Strombus Snails Eggs

[BigE]

A long time ago in a tank far, far away I got some of the strombus snails from IPSF... they started laying eggs and pretty soon I had a bunch of strombus babies. Unfortunately they snails started dying off... not sure why exactly but I suspect some hermit crabs where looking for new homes.
Anyways... 1 lone snail has survived for about a year now and is constantly laying eggs all over the place however none of them ever hatch. Are Strombus snails male and female requiring the male to fertalize the eggs after being laid by the female?

Thanks
Here's a pic for your veiwing pleasure....

[Rick O]

That's the first time I've seen them lay on anything other than the glass. I just got some from a friend and they are laying eggs all over the glass. I have a bunch of the babies now.

Sorry I can't help you with your question

[BigE]

Mine used to always lay on the glass when they were in the old 40 gallon. About 2 weeks ago I moved into a 80 gallon tank and since then my snail as only laid 1 egg sack on the glass and since then has laid about 30 or more on the rocks.

I'll be getting another order of 9 for 99 from IPSF in a month or two and then I should be able to confirm if another sex of snails are required to fertalize the eggs.

[Geoff]

ok, i am trying to remember by biology here on this. i believe there needs to be two. i think they are both male and female, but they cannot fertilize thier own eggs though. that is where your problem is. i am sure someone will correct me if i am wrong. if you could find another i think you would be good to go.

HTH,

G~

[sally]

You need both male and female to produce baby snails.

[125G's]

Yep, you need two. I see these snails "doing their thing" on a daily basis. My tank is in maturation mode (very few predators) so the snails are going crazy! I started with 12 about 4 months ago. (also got mine from IPSF.) I now have about 150 or so, with several hundred eggs on the glass and rock.

It's amazing how low the mortality rate is for these snails. I haven't found but one or two empty shells in the tank. Of course the rate is probably higher for the babies, whose shells are difficult to see due the fact that they're clear to milky white.

Currently selling these little guys to the LFS to help fund this so called hobby. More like an obsession if you ask me