xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6 
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Post by xbcx on Apr 17, 2014 14:02:13 GMT
(unable to post in I.D. section, hope its ok to post here) I found this snail in a bag of Asda Organic Spinach. It says on the bag that its produced in the UK, but also says the country of origin is Italy. So this little chap has survived quite a journey, been shipped about sealed in a bag. I have kept him safe till I am sure Winter has past. Is it ok for me to release him into my garden (in Yorkshire). I have tried to ID him and think he may be a White-Lipped snail. He is quite feisty and bubbles and squeaks if I pick him up. I pretty much leave him be and don't handle him, because I don't want to frighten him. Kids have named him Stanley. I think we have grown quite attached to our brave little traveller.  |
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Post by morningcoffee on Apr 17, 2014 14:20:50 GMT
Hi xbcx, Can you take some more photos of the snail from other angles, showing shell shape, underside of the shell, whorls, etc? Unfortunately it's not easy to ID a snail from one angle, if you can take some more with more detail we may be able to help  What size is he? |
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xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by xbcx on Apr 17, 2014 14:24:47 GMT
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xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by xbcx on Apr 17, 2014 15:01:10 GMT
He complained a bit, but he was too nosey for me to get a picture of his shell underside.
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Post by morningcoffee on Apr 17, 2014 16:00:30 GMT
Hi xbcx, Great photos, thanks a lot!  Pretty sure he's a Helix aperta. These are generally found in the area near the Mediterranean Sea (Italy, Sicily, Greece, Cyprus etc), and we don't have them in the UK, so I'd recommend against releasing him in your garden here. The best thing to do would be to keep him as a pet if you're still happy to do that, or failing that if you don't want to keep him anymore, someone on the forum may be willing to take him and keep him as he's a species that's not commonly kept to my knowledge |
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Post by muddydragon on Apr 17, 2014 16:09:40 GMT
hes not a white lipped snail (if you mean capea hortensis), im sorry i cant help much more with IDing him however. I wouldn't release him until he's IDd as it's likely he's not a UK native and releasing him could be very bad for the environment especially if he is carrying eggs or can reproduce asexually - assuming he can survive out there (which he very well may not be able to if he's an italian native). We can help you with suggestions to look after him to make him a permanent member of your family if he's not native to the UK. Alternatively if you do not wish to keep him permanently i'm sure there will be no lack of volunteers on here to rehome him Edit: sorry MC didn't see your post when i made this one. I agree with MC on what she says |
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xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by xbcx on Apr 17, 2014 16:44:46 GMT
Oh wow, how very exciting. I have had GALS in the past so I am more than happy to keep him. Fate has brought us together hehe.
All advice on how to look after him will be very much appreciated.
Thank you very much.
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Post by morningcoffee on Apr 17, 2014 16:53:53 GMT
Oh wow, how very exciting. I have had GALS in the past so I am more than happy to keep him. Fate has brought us together hehe. All advice on how to look after him will be very much appreciated. Thank you very much. Great! Glad to hear that and sure he will be happy too This species is quite commonly eaten in some parts of Italy so I'm sure he will enjoy living in the UK If you've kept GALS before then I'm sure you're familiar with the basics - suitable substrate, regular mistings with a spray bottle to keep tank moist, varied diet, and a calcium source in the tank I'd imagine it's probably plenty warm enough in your house for him but as he's from an area that's generally a bit warmer than the UK best not to put his tank in a colder room or area. I've also read that Helix aperta like to spend time underground and emerge when it rains, so make sure there's a good deep layer of substrate for him in the tank so he can burrow if he wants If he's been happy and active so far in your care then I should think you're doing it right! |
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xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by xbcx on Apr 17, 2014 17:02:23 GMT
Yes that's pretty much what I have done, housed him the same as I did the GALS. We have a tortoise and a corn snake, so I will put him in the same part of the house, as its obviously warmer there. And yes, was just reading too that they like to burrow up to six inches! So will definitely accommodate that. He is certainly bigger than what he was when he arrived, so hopefully happy and healthy. |
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Post by muddydragon on Apr 17, 2014 19:20:57 GMT
wonderful to hear you'l be keeping him You must keep us updated as to how he gets on |
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xbcx
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by xbcx on Apr 20, 2014 14:59:28 GMT
wonderful to hear you'l be keeping him You must keep us updated as to how he gets on I will and Thank you. Just waiting on delivery of a nice deep tank for him. Interesting observations so far is that he rarely fully surfaces and travels around just beneath the surface of the soil, poking his head out to munch. Also he is very 'vocal' if disturbed. Fascinating little fella! |
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Post by brunni on Apr 21, 2014 16:59:55 GMT
I'd agree with morningcoffee on that identification.
Must have arrived with the spinach from Italy !
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Zorst
Achatina tincta
Posts: 734
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Post by Zorst on Apr 23, 2014 6:21:33 GMT
Glad to hear that your keeping him, and he sounds fascinating to watch. Keep us posted on how he gets on living in the UK, he's one lucky snail.
Zorst
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