A nerite snail somehow survived a week in the sun without water

Carefree_Dude

Piranha
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2011
1,226
36
81
Portland, OR
On 6/7, I emptied my aquarium to replace it with a larger one. I couldn't find one of my nerite snails, and assumed it was still on decorations. I brought the empty 55 gallon tank outside in the sun to dry out. I had removed most of the sand and as much water as I was able to.

Yesterday 6/15 I went outside, and found the nerite snail on top of the sand in the dry aquarium. I assumed it was dead, but I tossed it in the aquarium just to see. After a few hours it starts moving around like normal. It is still doing fine this morning! I'm shocked an aquatic snail can live so long out of water
 

Voze

Feeder Fish
Oct 8, 2017
3
0
6
25
That’s pretty cool, I think it might have to do with their slime coat keeping them moist enough to survive out of water for a long period of time.
 
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