6 replies to this topic

[Moontanman]

Does anyone know if the large Colombian rams horn snails are still legal? It's been many years but they were my fav snail but i can't find any for sale any longer. Used to be cheap and easy to find, what gives? 

[gerald]

Marisa snails are not on NC's prohibited list (but Melanoides (MTS) and Bellamya (trap-door snails) are.  Not sure if other states ban them from sale.  I'm guessing their appetite for plants has made them less popular than bridgesi mystery snails.

[killier]

The black and "tan" ones? get about 2 inches across? I have hundreds of them. PM me.

[Moontanman]

Marisa snails are not on NC's prohibited list (but Melanoides (MTS) and Bellamya (trap-door snails) are.  Not sure if other states ban them from sale.  I'm guessing their appetite for plants has made them less popular than bridgesi mystery snails.

 

I often wonder how some animals get prohibited and others do not, MTS are tropical and cannot stand cold weather even if someone did release them, probably the best aquarium snail, the trap door snails, are those the Japanese Trap door snails used to koi ponds? 

[killier]

Japanese trap door snails are the big livebearing ones they use in koi ponds. I get requests for them all the time. They are very invasive and live in most lakes that I know of in South Carolina. 

[Moontanman]

Marisa snails are not on NC's prohibited list (but Melanoides (MTS) and Bellamya (trap-door snails) are.  Not sure if other states ban them from sale.  I'm guessing their appetite for plants has made them less popular than bridgesi mystery snails.

 

Do you have any idea why the MTS are illegal in NC? 

[gerald]

Melanoides are highly invasive in states farther south (especially FL to TX), outcompete native snails, and can be an intermediate host for fluke species that infect humans.  They cannot tolerate freezing, but they can overwinter in streams or lakes with local groundwater seepage spots that stay a few degrees warmer.  They can live and reproduce in brackish water (at least 1/2 seawater, maybe higher).  The tight-sealing operculum makes it hard to kill them by dessication -- they can survive for weeks out of water; probably for months in slightly moist sand.    Check the USGS invasive aquatics factsheet on them.