Question about rescuing snails

[pearthesnail]

I was thinking of rescuing some Achatina Fulica that are being kept in appauling conditions. Amongst the dead ones and ones that look as if they drowning in their own filth, there are some live ones. These snails are RIDDLED with mites, flies and goodness knows what else- the smell is horrific. My question is: would these snails make a full recovery or are they ‘beyond help'? I read somewhere that mites can bore into a snails skin and never come out and I believe these snails have always been in these conditions. Would these snails be slowly dying? I didn't get chance to look at them closely as they were so blathered in filth and parasites. Would euthenising them be kinder?

[etana]

Wow. uh... I think I'd check them individually before determining who's beyond help. Do you know what they've been fed? If they've only been on low-energy stuff like cucumbers and white iceberg lettuce, you have to introduce new foods very carefully because their system might right out halt from sudden nutrients.
The Hypoaspis miles predator mites are very good at removing parasitic mites even from inside snails' lungs, so they'd be your best bet for that.

At least they have their bacteria, that's the one good thing about filthy snail tanks. The living ones *might* be doing better than it first seems for that reason.

Please keep us posted.

[pearthesnail]

No I don't know what they have been fed. There was no food, water or calcium source in the tank. Their faeces is black and its probably not a mixed diet to be honest. Where can you purchase predator mites in a small amount? Their substrate is mud turned to slush and they are packed in so tightly theres no space for them to do anything. Obviously they have always been in captivity but what do you recken the chances are of them carrying any disease such as lungworm in their slime? I'm new to parasites on snails as I never had problems with either of my own snails.

[pearthesnail]

Also I doubt anyone will buy them- they have been dumped apparently. Will snails die if they are left with mites for too long?

[etana]

As far as I know, the lungworm is only a real risk if you take a wild snail and kiss it (they make noise about it in papers because kids might do that). If you keep good hygiene, wash your hands before & after, maybe even wear light gloves (at first at least), you should be safe even if there have been wild caught fulica in the tank. TBH though, I'd probably wear light gloves at first anyway, if there are big fat flies in there, their maggots and such.

I haven't heard of buying only a small number of Hypoaspis, but at least when there's lots of them, they will be more sure to be able to eat all the parasites away.

Black feces most likely means they're eating and re-eating their soil in the hopes for some nutrition. Sounds like you're best off being very careful when introducing foods.

I don't know how long they have to live if left like that. Snails are surprisingly resilient. They're quite obviously unhappy, though, possibly suffering. But make sure you have the time and energy to look after them, or ask for help if you have any doubts, because they need a lot more nursing than a healthy snail does.

[pearthesnail]

Thanks for all of the advice- I really appreciate it. I don't know if I can rescue them as I can't house all 9 of them and I can't sell them on as I don't think anyone would want any normal body fulicas. They are all at different ages. It breaks my heart knowing they are possibly suffering crammed in that tiny glass box even if I did rescue one and nurse it back to health, I want to be able to handle him without any worries about the slime.

[etana]

Hmm... Let me spread the word a little bit. I will link to this thread so people can comment if they can help out.

[pearthesnail]

Thank you

[Cashell]

While etana has done a wonderful job at offering you advice, you'd honestly be better off not buying or taking them in otherwise. You should tell that seller to take proper care of their snails, or maybe even report them for keeping animals in inhumane conditions. If you don't tell them to stop, they might just keep repeating the cycle of taking in wild snails and abusing them so people can feel bad and hurry to rescue them. Confronting people can be hard sometimes, but I've heard stories of this practice many times since the time I've been following the gastropoda hobby over the years.

[etana]

Cashell has a point; I definitely agree that no one should get money or other benefits from treating these snails this wrong. They were left in that bad shape in a pet store, right?

[pearthesnail]

Hello both, yeah they were dumped apparently. That is a point. If I buy them then they have made a profit and will take more in. I would have never expected this from an exotics store. They had such a diverse range of reptiles and insects and they were all kept really well except the snails.

When I was there I gave then a few pointers (such as removing the dead snails and rotten cuttlebone, mites and the mud ‘soup' etc- the smell was awful) but whether or not they choose to house them in better conditions I don't know. I hope they do. This isn't the first lot of snails they have had apparently, so maybe that tank is only temporary for them...I hope

[Cashell]

That's just sad. They should treat all of their animals with equal respect, regardless of what species they may be.

[picklepies]

Heya, I've rescued a total of 13 pet shop snails from the same shop and have 7 living with me permanently, the rest ive found good homes for if you do decide to take them in, in all likelihood some will pass, it's unfortunately the nature of rescue snails, but I believe they have a better last few weeks with me than in the shop, where they would have most likely died within days.

Whilst it is true the shop will make a profit, I know that the one I frequent find t hard to get new snails when they sell the last of their stock, with the money more likely going to the care of the reptiles than buying more snails.

It is hard to get rescue snails back up, and it takes mine about 3-4 months before they look healthy, but they do mostly come back from those conditions with a bit of love

At the end of the day it is your choice, and you don't have to buy all 9, and you can give criticisms of their set ups, they do sometimes listen, especially if you get a staff member who thinks they're cute! Just talk like an expert and they'll test you like one if you do decide you want to rescue all of them but can't keep them, I'll pay postage and cost to take some off you if it would help?

Xx

[pearthesnail]

Hi that's great, however I wouldn't have room for any to keep and I am going away for a while so I can't nurse any back to health at the moment. Also would you want them to be mite free if I send them? As I don't know if I'd be able to completely rid them of mites

[pearthesnail]

How many would you take off me? If you can take them with mites and all I'll pay postage and packaging. I can give them a good wash to get most of them off and polish their shells and send them on with some food and calcium if that's ok? You won't have to pay a penny

[etana]

I assume this conversation continued via pm, and would really like to hear how things have turned out for these snails, if possible?

[pearthesnail]

Hi Etana

Unfortunately I went away and didont get round to rescuing the snails and since I've bought 4 baby snails just the other day (my post on them coming soon), I can't risk giving them flies or mites. I hope that someone in my city has rescued them though as they deserve a loving home