The rheophile snail Ancylus fluviatilis seems quite demanding and difficult to rear in captivity. Does anyone have suggestions? I tried to keep them in flumes with circular current while feeding them with biofilm on ceramic tiles, but they always died within a short time. Any advice would be highly appreciated.
To start with, simulate the natural conditions as far pas possible in lab. Use the same source of water from where collected in your lab. Give the same range of temperature, light intensity, substratum, same speed of water current (if any) & the feed.
Not that much demanding they are. The key is to set biological system in advance. I was able to keep them alive in a beaker in a shelf hidden from direct sunlight exposure, even bred them, till losing them to changing of the sun angle. Direct sunlight killed the green algae that I used. Feed is not problematic. They are susceptible to lower levels of oxygen and to achieve this I guess one has to give as much volume as possible. Depth should be low in comparison.
Ciao Alessandra - Dalla mia piccola esperienza la temperatura non deve mai raggiungere i 10°C e l'ossigenazione deve essere quella ottimale per una trota od un temolo.
ciao Gianluigi
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