Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 19:56:05 GMT
I've been giving the babies fresh food and calcium but instead they all turn on each other. I cut some apple and gave it to them, I placed them on the apple one by one. Some noticed and preferred to crawl to the apple instead of me handling them. They were all spread apart by at least one inch and I waited a few minutes. When I came back, 3 baby snails ganged up on a other and started rasping on all parts of him/her. I took a Q-tip and separated them but then another few started doing the same thing. They ignore food and just crawl around and when I pick them up, they bit and bit and bit at my flesh so I put them back. They are in the adult tank because I find that it is easier for me to handle them and keep track of their behaviour. The adult snails don't even care, they just hang out at the top and the baby snails at the bottom. They've got calcium but I don't see them eating that either and some how they are growing? Some have gotten really huge in a short space of time. They poop a lot but yet I don't really see them eating much. Could they be eating some dirt of something? I think they are hungry but I can't give them eggs because my mom does a lot of baking and stuff, she needs them. Is there another meat source so that they don't eat each other to death? I am seriously getting tired of all this cannibalism. I know it's natural for them but I am down to 30 (give or take) baby snails now. I am pretty sure there are more dead ones because some haven't moved for days even thought they have been sprayed and moved several times. Please help, I feel pretty clueless at this point.
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Post by muddydragon on Dec 19, 2014 20:29:07 GMT
I'm sorry to hear about this.
other protein sources you could try:
Dog or cat food (dried stuff soaked is good), Mince meat, soaked fish flakes, seeds such as sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. (there's others i'm sure i'm just having a blank moment)
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Post by kb.trekkie on Dec 19, 2014 22:09:26 GMT
That's strange. What species of snail are they?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 3:49:02 GMT
That's strange. What species of snail are they? They are Cepaea snails. The ones with the stripes.
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Zorst
Achatina tincta
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Post by Zorst on Dec 20, 2014 7:59:52 GMT
I have loads of Cepaea snails babies to adults, and don't have any real problems with them eating each other. Sure this is normal behavior to a degree but it sounds like your getting this in excess.
Cepaea naturally eat aphids you'll often find them up in trees after the black fly, green fly and white fly. I often find the babies in the wild up in the bushes n trees and this is a protein food source that they do seem to use. It was a scientist friend who told me about this and certainly explained why they were all over the huge rose bushes we have growing wild in the hedges here and the ash n Rowen trees.
As a result I made sure the Cepaea that I have in captivity all have a good source of protein. Often I will put cooked but unseasoned bones with small bits of meat in there tank n its stripped clean in about 48 hrs. I'll also give them chopped up small amounts of meat again that has been cooked but unseasoned.
The fish flakes didn't go down so well nor did the cat food or biscets. But fish again cooked but unseasoned does get eaten pretty quickly.
That and just plain hard boiled or scrambled eggs mashed up. But I don't leave this in the tank for more than a day due to the smell if its not all eaten.
Why not buy yourself half a dozen eggs and keep them just for your snails. You can always give the ones you don't use to your mum for cooking.
Veg wise I also give them higher protein foods, the one that always go's down well is sweet potato. I tend to keep the babies in a smaller tank so that I can keep a better eye on them and I also make sure that they are fed protein a minimum of twice a week.
Hope that helps you some
Zorst
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 12:56:15 GMT
Thanks so much! It helped a lot and I will try something this weekend.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 14:46:09 GMT
Are almonds okay as well? Can snails benefit from it in terms of protein consumption?
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Post by morningcoffee on Dec 20, 2014 15:22:04 GMT
Are almonds okay as well? Can snails benefit from it in terms of protein consumption? They're fine as long as they're not flavoured in any way. Many of my snails have absolutely loved nuts including almonds, peanuts, cashews and walnuts
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