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Post by alethesnail on Aug 26, 2014 5:14:40 GMT
First problem: Have any of you had snails that stopped extending an eye stock for no reason? My newest snail is doing this. Its not damaged as far as I can tell and I've seen him kinda extend it a bit.
He is normal other than that.
Second problem: My snails don't seem interested in damp fish flake food, they will eat moist cat food but that stuff kinda smells. Any thing else I could feed them that would give similar benefits?
Thanks!
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Post by cliath on Aug 26, 2014 8:36:41 GMT
How Long has the eye been like that? He could just have a bit of dirt in it.
You don't have to feed fish food/cat food all the time. I feed it once a week and it seems to be enough. But Sweet potato has a high nutrient content. I'm not sure if it's the same nutrients as fish food and cat food. You could but the flakes on top of their favourite food so they have to eat it.
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Post by etana on Aug 26, 2014 12:11:00 GMT
I second the sweet potato advice, it's good for snails and keeps for ages in the fridge. Introduce it to them by taking thin slices with a peeling knife or cheese cutter. Later they'll happily rasp at bigger pieces too. Your snails have probably recovered by now from the earlier malnutrition, I'm figuring this since the cat food has been going down well, so indeed you can start giving it more sporadically and introducing more veg.  If the new foods are well received, there'll be no need to cheat your snails to eat, but do monitor them. I don't kniw about the eye. My only explanation that comes to mind is he's fallen on it, snails sometimes miscalculate their moves. But don't worry, snails are able to grow an entirely new eye if one is destroyed, he should eventually be fine again. |
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Post by alethesnail on Aug 26, 2014 14:49:00 GMT
Your snails have probably recovered by now from the earlier malnutrition, Ugh you have no idea how horrible that makes me feel hahaha, Thanks for the advice guys! I'II go pick up some sweet potato. The eye as been like that for around two weeks. I tired gentle spraying it with water but it didn't seem to do much. Maybe its time to make the worlds smallest eye patch. |
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Post by etana on Aug 26, 2014 18:05:01 GMT
Aww, hey, I didn't mean to be mean, just stating possible facts. You feel bad because you care, and your snails are better now because you cared enough to ask for help! And that's very good. * virtual hug * Besides we've all been learners, words can't describe what else there was to snail keeping than the things I read before I had my first snail. So it's all good, just keep asking questions. Hope your other snail's eye will heal soon. Does he have a name? |
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Post by alethesnail on Aug 26, 2014 20:51:56 GMT
Yes he does! His name is Gordito. Its Spanish for "little fat one". I gave him that name because when I got him the first thing he did was start eating and he ate alot!
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Post by etana on Aug 27, 2014 4:43:13 GMT
Haha nice!  I've had some wild caught snails do that too. Might be that they're not exactly used to having food offered right in front of them with no predators anywhere. |
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Post by alethesnail on Sept 5, 2014 21:11:06 GMT
Things have been going pretty good with my snails lately. They seem to be loving the sweet potato. When I first put it in I also put in some cat food. They chose the cat food over the sweet potato, gave them just the potato the next day and they all ate it. White poop everywhere the next day! Also got a new guy in the tank. Was raining a few days back and I decide to walk out and get a coffee and keep a eye out for any snails on the way. There is this fence a few blocks away from my house that I noticed is always covered in snails when it rains out, especially babys. Noticed a big one with a cool shell so I decided on the way back if he was still there I'd take him home (didn't wanna walk in the coffee place holding a snail). Was still on the fence on the way back so now hes here! This guy poops ALOT!
Got some new cuttlefish bone in the tank. I gave them a bigger piece than last time, big enough they can sit on it. I'm not sure they are rasping on it but they will sit on it for a couple of mins. They all seem to do the same thing after awhile when on it, they will kinda tap it moving their body up and down but I'm not sure if thats them just trying to find the sides of the tank.
Gordito still doesn't use that one eye. How long does it usually take them to repair it if somethings wrong?
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Post by cliath on Sept 5, 2014 21:31:28 GMT
Glad to hear everything is going well for you. For the eye it can take anytime really. But if it doesn't seem to bother him I'd leave him be.
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If the new foods are well received, there'll be no need to cheat your snails to eat, but do monitor them. 