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Shelldon, my golden apple snail, has been doing swimmingly lately. I slipped some lettuce in the tank earlier this afternoon to see if he would eat it, and so far nothing I think part of this was because the bit of lettuce floated on the top, so I've relocated it so it's against the aquarium, for easier eating.

While I'm not sure if he likes this lettuce, that's not the main problem. I've noticed in the past day or so (before adding the lettuce, mind) Shelldon has been occasionally making his way to the surface of the tank. There, a fingerlike apparatus sticks out of his shell and above the surface. After a few moments of his body's shaking (like a cat about to bring up a hairball! (), he very calmly snails his way back down to the bottom.

Is this his way of telling me there's not enough oxygen in the water so he's got to breathe at the surface? I did a 25% water change this afternoon, but tonight he did it again. Other than that, though, Shelldon's doing well - I just wasn't sure if this was "normal" snail behavior

I would try other foods such as algae wafers, bottom feeder tablets, blanched zuchinni / squash, etc. Lettuce really has no nutritional value. I can't pay my snails to eat it.

As for breathing above water, that is not strange. If your snail does it continuously for long periods of time it might be an indication, but if it's just doing it from time to time for short periods, I wouldn't worry about it.

The siphon is a normal part of the snails respiratory organs-check this out:http://www.applesnail.net/content/anatomy/respiration.php

Thiat is very normal. It does not indicate lack of oxygen, it's just what apple snails do. In the wild they even come up on land sometimes.

Whew! Thanks everyone...I was starting to worry a teensy bit ^_^

As for the lettuce - yeah, he didn't touch it I've heard from several people that they prefer zucchini/squash for their snails...I probably should've just tried that in the first place

Shelldon, my golden apple snail

i just think it is kinda interesting that you name your snail!and yes this is very normal the snails at my lfs do it all the time!

I name all my animals...I'm weird like that

Maybe hoping they won't up and die on me if I name them first

I think it's great you named your snail! I love the name too! So fitting for a snail. I name all my animals too. I even named my ghost shrimp. :88)