Turbo snail question

m000240 · #1 07/16/2006, 10:25 PM

So I was watching my Turbo snails last night after the lights went out, and one started rocking his shell up and down, and when it would come down a fine dust would spray out into the water. After one started doing it, all of them started doing it. What is it? What is it for?

Thanks.

Alex

DensityMan · #2 07/17/2006, 05:06 AM

Reef porn...

m000240 · #3 07/17/2006, 10:52 AM

I thought that might be the case, but they were all on separate rocks, pretty far from eachother. Well I guess if you can only go as fast as a snail you can't until you are that close....

DensityMan · #4 07/17/2006, 12:22 PM

Sounds like what you witnessed was a broadcast spawning event. I've never witnessed turbo snails get all romantic, but when the stomatella snails in my tank "get it on" it is much as you describe.

The males will release sperm and the females eggs into the water where Neptune willing they meet up and produce a tiny snail love-child.

m000240 · #5 07/17/2006, 02:12 PM

so will the eggs attach to a rock or what? Pretty interesting though, as I have had my cleaner shrimp and green hawaiian shrimp both give birth so far....a whole lot of reproduction going on in this tank.....