Pink snail eggs removed from Lower Seletar Reservoir

SINGAPORE – The eggs of an invasive snail species recently spotted at Lower Seletar Reservoir have been removed by national water agency PUB.

During its weekly maintenance of the water body on Oct 4, the agency saw an

increase in golden apple snail eggs at the reservoir

and later removed them, PUB and the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a joint statement on Oct 10.

Golden apple snails are commonly found in reservoirs, ponds and ditches here and their eggs are removed weekly by PUB, the statement added. The agency said it has also increased the frequency of the removals, but did not elaborate.

While golden apple snail eggs do not impact water quality, research has shown that they contain toxins that protect them against predators and may pose a risk to humans if consumed or touched with bare hands.

Also, the golden apple snail competes with the locally rare apple snail for food and shelter, the statement said.

The agencies reminded the public that releasing animals into catchments and waterways can disrupt the aquatic ecosystem.

Researcher Tan Siong Kiat, author of A Guide To Snails And Other Non-Marine Molluscs Of Singapore, said golden apple snail eggs are not often noticed here, and little is known about their impact on the local ecosystem.

Studies conducted elsewhere have shown that these snails can affect the diversity of aquatic plants and change the composition of phytoplankton, or microscopic marine algae.

Mr Tan added that the golden apple snails help control green algae and pond scum populations. 

He said it was impossible to completely remove the snail locally, and added: “It is probably more practical to target their pink egg masses, which are always laid above the water surface and relatively easy to locate and destroy.”