Puffy head?

[Deleted]

Hi,

One of my snails has had a swollen looking head for a few weeks. By head, I mean between his eyes. I'm not sure if that makes sense. It's like a large bump that almost looks like it's going to burst which makes me very nervous. Please help..

[etana]

This is one of your Cepaea, right? A few questions for you:

Does the bump ever move or look different? Did it appear at once or gradually? Does it seem to bother the snail so he squirms or won't retract? Is he eating and pooping normally?

Also a photo would be very helpful.

[Deleted]

~This is one of your Cepaea, right?
-Yes.

~Does the bump ever move or look different?
-Yes, sometimes it does.

~Did it appear at once or gradually?
-It appeared at once. It was actually quite a surprise!

~Does it seem to bother the snail so he squirms or won't retract?
-No, she seems fine. I sprayed her with water to see what she would do and she retracted fine.

~Is he eating and pooping normally?
-Yes, she ate a lot of lettuce and is pooping great too.

It's a bit difficult to get a photo but I will try because when I go to take the picture, it's almost as if the bump is moving. It's making me worried, I don't like looking at it because even though she seems fine, it looks bad.

[etana]

Thanks for the answers. That sounds interesting.

I do want to see it before I (or someone else who's knowledgeable) make more comments on what may be going on. Try to stomach looking at it for long enough to take a good picture or a few, because doing it will help you and your snail, and possibly other snails too.

[Zorst]

Agreed a good photo will help no end and I don't want to guess before I've seen a photo.

Zorst

[sparrow]

Look at the image in the link to see if this is what you are seeing:
www.petsnails.co.uk/images/care/seq001_large.jpg

[Deleted]

No, what Cera has is different. I'll try to get a picture today.

[Deleted]

I've been trying to get a photo but it's been so difficult. Could drawing a picture help?

[etana]

Is the bump still there? A drawing would be much better than nothing.

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

I hope this is clear enough, if not, I'll try again.

[Deleted]

Sorry for bumping but I would like to know if anyone has any idea what this might be.

[etana]

I honestly don't know. Sorry.
Sometimes a snail's whole head is ball shaped when eating something they really like, but I suppose this is not the same thing.

[Cashell]

I know Etana already asked this on June 12, but it's June 22 now, so I want to know if the bump is still there? Also has it mated at all? I know this is a cepaea nemoralis, but when neohelix albolabris get a bump like that, it sometimes means that they might be ready to lay eggs, or maybe the snail hit its head and got a sore bump?

[Deleted]

I haven't seen it during feeding time so I don't think it's still there. There has been a few love darts in the tank glass though.

[wolf]

Hi,
it's really difficult (near to impossible) to tell without a photo, but the description reminds me of the so called "head-wart", a gland-like organ just between the optic tentacles, related to sexual maturation. It releases at least one pheromone, it is under the hormonal control of the hermaphrodite gland and is known to change its size and form (protrusion!) sometimes, depending on its activity status. As far as I remember, it was described at first in some Euhadra species, but meanwhile it's known from several Hygromiidae and Helicidae also (Arianta arbustorum, f.e.).
Have a good time: wolf