Have been hoarding an aquatic snail in a container placed in the toilet for the past few weeks, ever since I found it stowed away in one of the terrapin traps whilst hosing it down. Brought it home after it was left to bake under the sun for two days, and surprise surprise, it was still alive. Hardy things these snails are, I tell you. So anyway, left to its own devices in a container of clean water and an abundent supply of fish flakes, it multiplied into 4. Mum said it sure seemed like it was having a good life. The first baby died, no idea why, but the other 2 young ones look like they're thriving. So anyway, after observing that the plastic tub they call home is perpetually free from muck (unlike Plaa's tank), am going to take the risk and drop the older of the 2 babies into Plaa's abode. Done a bit of research on the net and I think these are Malaysian trumpet snails. Just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that they are parasite-free, considering that the 'mama' was dredged up from an open water body - kent ridge pond/lake, to be specific. Let's hope your God-designed house cleaner won't make you sick, Plaa!



(If it hasn't occured to you how ONE snail is able to reproduce w/o a mate, well... it's because this particular species doesn't need one. It's got both the male and female gonads and bears the young ones live. No eggs. Cool, eh? *takes a deep breath and drops snail into tank with trepidation*)

*** 5 minutes later

CRUD. I think I just indirectly killed baby snail #2. It landed bottoms-up in Plaa's tank and he just ripped off and ATE the operculum, the horny bit that acts as a plug to prevent the snail from drying out (different from the foot). Oh nevermind if you don't understand which part of the snail I'm talking about. STUPID FISH.

*** 10 hours, 20 minutes later @ 2240hrs

Aquatic snails are hardy creatures. Baby snail #2 is still alive and does not seem to be crippled. Will have to come up with a strategy to introduce new things into Plaa's home. I think I shall start with a water plant next time.