The size of the eggs is from 2.2 to 3.5 mm each (in the case of Pomacea canaliculata). Just moisten the masonry, wait a few hours, and carefully remove it. It is important to keep the eggs moist but not wet, never try to put them under water, you will drown young snails!
Note !: Not all snails of the genus Pomacea lay above water. Pomacea urceus lays 50 to 200 orange eggs inside its shell, closer to the exit. The eggs develop in the incubation chamber, while the mother closes the shell with a lid and hibernates, burying herself in the silt during the drought period. Young snails hatch and live under their mother's shell until the rainy season begins. A side effect of this incubation method is a scar on the left side of the mother's shell where the masonry was attached.
However, in the very first hours, they absorb a lot of water and swell considerably. After 2-4 weeks (depending on the species and temperature, 14 days at 25 ° C for Pomacea canaliculata) the first snails appear. Many young snails die in the first weeks of their existence, but those that survive grow quickly. The best way to transport ampullaria is to put them in a plastic box with damp synthetic filter wool or paper towels.
All this led to the fact that the generic name Pomus is considered incorrect. In 1798, Roding proposed the generic name Pila (together with Helix ampullacea, it was described as a species by Dall (1904)).
The generic name Ampullarius is a late subjective synonym for Pomacea (Perry, 1810) (approved by ICZN, OPINION 13). Unfortunately, Ampullarius continues to be misused in the trade. In 1824 Gray proposed the name of the family Ampullariidae (from the genus Ampullaria (Lamarck, 1799)), including the ampullaria of the Old and New Worlds together. There is nothing complicated in the feeding process. Snails eat grass. Various plants can be planted in the aquarium and added as they disappear.
There is such a species - ampularia, so it is advisable to feed them always. True, they are not able to take it away from the fish. If the meat is crushed to the level of powder, then this food will be eaten. You can also give a finely chopped salad.Also, snails can eat bread crumbs, but it is undesirable to give them contrary to general opinion.
A snail in an aquarium is a good helper, and time will tell how long they live. They do not sing like the Ural dumplings and weaving do not. A week passed - a week and a half, the caviar was ripe and tiny snails fell into the water from it. Some are looking for information on how to get rid of snails in an aquarium or how they reproduce, if they are needed, and what snails do in an aquarium.
Breeding snails Is a pretty profitable business, but not everyone knows it. Lack of information about their useful qualities accompany this. How to turn an ordinary snail into real money can be found in this article.
The beneficial properties of snails are not fully understood, but they already have a considerable list of positive points:
- Vitaminization of the body. Vitamin A, B, PP, E, K - this is what snail meat is teeming with.
- Useful for pregnant women. It restores calcium metabolism well.
- Use in cosmetology. Creams and serums that are produced from snail secretions are very beneficial for the skin, as they are ideally compatible with its structure.
- Pets. You can use snails as pets.
- Treatment. Snail mucus is very effective for inflammation, burns, warts.
- Cosmetology. Snail mucus is able to even out complexion, heal microcracks and even increase the elasticity of connective tissue.
- Diet. It can be used as a dietary product for weight loss, due to the absence of cholesterol in meat and the presence, in large quantities, of amino acids.
- Aphrodisiac. Men who eat snails notice an increase in potency.
Choosing the type of snails to grow
The choice of snails depends on where a person can keep them.
Each species requires certain living conditions:
- Achatina. They are grown in glass aquariums, in which several holes must be made for fresh air. It should also have a lid.
- Grape snails. They need to be grown in gardens or terrariums. They need space at the rate of 30 square centimeters per individual.
- Ampularia snail. They can even be kept in an aquarium with fish, of course, if the fish do not eat shellfish. It is necessary that in the aquarium, in addition to water, there are several centimeters of air space. One medium-sized snail requires about ten liters of water.
Starting a business
Before starting a snail business, you need to be patient and make sure that these shellfish do not disgust you.
So where to start:
- Choose the type of snail for breeding.
- Arrange living conditions for her.
- Purchase a broodstock. About fifty snails.
- Make sure there is where to supply snails. It can be a restaurant or pharmacy or cosmetic business.
