Behavior Between GAL and Aspersa?

[pickalilly]

Hi,

My Helix Aspersa always sleep on the roof of their tank; and would never[/b] sleep in their substrate. However, my Albopicta always bury themselves in their substrate, never sleeping on the roof or side. Any opinions on why they do this?

A theory I have is that GALS would, naturally, bury themselves in mud or mud-like material. Helix Aspersa naturally stick to trees, walls or fences. I mean, you would never find a HA buried in the garden unless laying eggs, or a Giant African Land Snail up a tree.


Please comment and share ideas!

[Deleted]

I'm Defintly with you for the H.A! its so easy for me now because they only poo on the lid so i dont reaally have to change substrate as long as i wipe poop off Some Times i see the H.A Sliming along on the path on damp nights though

[coyote]

GALS and aspersas need different temperature requirements. If you are keeping your tank at a proper temperature for your GALS, it is too hot for the aspersa and it is seeking refuge at the top of the tank.

I keep only aspersas and they are down in the substrate all the time, and only occasionally up on the roof. In the wild, aspersas will climb up in the summertime to estivate above the hot ground.

It's not good to keep GALS and aspersas in the same tank. Temperatures that are proper for the GALS are simply too hot for the aspersa, and temperatures that are right for the aspersa will be too cold for the GALS. They really should be kept in separate tanks, and no heat mat for the aspersa. Aspersas like it cool.

[pickalilly]

Hi,

By the way, I NEVER keep my Aspersas and GALS in the same tank! The GALS are kept warm inside and the Aspersas are kept naturally in the garden with no added heat. My H.A still always go to the top even though it gets cold in the garden tank at night. I don't believe in keeping native Aspersas indoors because it is not natural. Mine hibernate instinctly in their tank and wake when they choose.

[Deleted]

I dont keep my H.A Outside not with people who break in and my doberman who will prob knock it over plus now we are getting VERY STRONG wings that have knocked over all the winter fire wood across my B.Garden! i keep mine on the window sill in the diningroom/concerventry were they are i must admit always in direct sunlight but i spray them loads in morning and loads in afternoon and i know im doing a great job as the same snail has mated twice in march

[saki114]

Well my aspersa are very friendly. They like burrowing, but usually prefer climbing on the sides and lid of the container.

[saki114]

Apr 3, 2011 18:16:51 GMT @snailgirl23 said:

I dont keep my H.A Outside not with people who break in and my doberman who will prob knock it over plus now we are getting VERY STRONG wings that have knocked over all the winter fire wood across my B.Garden! i keep mine on the window sill in the diningroom/concerventry were they are i must admit always in direct sunlight but i spray them loads in morning and loads in afternoon and i know im doing a great job as the same snail has mated twice in march

I would NEVER keep my snails outside....

[elegans]

Perhaps it has something to do with temperature requirements? Maybe GALS (what's that stand for?) like to burrow because it keeps them warm, while aspersas climb because usually the tanks they are in (plastic, glass) wick away heat and keep them cool.

At least, that's what I intuitively came up with. I'm not sure things would work that way for snails, who don't regulate their own temperatures.

My aspersa (I think, not sure what it is quite yet, as I found it in a bag of greens from the store), before I got him a proper place with proper substrate, liked to crawl around on the lettuce I gave him and on the walls of the glass pyrex dish I temporarily kept him in. Then I got him a tank with a nice thick layer of coir substrate, and he won't go on it, preferring to climb up onto the walls again. It's quite hot and humid where I live, and I'm afraid to bring him into the air-conditioned bedroom because that room gets too much sun in the afternoon.