trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Oct 18, 2014 18:34:03 GMT
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Post by muddydragon on Oct 19, 2014 11:25:16 GMT
Looks liek they're doing nicely I noticed in your last photo some dried food (cracked corn or similar?) it looked like it wasn't soaked, the food really needs to be soaked so they can eat it they are likely not to eat it when it is dried and if they do the food will swell up when inside the snail (due to the addition of water within the snail) whih can dry out the snail and can lead to death. Thankfully most snails are wise enough not to eat food that is too dry for them. This may be the problem with the dried dog food. did you soak it first to make it really mushy? if not try doing that first.
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Post by etana on Oct 19, 2014 12:53:19 GMT
I second Muddydragon's advice. I always soak dried kitty/pup food for at least 30 minutes, so it expands and is soft all over. I offer it max once a week, and my snails come running for it.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Oct 19, 2014 13:23:50 GMT
They love the corn thing and prefer it...and yeah,I dont't dry it,I didn't know that.Next time I will,thanks very much for the advice. Now for the dog food...I soak the dog food first very well so it could be easy for them to eat it but they just have e few bites and leave it.So I'm asking will it's ok to try give them canned cat/dog food.Especially for my snails-I think they will like it.
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Post by muddydragon on Oct 19, 2014 13:39:02 GMT
I dont't dry it,I didn't know that Do you mean you don't wet it? I've not tried canned dog food, i would think if they dont like soaked dry food they're unlikely to like canned food as they should have similar stuff in. You'ld have to have a look at the canned food ingredients but i suspect it would be OK
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Post by etana on Oct 19, 2014 13:47:21 GMT
How much do you offer the soaked dry food, trick? My small snails eat less than one piece per snail, my biggest snail I've allowed to have max 2 at once (as I don't want him to have too much additives in his system; he gets unseasoned ground beef too so there's protein for him). Just saying that since it's "heavier" food than veg, they eat only a fraction of the volume that they normally eat in vegs. It'd be interesting to hear if they like the canned food, as there hasn't been good conversation about it here - a few forum members have attempted to ask, but there have been few replies. I don't use it myself simply because I only have snails here and the opened can would go bad.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Oct 22, 2014 19:30:08 GMT
Yes,I mean that I don't wet it,my mistake From the dry food they just have a few bites. I tried giving them canned food but they were afraid of it or something ...the one of them ate a piece of it but the others didn't even wanted to taste it. Could you tell me something that they would like.They like fish food,corn(+sweet corn),apples,boiled eggs,cucumbers...and that's maybe all they like to eat.They just refuse other food! I have a problem with the substrate,too.It dries really fast and when I wet it,it becomes too wet .I can't explain the problem,but it's maybe because the substrate is not very suitable. Here are some pictures: prikachi.com/images/595/7678595n.jpgprikachi.com/images/601/7678601b.jpgprikachi.com/images/607/7678607X.jpgLast question-are there any other calcium sources except the cuttlefish bone?I tried giving them an egg shell but they didn't like it very much.
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Post by morningcoffee on Oct 22, 2014 20:07:34 GMT
They like fish food,corn(+sweet corn),apples,boiled eggs,cucumbers...and that's maybe all they like to eat.They just refuse other food! Try sweet potato, dark green lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, butternut squash, courgette/zucchini, watermelon, carrot, mango, basil, flatleaf parsley, ground nuts (peanuts) and cashews, pumpkin seeds, soaked brown bread, soaked oats. You can also have a look at this thread: petsnails.proboards.com/thread/9416/feed-snailsI have a problem with the substrate,too.It dries really fast and when I wet it,it becomes too wet .I can't explain the problem,but it's maybe because the substrate is not very suitable. Make sure that your tank doesn't have too much ventilation that could be drying it out. Last question-are there any other calcium sources except the cuttlefish bone?I tried giving them an egg shell but they didn't like it very much. Limestone flour (calcium carbonate), ground oyster shell, reptile calcium supplements. You can use the forum search option here in future to look up info like this quickly. petsnails.proboards.com/search
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Oct 24, 2014 20:13:27 GMT
I've tried giving them most of the things that snails eat,but they are afraid of some or if they are too hungry they just try one or two bites and that's all.Today I gave them some pear and they liked it .They get used really fast to their favourite products and refuse everything new that I order them. The tank doesn't have too much ventilation(I think...).There are 12 holes and they aren't too big. I know fulicas don't like too wet environment. I really wanna know how big can they grow.Now they are as big as their parents and they are 6 months old .When I search the Internet for some fulica photos,I noticed that the white jades(like two of mine) are so small.Maybe the adults are as big as mine.If someone has fulicas,especially like mine,please tell me how big are they.Thanks ! prikachi.com/images/388/7682388O.jpgprikachi.com/images/403/7682403L.jpg
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Post by morningcoffee on Oct 24, 2014 21:16:25 GMT
It's a bit like having a picky child that's refusing to eat their dinner - you tell them "if you don't want to eat what you've been given, you will have to go hungry". The same applies to snails - don't give in and let them have their favourite foods just because they refuse to try something new. Once they've realised that other things are just as edible, they'll eat them You could probably try covering some of the ventilation holes with tape and see if that helps keep the tank more humid/moist. Snails really don't need much ventilation at all.
