[Pogthefish]

I one day (months after I bought my snail) found a strange thing under the hood of my tank, and ants EVERYWHERE. I immediately pulled off the thing and destroyed it, thinking it I can hve snails, but I want to be SURE I'm getting a male. How?

 

[Micho]

Funny thing about snails, most species are hermaphrodites to my understanding if not all.

Meaning they can have male and female sex organs, so when two meet they have the capability to fertilize each other. A lot of people think snails are asexual, but that's wrong, asexual organisms have the ability to clone themselves. I don't think snails can do that. The main reason why people think that is because they'll get only one snail and all of the sudden, multiple snails appear. When really some species of snails can store sperm after mating for quite some time.

But I really don't get what you're asking? Ants? What does that have to do with snails?

 

[Pogthefish]

just back-story and I know the one i have is a girl cuz it layed eggs, but I want a boy. It's mystery snails.

 

[Olympia]

It's a mystery snail right?
You have to flip it on it's back and wait for it to stick it's head out. Then you can tell.. Males have this rod, thing, that's usually pretty large.
http://www.applesnail.net/content/illustrations/anatomy/male_female_differ.gif
Sexing snails image by terribryant on Photobucket

You probably will not get a chance to do this in a store.. They will probably think you're crazy.

 

[Pogthefish]

is that the only way?

 

[Olympia]

http://www.applesnail.net/content/photographs/pomacea_flagflag_sexdif.jpg
You could go by the edge of the shell.
This is much less accurate though, but it'll have to do.

 

[Pogthefish]

ok.. can you answer my breeding question for them?

http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=101097

 

[Pogthefish]

hey i got one and when he sticks out his head I can see alot of things inside but nothing that looks like your image