Grape snail

The grape snail might be the ideal addition to your aquarium if you’re searching for something special and endearing. Pomace snails are interesting animals that are more than just pretty to look at. Their quiet demeanor and captivating habits can give your aquatic setup a fresh level of intrigue.

Grape snails are distinguished by their unique appearance. Their shells are usually translucent and pale, with a faint hint of lavender or pink. Their slow, graceful movement and delicate coloring make them a delightful addition to any tank. Because of their small size, they won’t overpower the surroundings of your aquarium.

The fact that grape snails help to keep a tank clean is one of their many wonderful qualities. These snails eat algae and other detritus that can accumulate in your aquarium, making them excellent scavengers. They lessen the need for regular maintenance by keeping your tank clean, giving you more time to enjoy your aquarium hassle-free.

Moreover, grape snails are very resilient and simple to maintain. They are a good fit for most community tanks because they are generally peaceful and thrive in a variety of water conditions. To make sure they stay content and active, it’s crucial to feed them a well-balanced diet and keep an eye on their health.

All things considered, grape snails are a great option for aquarium hobbyists looking to give their tank a little more personality and usefulness. They are an excellent option for both beginning and seasoned aquarists due to their distinctive look and practical cleaning practices.

Brief description

Scientists suggest that initially these snails appeared in South-Eastern and Central Europe. Gradually, this species spread to the entire European part of the continent, excluding the northern regions, but reaching the Baltic Sea. This mollusk can be found in gardens and parks, on the edges and in thickets of bushes. The period of active life is from spring to warm autumn. When the average daily temperature drops below 10⁰C, the grape snail falls into suspended animation, burrowing into the ground to a depth of up to thirty centimeters. Average life expectancy of this the mollusk in nature is seven to eight years old. Although there are reports of individuals twenty years old. A longer existence is associated with keeping them in comfortable home conditions.

External structure

Externally, the snail consists of a body and a shell. At the same time, the soft part is divided into a head with two pairs of tentacles and a leg. Inside, the mantle surrounds the organs. The volume of the shell is sufficient for the body to fit completely in it. In an adult, the shell grows to a diameter of three to four and a half centimeters. The type of shell is a dexiotropic turbospiral, in other words, a spiral curved to the right, consisting of four and a half turns that lie in different planes. The color is most often monochromatic, with a gradation from a yellow-brown shade to brown with white. Along the length of the first two or three turns, alternating dark and light stripes are observed. The intensity of the color is associated with nutrition, lighting and habitat, helping the mollusk to camouflage itself from predators. The surface of the shell has ribs, due to which moisture accumulates. This also affects the strength and weight of the shell. The length of the leg in an unstretched state of an adult can be up to five centimeters. The elastic structure of the body allows it to stretch up to nine centimeters. The color of the body, as well as the color of the shell, is associated with what the grape snail eats. But in most cases it has a beige-brown shade, sometimes there are dark gray tones. The surface of the skin is wrinkled, resembles quadrangles, which allows it to retain liquid. At the end of the back tentacles are eyes containing photopigment, due to which the mollusk cannot distinguish colors. Visual acuity allows you to see objects at a distance of one centimeter. It is also possible to react to the intensity of lighting. These tentacles are very mobile and can form an obtuse angle. The length of the shoots reaches two centimeters. The purpose of the front tentacles is the function of smell. Their size is small, two and a half to four and a half millimeters. This pair of processes is not as mobile as the back ones – movements are possible only in the vertical direction. However, both pairs hide inside when in contact with something.

Pomace snails, commonly referred to as grape snails, are interesting additions to any aquarium because of their unusual look and useful function in keeping the tank environment healthy. These snails are excellent for maintaining the cleanliness of your aquarium because they reduce the growth of algae and remove leftover food. Their low maintenance requirements and laid-back disposition make them ideal for both novice and seasoned aquarists. Making the most of these adorable animals in your tank can be achieved by being aware of their care needs and habits.

Internal structure

These mollusks’ representatives breathe through a unique aperture called a pneumostome located on the side of the shell that turns between the mantle’s folds. The humidity level in the surrounding air affects how often the breathing hole opens and closes. Usually, it lasts for one minute. Breathing frequently signifies an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When air humidity is high, it lasts for a longer time.

• Digestive system, consisting of two intestines: the middle and the front
• Heart, which is divided into a ventricle and a left atrium (they are surrounded by the pericardium)
• Excretory system with one kidney
• Nervous system
• Hermaphrodite reproductive system

Reproduction

September–October and March–June are the mating seasons.

