Mollusc doom

[smokingboot]

Rapido's enormous and sinister cone of eggs has detached itself from the top of the fish tank, and fallen to the bottom. Golden Apple snails lay their eggs above the water line to prevent exactly what seems to have happened last night...a crash followed by every denizen of the tank turning up and feeding on the eggs. 2 7 9 15 16 and counting have escaped; tiny golden baby snails even now crawling around the glass, too small to be noticed as yet. There might be others devouring the foliage, or crawling along the floor, in which latter case, the corydoras will have them. At least Rapido isn't traumatised. Having shunted out hundreds of young, all she cares about is surfing on the cuttlefish bone I got for her.

Regarding the survivors, I am trying to work out where I could put them until they are big enough to take to a pet shop. It may be that I have to leave them to take their chances in the tank. The good news is that there's food and waste a-plenty for them to eat. The bad is that their companions are not baby friendly. One great truth I have learnt about nature;forget sex, breeding, territory... Nature is all about eating.

Comments

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Rapido probably reckons that each one eaten is a bonus - think of the cost of sending them to college, fo a start.

As for you, perhaps a little dish with garlic may be the best way to get something out of them if you don't want to take them to the pet shop. Lightly sauteed in olive oil perhaps, with a little garlic and tarragon. Washed down with a nice cava?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Apparently these guys are edible in precisely the way you describe, and are often sold as such.

Alas, due to my excesses last night, I couldn't eat another thing!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow is another day...

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

You can buy little mesh cages for tiny fish which float in the tank - could the same work for tiny snails?

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it's a good idea...there's a very good aquatic centre near where I work, I'll go check it out with them xxx

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Took me ages to find a picture;

http://www.discountleisureproducts.co.uk/Breeding_Nets_And_Traps/Aquarium_Net_Breeding_Fry_Trap_Hatchery/

Apparently it's called a breeding trap.

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thank you for this:-) xxx

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Many's the time I fear I have fallen into the breeding trap...

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

Ewww please don't eat them. I mean eating meat is one thing,we all do it, but eating your pet? Even if it is only a new addition, that's just wrong! Although a pet shop home isn't much better either, I hate those places!
I'm glad they've hatched though, hoping you solve your tank problems with them soon. xx

[smokingboot.livejournal.com]

:-D Please don't worry, I would never dream of eating Rapido or her young! But my restraint is not shared by the tank inmates...

:-)

[abutterflygirl.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, phew! That's a relief! :-) As for the rest of the inhabitants of the tank, isn't nature a little harsh...