Annual review 2020

2020 was a busy year in the snailroom. Old and small aquariums were replaced by larger ones and the oldest row of terrariums was demolished at the end of the year. The replacement will take place in 2021.

The acquisition of new snails was less successful than in previous years. Due to covid-19, the shipment went less smoothly and it was necessary to wait until a suitable moment to pick up the animals or look for other options. Still, I was able to add a number of species that were on my wish list.


Aquarium snails

By replacing old aquariums with new ones, I was able to purchase a number of species that had been on my list for some time. That way I could buy 3 Pila virescens. One died after a few days, but both others are now adults. The 5 Lanistes cf. ovum were already adults at the time of purchase and already have quite a few youngsters. I have not seen any eggs or young with the 5 Lanistes libycus. Also a few Marisa cornuarietis were added to the lonely animal I had. These were still small but laid eggs at the end of December.

With the species I already had, everything went smoothly with Asolene spixii and Anentome helena. Fortunately, the breeding of Tylomelania perfecta seems to have come to a standstill. These had had a lot of young last year. Lanistes nyassanus has had a less successful breeding year. Many eggs, but few young. This will be a working point for next year.

The Thiara winteri that I got from an aquarium shop did not reproduce and I lost this species again. Finally, there are 2 Pomacea canaliculata. These are the last animals of a group I had for years.


The pond

Little has changed in the pond. Some Viviparus viviparus have been added, a species that I also had years ago. Some youngsters have been seen. Especially Planorbarius corneus and Lymnaea stagnalis are doing well. Lymnaea auricularia is present in smaller numbers.


Terrarium snails

In recent years, the focus has already shifted from the larger Lissachatina species to species from the Caracolus family. From that family I was eventually able to obtain 6 Caracolus sagemon 'Gran Piedra' lowland form. These are not yet fully mature and breeding results will take a while.

Caracolus excellens, the first species I had from this family did well. This remains my favorite species. Also with the smaller Caracolus rostrata and Caracolus sagemon sp type 4 Cuba striped everything went well. Last year I only had a few youngsters from Caracolus sagemon sp. type 4 Cuba dark, but after moving them to another terrarium it is now going very smooth.

I have had Caracolus sagemon 'Gran Piedra' highland form since 2018 and this year I was able to put together a second group. Caracolus marginella semiaperta was a bit disappointing this year although I did have the first young in a 2nd group. As in previous years, the breeding of Caracolus marginella marginella is almost impossible. I can't figure out the reason. This year there are 4 snails out of 2 clutches and I have not lost any animals. That is already a success.

I used to have a large group of Pleurodonte isabella, but I have decreased this last year. Again some animals were born that can stay in the group. The Hadra webbi youngsters from last year have grown up but an old animal has died.

Macrochlamys sp. Sri Lanka is a species that does not live that long and where the population goes up and down a lot. In September I only had 3 animals but in the meantime several have been born. Phaedusa paviei is simpler and the breeding goes smoothly.

With the Archachatina species I only have Archachatina porphyrostoma. The 3 animals have matured this year and lay plenty of eggs from which the first young already been born.

Bad luck with the achatina species. Several years ago I could buy adult animals from Achatina weynsi. They have regularly laid eggs but unfortunately they never hatched. Unfortunately the animals died. Also the Achatina bandeirana group that I had for years and with which I was able to breed once, thins out and I only have 1 animal left. I will not replace these anymore.

With the Lissachatina species I had already stopped with a few species last year. At the moment I still have Lissachatina immaculata immaculata, Lissachatina immaculata panthera and Lissachatina iredalei.

New species are the slug Laevicaulis sp. Nigeria of which some animals have already been born, Acavus haemastoma haemastoma, Leptaxis undata and Zachrysia guanensis.


The snailroom

The whole space was painted so that it looks better than just white walls.

In order to make optimal use of the space, 4 small aquariums were replaced by 3 large aquariums. One smaller one was kept as a quarantine. In this way there was room for a few new species.

The breeding cabinet, the room where young animals are kept, was expanded a bit.

In December, the oldest row of terrariums was broken down. This will be replaced in 2021 by 8 new terrariums for mainly smaller caracolus species.