Is that one of the back-fanged tribe? > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas E. Eichhorst [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:57 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Limacus flavus and a human being > > Well, since no one asked, the Opheodryas vernalis referred to by Paul is > the > smooth green snake. A gentle little creature no bigger around than a > child's finger - a small child - like a small two year old. They do not > eat > slugs that I am aware of, but I wouldn't be surprised to see slugs and > small > snails on their menu that mostly consists of bugs. Thousands of these are > collected each year and sold to unsuspecting people who see a small, cute, > quite pretty snake. All, or at least 99% die. They are extremely > difficult > to keep. I have a friend who is one of the few people I know who has had > success. His is used in displays we do for the park service and others on > native herps. > > As for the shell part. Just to report to folks. I (as all of you know > and > probably do not want to hear again) have been working on a nerite book. > In > conjunction with that, Harry Lee was kind enough to send me some live > Vitta > usnea (better known to most as Neritina reclivata). I put these small > nerites in two fish tanks and they have done very well. After a week of > eating the algae off the glass they started laying eggs. There are > hundreds > of eggs in both tanks. None have hatched as yet - I expect a three to > four > week period will be needed. There is some added interest here as I have > read this is the only nerite with direct development instead of hatching > into a free swimming veliger. So we shall see. > > These are not the only nerites to find themselves in fish tanks. In > Singapore they sell Vittina coromandeliana (a white and black guy often > sold > as Neritina zic zac - there is no such creature). Anyway, these are sold > to > go in fish tanks. They are rather striking looking and I am surprised > they > haven't made it to the pet market here. > > Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA (new puppy added to the family, likes to > sniff the bags of shells but so far hasn't taken off with any) > > > Emilio, > > Hate to burst your security bubble, but a co-worker of mine received a > sizable settlement after finding a piece of an Opheodrys vernalis in a CAN > of green beans. You may not know what that is, but Tom Eichhorst does :-) > > Paul M.