- Learn to take care of them.
- In order to have a sales market, it is advisable to register your business.
registration
Any business requires registration.
In order to pass it you need:
- Pass the registration procedure for an individual entrepreneur or legal entity. This requires:
- passport, or other proof of identity;
- copy of the identification code;
- receipt of payment of the state fee;
- application for the creation of an individual entrepreneur;
- certificate of application of the simplified taxation system;
- Obtain permission to breed and sell snails from the veterinary service. The service must make sure that all the necessary conditions are in place for the breeding and subsequent sale of shellfish.
Premises
Depending on the place of cultivation and reproduction of snails, the premises are divided into:
- Open areas. In open areas, not all types of snails can survive, but only grape snails. Achatina die at low temperatures, and grape snails simply hibernate. At the summer cottage or in the garden, you need to make a terrarium. For this, you can use a fine mesh. Inside should be:
- plants with a height of 15–20 cm, on which snails are planted for subsequent fertilization, are suitable for this purpose clover, legumes, Jerusalem artichoke, fodder beets, and rapeseed.
- snail food and lime.
- constant humidity.
- canopy from the sun, because shellfish will not survive direct sunlight.
- Despite the fact that snails are not whimsical, you need to create the best possible conditions for their existence indoors:
- good ventilation;
- humidity not less than 90%;
- for grape snails, the optimum air temperature is 22-24 degrees.
- for Akhatin 25-30 degrees.
- the stability of temperature and humidity must always be maintained, sudden changes can harm any type of snails;
- Mixed dilution. In this type, mating, laying of eggs and rearing of young animals is carried out in a closed room, and further existence takes place in an open area.
Equipment
- Aquarium with a lid. Several holes need to be made in it for fresh air to enter. The size should be such that there is about 30 cm of free space for each individual.
- Wood sawdust and earth. They should be free of debris. This mixture lines the bottom of the aquarium.
- Containers for food and water. They must be without sharp edges so that the snail is not injured.
- Stones or plastic. A shelter is made of these materials. Also, ready-made shelters can be purchased at the pet store.
- Thick branch of a tree. Ideal for decorating your aquarium.
- Water. For swimming snails.
- Spray. To maintain humidity.
Snails 
Adult Achatina snail
This mollusk consists of a soft body and a shell, which is its "home" and reliable protection. It has two pairs of tentacles. The eyes are located on the upper tentacles, and the organs of smell and taste are located on the lower ones. The sink is approximately 45 millimeters high and 47 mm wide.
They have an almost rounded shape. The snail moves with the help of the leg, sliding it along the surface due to muscle contractions that pass in waves along the foot. At the same time, a lot of mucus is released, which helps to move over uneven surfaces. The grape snail is widely found in Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.
They are thermophilic and can be found in deciduous forests, bushes, near settlements. Their lifespan ranges from 6 to 8 years, but they can live up to 12.
The Achatina snails are gigantic. Their shell can reach 19 centimeters and weigh up to 400 grams. Their homeland is Africa, in Europe they can survive only at home and subject to all the rules.
All snails are nocturnal inhabitants.
Feed 
It is not worth giving meat to snails, for them it is heavy food.
It will be advisable to give food to snails in the evening or at night, during their waking hours.
Her diet may include the following food:
- Vegetables:
- cucumbers and tomatoes;
- Bell pepper;
- pumpkin and zucchini;
- cauliflower and Chinese cabbage;
- lettuce leaves;
- dill and parsley;
- Legumes:
- beans;
- peas;
- beans;
- Fruits:
- watermelon and melon;
- cherry and sweet cherry;
- pears and apples;
- pears and apples;
- peaches and nectarines;
- pineapples;
- plums;
- kiwi;
In addition, it can induce predatory behavior in the snail, which can affect smaller snails.
To strengthen the shell, it is necessary to saturate the body of the snails with calcium. To do this, they can be fed with natural chalk (not from stationery stores). Eggshells contain a lot of calcium. It needs to be washed well, dried and ground into powder, which must be poured into the ground.
The most important thing for a snail is water. She would not survive without her. She needs it not only for drinking, but also for taking a bath.
