Releasing babies.

[shaydeesnail]

Well my Cepaea have been pretty busy, and I've got well over 100 babies to release.
When do you guys think is the best age for them to be released at?
Also what month is best in the UK?
Thanks

[vallery]

Hi shaydee ,

I released my babies today some were a few weeks old and older I had hundreds from collecting them through the winter and collecting the eggs in a container to hatch.

I made a snail sanctuary in my garden along the fence and put everything along that area that attracts snails I put a line of dead dried leaves. and a long area of earth in front. I released the babies into the leaves and buried eggs I had collected in that line of earth close enough so when they hatch the can go right into the leaves.

I tucked some food along in the leaves a bit of cucumber and fish food there are already a lot of wild snails living in there and there is brush along that fence and when it rains they all slide up the branches.

But I am in Canada so I don't know the best time in the UK.
vallery

[pickalilly]

Well, I tend to keep them (Helix Aspersa for me) until they can be handled safely - so normally at about 3 months old I release them. In your case, maybe release them in, say, August. That way they can have a few months to get used to living wild and fatten up before hibernation.

[shaydeesnail]

Thanks a lot! I think late July/early August will be perfect for these guys, after a rainy day! I'll be sad to see them go... over 100 Cepaea already hatched and a few more clutches to go, a clutch of aspersa and a clutch of Monocha cantiana still waiting to hatch, I've really got my hands full! Even after releasing about 20 Garlic snails juves and babies!