FishWiki

This week we're taking a brief look at apple snails (Ampullariidae).

This family of snails is commonly known as the apple or mystery snails and contains some of the largest snail species on earth. They can be found all over the world in tropical regions where periods of drought and high rainfall occur. Habitats include ditches, ponds, swamps, and rivers. Some species of apple snails are cultured for human consumption which has led to them escaping farms and becoming an invasive pest in many countries.

These snails have a lung and gill system which makes them amphibious, and several genera lay calcareous pink egg clusters above the water. Unlike some other snails, this family is not hermaphroditic and the snails are either male or female. During dry spells they shut their operculum tightly to conserve water and bury themselves in the mud. The species commonly found in aquaria come in many different colors from brown to albino or yellow and even blue, purple, pink, and jade, with or without banding.

Sources:

• http://www.applesnail.net/
• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/84112-Ampullariidae

The fish of the week is the axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum).

Axolotls once inhabited the freshwater canals of Mexico, particularly lakes Xochimilco and Chalco. Now, they're extinct in the wild, with the last alleged sighting being in 2019.

These mole salamanders never grow up; they're neotenic so they remain in their larval, aquatic state throughout their lives. The exception to this is an interesting gene that forces metamorphosis.

They can be found in a variety of morphs (colors), including Leucistic, Melanoid, Copper, and Green Fluorescent Protein! Axolotls grow up to 12" long, and in captivity require 30+ gallons of water per axolotl.

Axolotls have gill stalks covered in soft filaments, legs with 4 or 5 toes, and a long, muscular tail. They also boast a fascinating ability to regenerate body parts, even entire limbs!

This non-annual killifish is native to Cuba where it is found mostly on the western side of the island in densely planted fresh and sometimes brackish waters. They prefer to swim near the muddy bottoms of slow moving or stagnant pools.

Males are usually 3.6 cm (1.4 in) in length while females are slightly smaller. The males are more colorful and become especially bright during breeding. Females can lay up to 10 eggs a day by depositing them individually on plant leaves. Most of their diet consists of insect larvae and microfauna. They do well in aquariums but are not commonly found in the hobby.