Chinese mystery snails

[jreidsma]

Hi everyone

I was at the local wetland a while back and found a bunch of HUGE snails! I couldn't help but take five of the biggest home They are kind of invasive anyways so no harm done.

They are doing well so far Infact I have atleast 12+ babies running around These are live birth snails, so they only have a couple apiece at first. I was thinking that after a generation or two I could start putting them in with my fish tanks.

When, if at all, would it be safe to put them in with the fish or anything else? I don't know if snails carry disease/parasites that spread through the water that would stay with the snails after a generation or so with fresh water all the time.

 

[Tarac]

Depends on the snail, do you know what they are for certain?

I would be more worried about parasites and other pathogens that snails can transmit to you. Be sure to wash thoroughly after handling.

 

[The Snark]

Depends on the snail, do you know what they are for certain?

I would be more worried about parasites and other pathogens that snails can transmit to you. Be sure to wash thoroughly after handling.

I'll double down on that comment. Invasive snails, if that is what you have, are one of the worlds leading disease transmitters right now. Watch your step.

 

[jreidsma]

Hmm... I don't think I want them now :sarcasm: I might get rid of them somehow.

I know that snails can transmit parasites, but now it is starting to worry me a bit.

More room for T's! :sarcasm: :laugh:

 

[Tarac]

There are a lot of really cool snails, but not being as keen on them as I am other inverts I generally don't endorse keeping them until you certain you know what they are due to the potential vector issue- there really are a lot of nasty things you can catch from some snails. Better to check with someone who has more background in molluscs if you intend to keep them IMO. I didn't see anything other than invasive warnings about the Bellamya chinensis (if that's it) here but in its native habitat it definitely carries a lot of parasites.

 

[jreidsma]

I don't know if this would work or not, but what if I put in some fish tank medication that is copper free and for internal parasites? I have prazipro for my pufferfish and I think it is copper free.
That may kill off any parasites but what about diseases?

I may just be better off getting rid of them, but I had a idea


I agree with you, snails can be pretty cool, and they will always have a special place in my heart

 

[Dan Wulf]

@Tarec and Snark,

It is correct that certain species of freshwater snails are potential intermediate hosts for e.g. schistosomes (Schistosoma sp.). But these species are rarely available. Furthermore, the parasite in one snail cannot directly infect another snail. Schistosomes need the final host (man) for the sexual reproduction. And the final host needs to excrete urine or faeces (depending on schistosome species) in the tank in order to complete the parasite life cycle.

Beside schistosomiasis did you consider other parasitic infections or snail transmitted pathogens?

 

[The Snark]

To quote the ol' textbook, fascioliasis, schistosomiasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, angiostrongylosis.
I wouldn't downplay Schistosomiasis. The worlds #2 devastating infection behind Malaria. It spreads much more easily than most people think and it is prevalent in all countries below the subartic level.

 

[Galapoheros]

Do you really live in Michigan? Why do you call it "Chinese"?, because of a trap door on the snail? If you're in the US, I think the odds are that it's OK but do more research, aquatic snails are sold in US pet stores all the time and many times they don't even know what species they have there. Think of the last reported case of an aquatic snail disease that put several people in the hospital here in the US just from picking them up. I've picked up 1000s from ponds and creeks. People swim/tube in rivers and lakes with millions of snails there. Go to aquatic snail sites/aquarium sites and especially research there and also use some of your own common sense after you read what you do. Also, it would be nice to see a pic of the snails you have, people want to know the species. All diseases Snark listed are pretty rare in the US, the US doesn't have the same raw diet as many other countries do. Research each one of the diseases Snark listed, "cases in the US" and way the risk for yourself. Again, I'd especially ask these questions at an aquarium site, or a snail hobbyist site.

 

[The Snark]

And of course other dangers snails present. A guy down the road from us trying to get his motorcycle past where there were dredging water hyacinth and heaping it on the bank. Ran right into a big patch of snails. Zoom. Both him and the bike went into the river. Try explaining that one to your wife: It was snails, dear! Snails!! ::

I get the feeling Schistosomiasis is pretty common around here. None of the locals will touch the snails and kick them away with their feet when encountered. Even the kids avoid them. Cultural thing dating back centuries of avoiding commonly suspected disease carriers.

 

[Galapoheros]

Ha, life is so abundant in the tropics, it all seems "less of" and smaller here north of Mexico with some exceptions. I think the biggest wild aquatic snails found here in Texas are in the San Marcos river, a non-native horn snail. I used to put them in aquariums when I lived there.

 

[The Snark]

My dad was gardener of 5 acres in So. Cal. His main pastime seemed to be stomping snails. My friends and I helped. We had snail splat against the garage wall contests, snail fights, invented a snail catapult, modified a slingshot to snail zap passing cars, dropped snails off the roof of a 3 story building for, usually, non malicious reasons, and even collected them on occasion for a friend of my dad who ate them. I'm sort of glad they weren't the 1/8th pound truckers found in Thailand. We would all have done time for various snail related mayhem.

