Pond Snails - Black Japanese Trapdoor Snails


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- Black Japanese Trapdoor Pond Snails -
These snails are non-invasive and give live birth, not egg layers that overwhelm your pond.
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Trapdoor Snail - (Viviparis malleatus)
(Viviparis malleatus)
Close to Actual Size

The Black Japanese Trapdoor snail (Viviparis malleatus) is the preferred species of water gardeners world-wide. This snail is black in color, body and shell. We ship them when they get 1-1½" long. Trapdoor snails are one of the few larger varieties that can survive the winter in Northern climates. This snail is a great asset in keeping algae under control as they groom your plants, planting pots and watergarden walls. They also cruise the pond bottom and consume decaying matter such as leaves and fish food. These are live bearing snails. They only breed a couple of times a year so don't expect them to multiply fast like regular egg laying snails. Full grown snails are around 3" long.

Order according to the size of watergarden or pond you have. For ponds and watergardens use at least 1 snail per 3 square feet of pond space. For snails to have a positive effect on algae growth you should have 20 for small watergardens and 50 or more for larger watergardens. Farm ponds should have at least 200 to have any positive effect.
When your snails breed and give live birth (perhaps twice a year) pick the tender baby snails out of the pond and rear them in an aquarium if you want to save them. Koi and other creatures find the tiny snails to be a great treat. Once they grow to an inch or so you can release them back into your pond or watergarden.

Algae's Worst Nightmare!
TRAPDOOR SNAIL FACTS
Survive in tropical ponds:	Yes	Algae eating capacity:	Moderate to High
Survive in winter climates:	Yes	Plant eating capacity:	Low
Breathing:	Gilled	Breeding:	Sexual, live-bearing
How many do you need? - For ponds and watergardens use at least 1 snail per 3 square feet of pond space. Example: You have a 9 x 12 pond. 9 x 12 = 108 108/3 = 36 Pond Snails

DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS:
Open the bag of snails and let the bag fill about 1/2 with pond water. Float or hold the bag for a few minutes and then let them into pond water after they adjust to the temperature change. They are not happy campers when they arrive! They will appear lifeless from the shock of shipping like a scared turtle in a shell. They will have some algae attached to their shells as they are grown in algae rich ponds. One or two may get a cracked shell during delivery as they get bounced around like little ping pong balls, but they will mend. We cannot guarantee live delivery on each and every one of the snails due to shipping conditions out of our control. We ship healthy and active live snails using FedEx™. When the weather is hot we strongly suggest you upgrade to one of our shipping options below. We do everything in our control to get them to you in good condition. - - -
ALIVE OR DEAD? If the trapdoor is in place, and the meat is in the shell, the snail is alive. The only true test of a dead snail is an empty shell with no meat in it. The very nature of snails can lead a person to believe they are dead. Just like a turtle they suck everything in and play dead. If they float, they are not dead as long as the meat is in the shell. They somehow got air trapped in the shells and will work it out. However some snails have a tough time getting the air out. Some people mistakenly interpret floating snails as dead snails. This is not the case at all. Have patience and in a few days they will work the air out.
RACCOONS: If you have raccoons that visit your pond they may eat them. Most county animal control offices have traps you can use to relocate the raccoons. It is not unusual for raccoons to live in the middle of very larges cities. I have seen raccoons live inside city storm drains during the day and come out of the steel curb drains at night to feed.
WHERE DID THE SNAILS GO? We sometimes get email from people who put snails in their pond and in a few days cannot see them after they disperse. The fast answer to this is that the snails are still in your pond and you cannot see them. They are almost impossible to spot as they are the same color as the rocks and gravel. One way to check is to get a fishing pole and put a lettuce leaf on the hook and lay it on the pond bottom. Come back in an hour or two and you should have snails at the lettuce.
NOTE: WEST COAST, SOUTHWEST AND DEEP SOUTH CUSTOMERS
The snails are shipped from Ohio. We cannot guarantee the live delivery of snails with our free FedEx™ Ground shipping due to cargo area temperatures that may get over 120 degrees when traveling through the desert, or in heat waves anywhere in the US. Please consider purchasing the 2nd Day FedEx™ Air option below if you want to insure they all arrive healthy.
POND SNAIL PACKAGES
FREE FEDEX GROUND SHIPMENT INCLUDED!
Compare at $3.99 to 2.99 each PLUS shipping and handling at other websites.

LARGER POND SNAIL PACKAGES
FREE FEDEX 2ND DAY AIR SHIPMENT INCLUDED!
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NOTE: WEST COAST, SOUTHWEST AND DEEP SOUTH CUSTOMERS The snails are shipped from Ohio. We cannot guarantee the live delivery of snails with our free FedEx™ Ground shipping due to cargo area temperatures that may get over 120 degrees when traveling through the desert, or in heat waves anywhere in the US. Please consider purchasing the 2nd Day FedEx™ Air option below if you want to insure they all arrive healthy.
LIVE ANIMAL SHIPPING UPGRADES TO SHIP AIR FREIGHT SELECT ONE OF THE OPTIONS BELOW You must select one of the air options now if you want air shipment for your snails. Note: You will NOT have the option to select air freight at checkout.
Ship Snails 2nd Day Air Snails are only packaged on Monday to Wednesday Example 1: You order on a Thursday... Snails will leave on Monday and arrive Wednesday. Example 2: You order on Tuesday... Snails will leave on Wednesday and arrive Friday Price: $28.00	Ship Snails Next Day Air Snails are only packaged on Monday to Wednesday Example 1: You order on a Thursday... Snails will leave on Monday and arrive Tuesday. Example 2: You order on Tuesday... Snails will leave on Wednesday and arrive Thursday. Price: $47.00

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** Pond Plants grow differently depending on where you live: If you took pond plants of the same species and planted them in different climates each plant would grow differently. This is Mother Nature at work. We guarantee all of our plants will arrive alive and healthy. We cannot guarantee that your specific location will support long term growth. Over time and experience you will find which pond plants thrive in your USDA Zone
*** We reserve the right to substitute with like plants of equal or greater value unless you specifically request otherwise in the remarks section of your order you submit. This happens almost never though, and if it does happen it is usually in regard to floating and submerged oxygenation plants.
**** Guarantee and Return Policy: Please our Guarantee and Return Policy