OK, I did not know that these snails could do this..... my gold "mystery" AKA-apple snail has flown the tank this evening. Can't find him/her/it in there anywhere (a 30g) and usually it's out crawling about scooting around the tank really fast. It was growing up too - over 2" already! Not hard to find!!
There IS an opening at the back by the big hang-on-back filter now that I look hard with a snails'-eye view, where it could have crawled on out.... how do I close this up? (It's a typical cover with plastic at the back that snaps out to make room for HOB filters) Just in case I find it, and it's still alive.... that is.... plus I want to have my baby BN plecos in this tank eventually and I need to be sure it's safe. Can they crawl out ever, too? Yikes!! Plastic wrap and duct tape?
I hope I can find him... alive or dead there should be a shell around here SOMEWHERE... and I read online tonight that they are part amphibious and can survive a drought by packing into a mud puddle and closing up until conditions are better... so do I have any hope of finding it alive?
I feel completely dumb. I really really liked that little guy I was putting algae wafers in for him to munch on too, so it wasn't a "hey there's no food in here" issue. I guess he just went exploring? How far from the tank could he get before deciding "outside" was a bad idea and closing up? Or dying? IE do I have to search the entire 2600 sq ft house or just the family room...?
I feel especially dumb because this isn't the first sheepish thing I've posted here... but maybe others with these snails (who are new and don't know) ought to know and make SURE your lids are very safe.
Linda