 

[Dan Wulf]

I get the feeling Schistosomiasis is pretty common around here. None of the locals will touch the snails and kick them away with their feet when encountered. Even the kids avoid them. Cultural thing dating back centuries of avoiding commonly suspected disease carriers.

Several countries - specifically in Asia - are now free of human schisto. And the distribution of schisto in Thailand is not what it used to be:

"THAILAND
Infection with S. mekongi is limited to two areas: The first is present in the region of Chongmek (near the confluence of the Mae Nam Mun and the Mekong rivers) in Ubon province on the border with Laos; the second is present in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat in towns located in the cantons of Chawang, Chang Klang, and Toong Song."

Source (2012): http://www.iamat.org/pdf/World_Schistosomiasis_Risk_Chart.pdf

 

[Dan Wulf]

I assume that species described as "mystery snails" all belong to the family Ampullariidae - also called apple snails.

As fast search revealed that only one human parasite may use these snails as intermediate hosts - and that's Angiostrongylus cantonensis or lung worm. The natural final host for lung worm is a rat. However, the parasite can infect humans if the snail is eaten raw. If I have overlooked other parasite infections please correct me.

I think we can conclude that the risk of a parasite infection when keeping mystery snails / apple snails is close to zero.

 

[Galapoheros]

My dad was gardener of 5 acres in So. Cal. His main pastime seemed to be stomping snails. My friends and I helped. We had snail splat against the garage wall contests, snail fights, invented a snail catapult, modified a slingshot to snail zap passing cars, dropped snails off the roof of a 3 story building for, usually, non malicious reasons, and even collected them on occasion for a friend of my dad who ate them. I'm sort of glad they weren't the 1/8th pound truckers found in Thailand. We would all have done time for various snail related mayhem.

You better go to the doctor!, you picked up way too many haha! Your snail fights, it sounds like that's the sps that are edible in the US, Helix? lol, "snail fights" that wouldn't be a good bug vid, even though I don't like those anyway.

 

[jreidsma]

Here are the snails, taken a couple days after I got them:
[YOUTUBE]1i4f_hgZw6o[/YOUTUBE]

I am not as worried about parasites as I am diseases other than them. Like it has been said above, most parasites that would host in a snail, need to get into a mammal through being eaten or something like. I wash my hands right after doing anything with any animal, even feeding. So its not like I will be eating them :sarcasm:

I think these are chinese mystery snails, the shells and head look more close to mine than the general mystery snail sold in pet stores. And these are reproducing through live birth so I know they aren't the ones from the store, as they have eggs.

I may be better off going to the pet store and buying some snails to start a breeding project Then I know they should be safe to put in with my fish. Or just not have snails and use the room for more T's

I will go on the aquarium forum I am a member of and see what they think. Maybe treating them with meds will make them safe.

 

[The Snark]

Several countries - specifically in Asia - are now free of human schisto. And the distribution of schisto in Thailand is not what it used to be:

"THAILAND
Infection with S. mekongi is limited to two areas: The first is present in the region of Chongmek (near the confluence of the Mae Nam Mun and the Mekong rivers) in Ubon province on the border with Laos; the second is present in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat in towns located in the cantons of Chawang, Chang Klang, and Toong Song."

Source (2012): http://www.iamat.org/pdf/World_Schistosomiasis_Risk_Chart.pdf

Thanks much for the up to date info. WHO is always so darned slow. I'm seeing one glaring flaw or anomaly. The Mekhong region is quite understandable and predictable, but how did that version of parasite make the trip of around 300 miles across the Bay of Thailand. Migratory bird transmission?

 

[Dan Wulf]

Thanks much for the up to date info. WHO is always so darned slow. I'm seeing one glaring flaw or anomaly. The Mekhong region is quite understandable and predictable, but how did that version of parasite make the trip of around 300 miles across the Bay of Thailand. Migratory bird transmission?

Hi Snark,
Good question! If we assume that the intermediate mollusc host - Tricula aperta (?) - is found in both areas, all you need are some infected human migrants from the Mekong area (or from neighboring endemic countries) who will deposit some faecal matter in the habitat of the previously uninfected population of T. aperta. No birds needed! ;-)

The alternative model will depend on e.g. birds, cars, seedlings or agricultural machines introducing infected or uninfected molluscs. In the latter case you still need infected human migrants to complete the puzzle.

BTW - where do you live? Every 2nd year or so I visit Khon Kaen University, Isaan for work.

 

[Tarac]

Is Schisto the only thing to worry about? We have had other exotic snails bring other exotic pathogens with them before, and not all have strict species-specific host cycles. Just curious. I'm not a mollusk enthusiast except when properly prepared and put on my dinner plate

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Viviparis malleatus are usually called Japanese live bearing snails and chances of you getting a disease from them in MI are less than catching something from your cat.