The snail, Cap'n! She's smoking! (pic)

[Fountainhead]

OK. So I'm staring at the tank just before the lights come on, and I see what looks like a puff of smoke emanating from a snail. Odd. Maybe it's pooping. I guess I don't know what snail poop looks like. Then it does it again, and again, and again. Looks like it's sending up smoke signals. I go grab a camera, and take a couple of shots. What the heck is this? It went on for awhile, and looks just like smoke (or what smoke would look like it it weren't under water anyway). It doesn't stay clumped together like globs of stuff, but dissipates almost immediately. See the picture below. The stuff looks white, not blueish as in the photo.

Is his engine burning out or something? Did I work him too hard? What regular maintenance does a snail require? Any ideas?

 

[gjh289]

I have no idea, but nice photo.

 

[vanmo92]

My best guess is that its spawning.

 

[moobar]

They do that in my tank too, i don't know the "technical" aspects but i guess they are trying to breed (very nice pic btw)

 

[CaptainPicard]

You should name that photo "Puff Puff Give"

 

[Fountainhead]

I guess spawning makes sense. The thing is still at it. Crazy.

 

[Henry22]

Its spawning

 

[nmprisons]

those are great photos. mine have done that too, but never for an extended period of time.

 

[Ciarán]

Spawning - they find a nice ledge in the current, make themselves really rigid, extend their siphon and bang, pop goes the weasel. Nice shots!

 

[scarter]

keep an eye on the glass when the lights first come on, youll see the little baby's in about a month