Advice about freeing snails

[andreiamlm]

Hi everyone
I've rescued a small group of baby snails a few months ago and I've been taking care of them.

I'm wondering how do you know it's time to give them freedom?
I'm so sad about this.
Keep thinking they are not used to fend for food and they are just pet snails now.
On the other hand I keep feeling guilty for not giving them the chance to have a big space to go around and have freedom.

Please help my moral dilemma =(


Thank you 

PS: a photo of the bigger ones:

[tsrebel]

I really don't think snails mind being kept in a limited space. As long as they get their needs covered, they'll be happy. And thay do have a better chance of survival in your care than in the wild. Not because they don't know how to fend for food, but because the outside world is full of predators, pests, parasites, ignorant humans, bad weather conditions etc. There is really no need to free them before they multiply or you just can't keep them anymore.
Nice Otala lactea (I keep those too).

[moon]

I agree with tsrebel.

If you are happy to take care of them, there is no need to release them.

They will probably have more chance of survival in your care, where you will cater for their every need and they won't face the dangers of the outside world.

[barnaclesnail]

I've actually released a few wild caught snails, only to find them in such poor condition a few months later, that I ended up taking them back in. Once in captivity, they get accustomed to daily feedings and become lax about watching for predators - snails born in captivity that have never fended for themselves in the wild will have a time of it acclimating to the wild, so if there isn't a real need to thin down your herd, I'd say they are probably better off with you.

[starcrazy19]

I always felt that snails are one of the best creatures to adapt (or re-adapt) to the wild as they're purely instinctual... they don't really learn captive behaviours. If my aspersas or cepaeas lay eggs and I don't notice, I release the babies into my garden and they seem to do very well. They are more at risk of predation, exposure etc but that is part of nature and if they get eaten, then another animal gets to eat so I don't think it's such a tragedy. Best choose a rainy, mild spell of weather if you do decide to release any and try to find a spot where snails are obviously already established and doing well.
That said there is absolutely no reason to release them on wellbeing grounds, they will be perfectly happy in captivity so long as their conditions are good and you're happy to keep caring for them.

[andreiamlm]

thank you so much for all your helpful posts
It's so nice to have the opinions of experienced snails owners

I'm really happy to take care of them and I think I have manage to give them good conditions on their terrarium