Tree snails

[Liguus]

Redacted

[Cashell]

Thanks for posting these awesome videos! The hunting video was particularly my favourite, and you brought up a very valid point about why it's such a bad idea to give people exact snail data locations.

[snailnation]

I just watched those today! They're super informative! I'm really excited for you to have some for sale!

[Liguus]

redacted

[finch]

Hi!
Have any of the tree snails laid eggs? You said they'd be available this year.

[Liguus]

I changed my mind about selling them.

[finch]

I see. Thank you!

[Liguus]

You didn't even ask me the reason! But I will tell you all anyways:

People are stupid. They turned this into a big marketing type thing, wanting snails without even trying to care for them properly, or wanting to get them in bulk as feeders for their reptiles. They started going out and collecting them, then killing in large amounts. Such a market will wipe out the wild populations (the only reason Orthalicus used to be legal and Liguus is protected is because there was never a collection interest in them. Orthalicus are not more numerous in the wild, they are just left alone. But not anymore due to greedy people). I don't even want to sell mine anymore because I have already seen two people ignore my directions and kill their snails. This is also why my new powder formula is secret, someone could steal the recipe and sell it along with wild caught Orthalicus. Since i will never reveal it people who catch Orthalicus will have to buy the formula powder from me, so in a way I have influence over how large their collection can get and if I see big marketing type events I will cut those people off completely.

Orthalicus also only lay 6-8 eggs each, only once per year, so any kind of "mass-breeding" for sales is impossible. (another reason people would be tempted to take huge numbers from the wild and decimate the populations).

The FL wildlife organizations are thinking about listing them as a protected species now.

So moral of the story: People done goofed, this is a complicated species to care for, the wild populations must be protected. I won't entertain any Orthalicus purchase attempts.

They also do not do very well on "smoothie mix" and will get sick eventually since it is too far away from their natural diet. The FL tree snails also do NOT eat lichen. This is a myth. I had a mix of branches from FL in my terrarium and they have not once touched the lichen on it. The powder formula is the only way, so don't even try anything else.

[finch]

Ohh, that makes sense. It's nice to see that you care enough for your snails to keep them safe from bad people!

[Cashell]

Liguus It's sad to hear about people treating the snails like a joke down there. And a question: if Florida tree snails eat lichens, fungi, and algae off trees in the wild, why do they stop eating it captivity?

[Liguus]

They don't eat lichen in the wild. I've spent hours and hours in their habitat. Barely any trees have lichens on them down there in the first place. They do still eat sooty molds/bacterial/fungal films and algae films on the trees. It is hard for most people to grow enough sooty mold in captivity though, and the algae that can be purchased are either the wrong kind + they cannot survive on algae alone as the bulk of their diet has to be another key ingredient.

[Cashell]

May 19, 2017 5:08:36 GMT Liguus said:

They don't eat lichen in the wild. I've spent hours and hours in their habitat. Barely any trees have lichens on them down there in the first place. They do still eat sooty molds/bacterial/fungal films and algae films on the trees. It is hard for most people to grow enough sooty mold in captivity though, and the algae that can be purchased are either the wrong kind + they cannot survive on algae alone as the bulk of their diet has to be another key ingredient.

I see.