Fried, spicy, sweet and salty snails should not be given under any circumstances. Salt is certain death for them.
Read also about the business of breeding and selling crayfish.
Sales of products
Selling snails is perhaps the hardest part in this business.
First you need to figure out who needs them and why and who is willing to pay for them:
- Cafes and restaurants. Snails are a very healthy delicacy and are appreciated by gourmets for their unique taste. You can deal with deliveries in your city or abroad. The main consumers of snail meat are the French. You can contact restaurants and cafes through feedback via the Internet or phone. They mainly buy frozen products, so you can distinguish yourself by supplying fresh snails. Snail caviar is also highly valued, it is much more expensive than red and black caviar and is called white caviar.
- Wholesale. Perhaps someone has already established a sales market, so you can sell in large quantities to these people.
- Sale to manufacturers of medicines and aphrodisiacs. Snail mucus has medicinal properties. On their basis, drugs are made to increase potency. It is also added to medicines for the treatment of the respiratory system.
- Sale for breeding. Brood herds can be sold to people who also want to start breeding snails.
Breeding technology
To breed snails, it is first of all necessary to create favorable conditions for reproduction:
- temperature 15-24 degrees;
- humidity 80-85%;
- lack of wind;
For successful breeding you need:
- Collect the broodstock. You need to choose the largest snails. About 50 pieces are enough.
- Form pens for laying eggs. This should take place indoors, as snail eggs are very fond of eating various insects. The depth of the masonry is about 4 centimeters, this must be taken into account when forming the bottom.
- Pens for keeping grape snails.
- Feeding snails and wetting pens.
- Collection and distribution.
Grape snails and Achatina are hermaphrodites (have two genitals), therefore, two sexually mature snails (2-3 years old) should be planted together for mating. Reproduction occurs after hibernation, that is, in the spring. Mating takes about two hours.
For laying eggs, they use indentations in the soil, and then carefully bury them. Grape snails lay an average of 40-60 eggs, Achatina - 100-300. If breeding takes place in open areas, then laying of eggs can take place in the hole of the plants. The whole process of laying eggs is very long and can last up to 20 hours.
About 30% of snails die after laying eggs. After about a month, small snails are born from the eggs, which must be transplanted from adults. With proper feeding and ensuring optimal living conditions, young snails are able to produce offspring within a year.
Calculation of costs and profitability
The costs and profitability of all who breed snails are different.
It depends on some factors:
- Buying broodstock or raising it yourself.
- Forming pens with your own hands or buying ready-made ones.
- The use of special equipment (to maintain temperature, humidity and light).
The broodstock can be grown independently (this applies to grape snails), depending on where you live. They can be found in Australia, southern Russia and temperate countries. You can buy ready-made, its price is about $ 200 for 50 pieces. To create a full-fledged snail farm, you need 750 snails, the cost of which will be $ 3,000.
For the maintenance of one snail, you need about 2 rubles a month, that is, for 750 you need 1,500 rubles. To buy equipment (pens, ditches, boxes) you need about $ 500.
Hence, it is concluded that in order to start a full-fledged business, it is necessary to have $ 3,500 for snails and 1,500 rubles per month for their maintenance. The sale of one ton of snails will amount to approximately $ 10,000. All costs in eight months will pay off 150%.
If the broodstock is self-formed, you can save about $ 3,000.
If all the rules are followed, a snail business can become quite profitable for those looking to open
their business
spending a minimum of effort and maximizing profits.
Assessment of advantages and disadvantages
From all of the above, you can easily assess the advantages and disadvantages of this business.
Pros:
- You can start a business from scratch.
- Minimum monthly costs.
- Ease of breeding.
- No special food needed.
- Can be bred in your country house.
- The benefits of snails.
- The ability to combine business with your main job.
Minuses:
- Difficulties associated with finding a sales market.
- 30% of snails die after laying eggs.
- Possible lack of breeding space.
- Slippery and nasty. You need to love them very much or get used to them.
The snail business is not yet very common, so anyone who decides to do it can become successful and build a career with the help of a snail. It is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, so as not to regret it later, because this is a specific business.
