Scores of mentaiko-like snail eggs seen along Lower Seletar Reservoir

The eggs belong to an invasive species.

By

Natalie Ong

October 08, 2024, 01:20 PM

Elsa Xu and her daughter were taking a casual stroll around Lower Seletar Reservoir when they found themselves amidst an unusual sea of pink.

These vibrant pink blobs are none other than the eggs of the invasive golden apple snail species.

In a post to the Nature Society Singapore (NSS) Facebook page on Oct. 5, Xu shared that the eggs were "scattered everywhere—along the bank, on the rocks, and even on the reeds."

The "alarming" sight spurred her to send an email to national water agency PUB to alert them to the situation.

Xu also spotted a large bag of golden apple snail shells.

Many netizens were equally shocked to see the spread, with some highlighting the implications of the eggs on humans and the physical environment.

Others warned against the toxicity of the eggs, and advised against physical contact.

Presence of eggs does not affect water quality

The presence of golden apple snail eggs along the banks of our reservoirs is not an uncommon sight.

In a Facebook post by PUB in 2021, the agency assured that these eggs are "regularly remove[d]" as part of maintenance works.

"The snail eggs do not affect the water quality of our reservoirs", added the agency.

Mothership has reached out to the National Parks Board (NParks) and PUB for comment.

More on the invasive species

According to a biodiversity guide by PUB, the golden apple snail, scientifically known as Pomacea canaliculata, is up on the ranks of the world's top 100 most invasive species in the world.

What makes the population hard to control is the species' rate of reproduction.

These snails produce between hundreds and thousands of eggs at once, which hatch within two to three weeks.

Believed to out-compete native apple snails throughout Southeast Asia and in Singapore, the golden apple snails are also notorious for destroying banks due to their voracious appetite.