Big Lump on her head!

[lifewithsnails]

So, My snail, Latte who is a Helix Aspersa has a big lump inbetween her to eye stocks on the top of her head, it is weird. I woke up to it randomly, but she didnt have it last night. The bump gets smaller and bigger but it doesn't seem to have a bug inside of it either. Latte doesn't seem to care, as if she doesn't even know that it's there, she just goes on with life, she retracts fine too. I've heard of something called a head wart but I don't recall reading about it begins on Wild caught Helix Aspersas... I'm very worried about her. 

[HazelSnail]

Not sure what that could be... I'm sure that pictures would help others to identify the problem.

[lifewithsnails]

Jun 7, 2016 1:10:15 GMT HazelSnail said:

Not sure what that could be... I'm sure that pictures would help others to identify the problem.

Yes, I can't figure out how to get pictures up though, and I use my phone mostly in this forum...

[HazelSnail]

I use imigur to upload photos to, and then copy the link to the forum, works on a phone, too!

[lifewithsnails]

Jun 7, 2016 1:26:31 GMT HazelSnail said:

I use imigur to upload photos to, and then copy the link to the forum, works on a phone, too!

Ok, I tried the photo

[lifewithsnails]

So, now I don't see the bump, as if it was just, there and then gone...

[wolf]

Hi Tahlia,

I think you might well be right in assuming that it is a "head wart", but it's really difficult (near to impossible) to tell without a photo. The "head-wart" is 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 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

[lifewithsnails]

Jun 7, 2016 9:43:41 GMT wolf said:

Hi Tahlia,

I think you might well be right in assuming that it is a "head wart", but it's really difficult (near to impossible) to tell without a photo. The "head-wart" is 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 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

Ok! Thank you! I can't seem to upload my pictures right now, but I have a picture of them on my Instagram @/mypetbugs . And, is it possible for a head wart to be found in a Helix Aspersa (Garden Snail). 

[wolf]

Hi Tahlia,

thanks a lot for your picture. Indeed, the swelling between the optic tentacles looks very similar to the head warts I've seen in other species, but of course that's not a proof.......... . I don't know whether Cornu aspersum (= Helix aspersa) has a head wart, but this organ is found in some species of the same family, the Helicidae. So: maybe......... .
Keep on watching and don't worry............. .

Kind regards: wolf

[minineko]

Mine does that too, it comes and goes. Looks a bit weird but i think he's ok

[lifewithsnails]

Jun 7, 2016 17:30:19 GMT minineko said:

Mine does that too, it comes and goes. Looks a bit weird but i think he's ok

ok, thank you! The swelling is gone and has been for around a day now, so that is good. I'll keep watching!

[Cashell]

I've witnessed this bump in cepaea nemoralis and neohleix albolabris. As Wolf mentioned, it's related to sexual maturity and the fact that neohelix albolabris in particular lay eggs sometimes after it appears proves this.