Where to find Helix (garden snail) babies?

[dariodee]

Oh boy, a snail forum!

First post.

So, I've been searching for baby "garden snails" (helix somethingoranother) but I can only find adults and younger ones. Lots of them. Where do you find babies?

Are there babies this time of year? (I'm in Southern California.) I looked up that question online, but found 2 different answers: babies hatch in spring and summer, and babies hatch in fall and spring. lol...

[coyote]

Welcome to the forum. You can find baby Helix aspersa snails where you find adults, but they are so much smaller it'll be hard to see them unless you are lucky. This time of year is a little late for babies, but in southern California the hatching season might be extended due to the milder climate.

Is there a reason you want babies instead of the younger ones you've been finding?

[dariodee]

Thanks.
Yup, I'd like to take pictures of them, because they're remarkably cute. I guess I'll be looking a little harder.

[coyote]

Ah, I see. You could try looking on the undersides of leaves. Try looking on a cool night after rain or when dew is forming. You could also try placing a flower pot on its side and then looking inside it for any snails that might have sought shelter there. With luck, some babies will be included.

Looking forward to seeing any pics you might take!

[dariodee]

Sure!
Snail pics here.

I briefly looked for baby snails again, but didn't find any. Considering that I don't find any that are smaller than about 1/3 their adult size, I'm assuming perhaps those are the youngest that there are right now. Oh well... more will be hatching in a few months, I hope.

[foghog]

good pics, looks like you have a lot of fun with photography and are good at it.

[coyote]

Very cool pics! Thanks for posting the link!