I was at the fish store today, and I saw GINORMOUS snails. Closer to softballs than baseballs. So I'm thinking they're Canas. But the sign said "Big Apple Snails." So a couple of questions for you: Do Apples get that large? Or, if they're Canas, is that their max size? How old would one assume said snails to be? Do Canas and Apples need 2 sexes to reproduce? And finally haha, I saw a few snails with their little trap door things almost shut, kind of lying there on their sides. Is that a bad sign, or are they just chilling? And also, they were $12.99 each. This sounded like a great deal, am I right? It's really hit-or-miss with that store, kind of arbitrary pricing... Thanks.

Yep, they sound like canas That should be about their max size to. They do need a male and female to reproduce but if you get a female its possible that shes already pregnant, they can store sperm for several months. I'm not sure how old they might be though.

prolly canas. as with the male female thing. i heard some stories about them changing sexes but im not too sure becuase i hear they dont from some and they do in others. look at applesnail.net for lots and lots of info. as for the price it seems ok but i bought my snails from a large petstore chain for $1.50 each. they were all amall brigs thou

The price is ok. I bought my big cana for $10 but now the store is selling them for $11.95. Go figure

Canas will run about 10-15 buckes each, while brigs will run about two dollars. Brigs get about the size of a pingpong ball, while canas get the size of a softball. Brigs also come in wild colors such as blue, jade, different shades of purple, and chestnut brown. Canas do not come in all these colors at all. Also, canas will eat your plants, while brigs will not touch them unless they are dead or dying.

Both Cana's and Brig's are in the Apple Snail Family. Apple Snail's do NOT change sex.They are either Male or Female,but can not be both.That is fact.

Yup, ditto Devs!
Apple Snail is the umbrella term for the whole family, within which there are quite few different types; Insularum and Haustrum can be even bigger than Cana's although you are less likely to find these in the lfs. The snail site Devs mentions will give you diagrams to help identify type.
I love snails and find them so wonderful to watch. Good luck with them.
And don't forget they need food. The pet stores often tell you they eat the algae off your tank; that's why they're always half dead in the pet store!!!
Pixie