One of my friends “Facebooked” me and asked me if I would be interested in some snails.

Her fish tank was overrun with them because they hitchhiked home with her on some aquatic plants for her aquarium. I was definitely interested. I had thought about getting fish but honestly, they are more work than I am willing to invest so when she asked about snails, I said yes!

I asked her quite a few questions about how to give them the best care possible. Afterwards, we set a date for her to drop them off for me.

With money burning a hole in my pocket, I went to the pet store and bought them some supplies to make them happy. I also gathered some shells from our shell collection and a few skulls to make their enclosure interesting for them. The next day, I had my snails.

I asked her if she knew what species of snails they were so I could start this article about them, and she said she didn’t know. Well, after doing a little research, I found out they are Bladder snails.

Not the most endearing name but I still find them fascinating.

The hitchhiker

I read that the most common way of getting Bladder snails (or any other snails) is from aquatic plants. They are “professional” hitchhikers. The article I read said the easiest way to avoid these snails is to quarantine any new plants purchased at a pet shop.

Bladder snails (Physa acuta) are an example of invasive freshwater snails. The aquarium trade, and the increasing popularity of ornamental plants are the main reasons for the spread of this species.

This species was first discovered in 1805 near Bordeaux (France) and is believed they are still native to France. These invasive snails has spread through Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South and North America.

Invasive breed

Bladder snails dwell in ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, irrigation canals, ditches, and municipality drains.

On a worldwide scale, the ease with which the Bladder snails can spread is a real concern even for governments. For example, this species is currently the second most widespread invasive freshwater snail in South Africa.

Bladder snails are small air-breathing snails. The largest size is 15 mm (0.6 inches) in length and 7 mm (0.3 inches) in width, but, in general, they barely reach 1 cm (0.4 inches).

The color of the shells may vary from yellowish to brown to black dotted with orange or yellow speckles. Bladder snails have a pair of tentacles with eyes at their tips seen as clear black spots and their bodies are gray.

Acclimating to their environment

The day after I set my snails up in their tank, I almost called my friend to ask why my snails were on their backs “swimming” upside down. I was certain they were dying until they must have seen my shadow hovering over the tank and “righted” themselves by dropping to the sand. They went merrily on as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

I read that this species will swim upside-down at the water’s surface to breath air. In case of danger, the snail can expel the air from its respiratory system and quickly submerge to the ground. I guess they must “see” me as a danger.

Good feeders

Bladder snails are omnivorous. They will eat algae, decaying organic matter, debris and waste. In the wild, they survive in industrially polluted waters and have been found living in sewers. No wonder why their common names are ‘‘Sewage snail’’ or “Bladder snails.”

Breeders

Bladder snails are hermaphroditic, which means that they have both male and female reproductive organs and can reproduce both through internal self-fertilization and through cross-fertilization (mating).

According to recent studies, they do not have a consistently preferred gender role. Gender preference may even change within an individual during the course of a mating session.

Now that is a great party trick!

Jeannie Carl is a naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. The center rehabilitates injured animals and educates the public on a variety of wildlife found in the area. For information on the Carbon County Environmental Center, visit www.carboneec.org.