Thanks to all of you who answered my questions about Mystery Snails.  I decided
not to get any for the pond since I was told they might climb out and die.  Why  a
snail would do that is beyond me, but OK.... Perhaps one day I will get one for an
aquarium.

Kevin S. Cummings wrote:

> Conch-lers,
>
> I'm a few days behind in my Conch-L digests but I offer this alternative to
> the answers received to Nora's questions below regarding "Mystery Snails".
> I would suggest that they may not be either Ampullaria or Pomacea but
> Cipangopaludina chinensis malleatus, a viviparid from Asia called the
> Chinese mystery snail.  It has been introduced across the country and has
> just recently (last 10 years or so) been spotted in Illinois.  I now have
> specimens from about 6 different drainages.  The thing that points away
> from this is the color morphs mentioned in Nora's post.  All of the
> Cipangopaludina I've seen are olive brown.   Just another possibility to
> consider.
>
> Kevin
>
> >Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 12:23:15 -0600
> >From:    NORA BRYAN <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Mystery Snails
>
> >1.  Does anyone know anything about these snails - where they come from
> >etc - I didn't get a chance to really examine them, but they are on the
> >large side, over an inch high, rounded with a large body whorl and
> >apparently come in several shells colours - "blue", brown and even
> >albino. I would imagine that here in Calgary there is no danger of them
> >becoming a menace to indiginous species.
>
> >2.  I have been told that they are suitable for ponds here in Calgary
> >and that they would be effective algae eaters. Since I will need to
> >empty the pond in the fall, could they be overwintered indoors in an
> >aquarium or tub along with the goldfish?
> >Any advice or information from gardeners and freshwater snail
> >enthusiasts would be very welcome!
>
> >Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:15:14 -0400
> >From:    ejpower <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: Mystery Snails
>
> >Hi, These are Apularia sp., they are sold in black, blue, yellow or
> >gold, albino etc etc.  Most fish shops say they are Ampularia cuprina or
> >Ampularia gigas. Only the snails know for sure.  There is supposed to be
> >a website or a collector or a scientist/student scializing in these,
> >sorry I dont have a URL for that. The Ampularia sp. we have in Florida,
> >paludosa I think??, will wipe out your plants in pond or aquarium.
> >Supposedly the shops sell a species that is more benign to plants.
> >
> >Later,
> >Emilio Jorge Power
> >
> Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:41:34 EDT
> >From:    [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Mystery Snails
> >
> >Ampullaria is not a valid Genus name according to Fred Thompson in his book,
> >Freshwater Snails of Florida. The apple snails commonly sold in stores are
> >usually the South American Pomacea bridgesi and P. caniculata and not both
> >are now found in the wild in parts of South Florida. I would not suggest
> >putting any non-native species into these ponds (this is the way the P.
> >bridgesi and P. caniculata got into the waters of south florida). In addition
> >I'm not sure they would make it due to the cold since these are tropical
> >snails.
> >
>
> Kevin S. Cummings
> Illinois Natural History Survey
> 607 E. Peabody Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html