scarral
Achatina achatina
Posts: 99
|
Post by scarral on Mar 17, 2013 12:06:25 GMT
We are delighted to have our snails back from their first ever hibernation! And now I'm starting to wonder how to have our young snails interact with our young child, without the latter harming the former... Any suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by vallery on Mar 17, 2013 12:50:15 GMT
Hi scarral  , What species of snails do you have and can you post a few photos of them? vallery |
|
|
|
Post by morningcoffee on Mar 17, 2013 17:52:02 GMT
We are delighted to have our snails back from their first ever hibernation! And now I'm starting to wonder how to have our young snails interact with our young child, without the latter harming the former... Any suggestions? I would suggest that you hold the snails and let the child look and touch gently, but don't let the child hold the snails or pick them up on his/her own until older - but I'm afraid I don't know very much about children |
|
|
|
Post by Evil Angel on Mar 18, 2013 16:26:19 GMT
It really all depends on the child, my daughter was 1 when she started holding my snails, she was very gentle with them and held them just as I told her too, she's 4 now and helps me do all my feeding and cleaning of the tanks. But I trusted her at that age because she was always very good with our other pets, and learnt how to be gentle and not grip things too hard. But I still wouldn't trust my son and he is 2 because he's simply too excitable and clumsy and I know he'd want to grab the snail rather than simply hold it. So it really does depend on your child.
|
|
|
|
Post by tsrebel on Mar 18, 2013 17:39:25 GMT
I think it would be pretty safe to let the child hold the snail. That means you place the snail on the child's hand. Don't leave them unattended.
|
|
scarral
Achatina achatina
Posts: 99
|
Post by scarral on Mar 19, 2013 21:59:54 GMT
Dear Vallery, I think they are A. fulica. I'm attaching a picture of one of them with my hand (not a very big hand, I must add...). I guess I'll start showing them to him when they're awake in the tank, and then on my hand, and do all this slowly and in small steps. I hope he'll at some point in the near future learn to be gentle (he sometimes is with my older son, and I've seen him being very gentle with other babies, but as someone else mentioned, sometimes he gets so excited, and kind of loses control of himself). Thanks for all your comments! Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by vallery on Mar 19, 2013 22:47:30 GMT
Hi Scarral , What a beautie ;D I am sure you could start by letting them stroke the snails and have them feed them and join in on the care of the tanks at first. Hand washing is so important though before and after. I learned that one the hard way. I believe I forgot to wash my hands once before handling and working on a few of my tanks and lost a great deal of my snails. All The Best Vallery |
|
|
|
Post by Evil Angel on Mar 21, 2013 11:31:04 GMT
Ohhh lovely snaillie! Pretty sure that's an Immaculata though  |
|
|
|
Post by morningcoffee on Mar 21, 2013 13:55:09 GMT
Ohhh lovely snaillie! Pretty sure that's an Immaculata though I agree, the body looks very different from fulica. Immaculata seems like the right ID |
|
scarral
Achatina achatina
Posts: 99
|
Post by scarral on Mar 22, 2013 21:08:57 GMT
OMG! I thtought they wer A. Fulica! I read somewhere that A. Fulicas should be kept between 70 and 80% humidity, and that's what I've been doing, but A. Immaculatas need above 80%!!! How can I be sure which one it is? What other pictures can I send you? I have a picture of the parents, but their shell is, as far as I can see (and as you can see I'm no expert) is in very bad shape (I wonder why...). Would that help? I also have pictures somewhere of whe they were only a few weeks old. Should I try to take a picture of the columela?
|
|
|
|
Post by vallery on Mar 23, 2013 23:22:45 GMT
Hi scarral , I am sure any pictures would help. And be enjoyed as well. vallery |
|
scarral
Achatina achatina
Posts: 99
|
Post by scarral on Apr 2, 2013 22:05:11 GMT
Just a quick update in this topic: I've been showing the snails (when they're awake) in their tank to my 1 year old son, telling him what their names are, and what they're doing. Sometimes I stroke their shells. Sometimes he wants to stroke them too, so I gently guide his hand to touch their shells gently. Usually the snails don't seem to like it very much, but I hope they (both the snails and my son) will get used to it in time. It's sooooo sweet to see how excited my son gets when he sees them moving! Sometimes they even seem to be looking directly at us and responding in their own snaily way to what we're saying and doing, and to that my son responds accordingly!
|
|
,