The mollusks’ behavior changes during this time; they crawl slowly, stretch out, and occasionally freeze, as if they are looking for something. A grape snail makes contact with another person through their foot soles. The breathing hole enlarges and genitals, which are white growths that appear just below the oral cavity, appear in conjunction with the act of fertilization. The snails exchange sperm for two hours while touching their heads and genitalia. People can crawl apart from one another and then reunite during this time.

The mollusks then lay their eggs, which are roughly 40 pieces in volume. Five to ten centimeters of soil are used to make the clutch. The diameter of each egg is approximately five millimeters. The egg’s shell is soft and its color is white.

After a month, the newly formed young snail eats its shell and emerges to the surface in 8–10 days. It has been feeding on soil all along. A newborn mollusk’s shell has a diameter of just two millimeters.

Nutrition

Helix Pomatia primarily consume fresh vegetation, which they can seriously damage. Eaten also are humus and the rotting remnants of flowers and stems. Snails also consume juicy fruits and vegetables. For instance, such root vegetables as

Are perfectly acceptable in a mollusk’s diet. Leafy vegetables that are also highly edible to snails are:

• dandelion,
• spinach,
• sorrel,
• cabbage,
• nettle and burdock.

The grape snail will favor apples and bananas among sweet fruits.

The animal can consume soil to replenish calcium reserves. It is advised to give sepia (cuttlefish shell), eggshells, or chalk for these purposes at home.

Physiological features

Grape snails enter a three- to five-month-long state of suspended animation in late fall or early spring. The mollusk uses its sole to adhere to the surface in preparation for this type of hibernation, with the majority of its body curling up inside the shell. Mucus is now actively produced and covers the shell’s mouth and surrounding substrate. The leg is then drawn in, and the mantle closes the opening. The mucus solidifies into an epiphragm. There is still a layer of air between this film and the body.

One characteristic that sets snails apart is their ability to move by contracting their leg muscles and sliding along the surface with the help of mucus. Mucin helps the mollusk move more easily and shields its integument from harm. The front portion of the animal’s body contains the glands that produce it. The mollusk can move on both horizontal and vertical surfaces thanks to the characteristics of mucus and the surface area of its legs.

Helix Pomatia in captivity

Snails have been domesticated by humans since ancient times. Documentary evidence suggests that mollusks were domesticated in Ancient Rome.

Snail farms can now be found in the southern parts of several continents. There, these mollusks are bred for use in food and cosmetics.

The most common way to cook snails is to use vegetable oils and seasonings while they are still in their shells. This dish is fairly well-liked in Italy, Spain, and France. A recipe for making "snail caviar" by salting a clutch of eggs was patented in 2010 by a chef.

Helix Pomatia slime is a component of skin-rejuvenating and skin-regenerating creams, serums, and masks. Another growing trend is massage with snails.

In a confined area, a plastic or glass container with a lid that has ventilation holes is the ideal habitat for snails.

Such a terrarium’s bottom is covered in soil, moss, and coconut flakes. If the animal falls from the walls, the bedding will lessen the force of the fall. For the same reason, nothing sharp or hard (such as stones, ornamental pieces, or snags) should be inside the container. The mollusk can be harmed by wet soil, so the layer should be only slightly moist.

You can sow cat grass, parsley, or dill in the ground. The grape snail will devour young shoots and leaves, so you will need to repeat this every now and then. It is necessary to place the terrarium itself away from direct sunlight, though it is also possible to maintain a consistent temperature, such as 22°C. The ideal air humidity ranges from 80 to 90 percent.

All year long, food should be juicy and fresh. It’s crucial to choose only fruits and herbs that the mollusk can consume.

Grape snails are an intriguing addition to any aquarium because they have aesthetic value in addition to being useful. Eating algae and leftover food, these snails, with their unusual grape-like appearance and gentle demeanor, can keep your tank clean. Both novice and seasoned aquarists will find them to be a great choice due to their slow movement and low maintenance needs.

With regard to maintenance, grape snails require little attention. They do best in a tank that is kept up properly and has steady water conditions. They will stay active and healthy if you feed them a balanced diet that includes algae wafers and occasionally fresh vegetables. A good habitat for these endearing animals will be guaranteed by routine water changes and observation.

All things considered, adding grape snails to your aquarium can improve its appearance and ecology. They are an excellent addition, enhancing the aquatic environment and providing a natural method of managing algae thanks to their distinctive look and useful function in the tank. They make for long-term fun and a well-balanced aquarium setup with little maintenance.

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