Mating Mollusks (OMG! Snail Porn!)
Azule (blue) is the male and is gripping Xan's (gold) shell while locked in coitus with her, trying to ensure fertilization. Xan will store his sperm until such a time conditions are ideal to fertilize her eggs and then lay them. So far, despite seeing this exact display countless times now, she has not chosen to do so...yet. (And thankfully too. I do not want a surprise snail baby explosion in my tiny 3.5gal tank.)
THE MORE YOU KNOW: Unlike most snails which are hermaphrodites, mystery (aka: Apple) snails actually have defined genders. It took me a while to figure out which one of mine was what. I felt like such a weirdo at first, but then I reminded myself that all my photo taking and lurking while my snails got it on was FOR SCIENCE! (And that made me feel better. ;P)
Mating Mollusks (OMG! Snail Porn!)
Azule (blue) is the male and is gripping Xan's (gold) shell while locked in coitus with her, trying to ensure fertilization. Xan will store his sperm until such a time conditions are ideal to fertilize her eggs and then lay them. So far, despite seeing this exact display countless times now, she has not chosen to do so...yet. (And thankfully too. I do not want a surprise snail baby explosion in my tiny 3.5gal tank.)
THE MORE YOU KNOW: Unlike most snails which are hermaphrodites, mystery (aka: Apple) snails actually have defined genders. It took me a while to figure out which one of mine was what. I felt like such a weirdo at first, but then I reminded myself that all my photo taking and lurking while my snails got it on was FOR SCIENCE! (And that made me feel better. ;P)