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rolo
Achatina fulica
Posts: 2
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Post by rolo on Oct 24, 2014 23:21:54 GMT
I really like your snails! The one on your avatar has a beautiful shell pattern
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Post by etana on Oct 25, 2014 6:13:29 GMT
Trick, re: wetting the substrate: What exactly do you do, since it gets too wet? Do you have a misting bottle? If not, they're not expensive, you can find them from houseplant sections of big stores (at least in my country).
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Nov 4, 2014 12:15:06 GMT
I think I solved the "problem" with the fast-drying substrate. But other problem appeared .The 3 snails are eating very little for the last 10 days.They don't like their favourite products,too .They are active,I don't think they are ill or something.They just eat a little bit from the food I order them.I gave them whatnot and then I have to throw it away... I just don't know what could it be.I think it's not normal for them to refuse everything or be so uninterested in their favourite thing-eating.Today they just ate a little bit of the apple I ordered them and that was all.
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Post by etana on Nov 4, 2014 17:35:23 GMT
Sorry I can't give advice on them not eating, but your snails look so lovely. Their shells are so long, too! I hope mine will grow that big. I love the snaily expressions in the pics too, especially the first two are adorable.
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Post by muddydragon on Nov 4, 2014 17:50:10 GMT
when they reach (or are close to reaching) full size they do slow down on their eating. If they are otherwise as active as normal i would not worry, they can happily go ages without eating. you could always keep an eye on their weight as well if you're worried, but i suspect everything is OK.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Nov 4, 2014 19:33:59 GMT
Thanks! On the photos they look bigger than they really are They are 6 months old now...could they be fully-grown? I can see that the brown-shelled snail is still growing,because of the color of the shell and still doesn't seem to be interested in food. Their tank isn't small or cold. Yes,they are very active,but I'm still so worried because they are pets and pets don't deserve to die of starvation
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Post by muddydragon on Nov 4, 2014 22:06:07 GMT
They are 6 months old now...could they be fully-grown? Yes it is possible the conditions rather than the age influences when they are fully grown (they always grow a tiny bit more though) the better the conditions the quicker they grow the quicker they reach their full size. I can see that the brown-shelled snail is still growing,because of the color of the shell and still doesn't seem to be interested in food. I did say or nearing fully grown. they look like they are big snails for A. fulica so it would look to me like they are nearing full size. Their tank isn't small or cold. Yes,they are very active,but I'm still so worried because they are pets and pets don't deserve to die of starvation Nothing deserves to die of starvation. However currently your snails not eating as much will not cause them to die of starvation. If you are dying of starvation you are less active as you have less energy. if you are very hungry you are less active as you have less energy, if you are ill you are less active because you have less energy as you are using your energy reserves fighting off the illness. if snails are cold they are less active and eat less due to changes in metabolism. if it's another problem with the conditions they become less active and you would know by now. If your snails are as active as before and they are not just starting to become ill, which seems unlikely as you would likely see other symptoms, then they are not having a problem with food. if you no longer need to put as much energy into growing however then you do not need as much food. it's common for snails not to eat for several days on end simply because htey're not hungry. you really should not be worrying. if they become less active or have an obvious problem with their mouth then you can worry. also if you have been feeding them better quality food recently or a more balanced diet they will also eat less volume wise as they are getting more of what they need in a smaller volume (which is a good thing). I appreciate it is worrying when you are not used to it but try not to, they do start eating less it's normal. my suggestions are keep an eye on their activity, keep an eye out for any mouth problems (colour change, size changes), you could keep an eye on their weight (you could weigh them once a week and record it for instance to see if there is a downwards trend - note if eggs have been laid though of course), otherwise try not to worry this is normal
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Post by etana on Nov 5, 2014 6:14:51 GMT
So they hatched 6 months ago?
*looks at own 4 month old, 4 cm long snail who still gets called "little baby" *
Hmmmmm. *scratches head*
Edit: I did a search around the board and apparently others too have seen some snails simply grow very slowly when they're still small (and thus they stay small for ages, till they finally hit puberty and get major growth spurts from the hormones). Trick's snails have definitely grown much, much faster than any of mine but now I'm not so worried, they (just like Trick's) have great shells & skins after all.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Nov 26, 2014 21:13:09 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2014 21:25:21 GMT
Your photos are super cute! I love them!
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Post by etana on Nov 26, 2014 21:35:14 GMT
The pic where the snail has put his head through the cucumber ring is fantastic. Very nice pics of very lovely snails, once again.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Nov 27, 2014 11:02:40 GMT
Thanks,I love taking photos of them .They do a lot of interesting things and I take a lot of pictures . I'm looking forward of getting an achatina achatina(s),but that will happen next year,when the weather isn't too cold for them to travel.
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Dec 3, 2014 18:59:14 GMT
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mangoandlemon
Achatina tincta
Animals are not a choice for me. They are a lifestyle!
Posts: 671
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Post by mangoandlemon on Dec 3, 2014 19:10:12 GMT
You have beautiful snails. Love the first photo!
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trick
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 26
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Post by trick on Dec 3, 2014 21:25:17 GMT
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