Broken shell - in a big way.

[jenns]

I am a teacher, and as part of my assignment I had to order snails for a science unit. Not a fan of treating these little guys as disposable! I intend to keep them so I don't have to order more next year. Anyway, One arrived with a cracked shell, and the next morning one of the others must have crawled over it and peeled the pieces off. I thought sure it would die, but I am about 3 weeks into caring for Vinny (had to give it a name, we are buddies now) and it seems to be recovering. At this point I have it separated so the others can't hurt it, and I want to know what else I should be doing, or if there is anything different I should do given it's condition. The habitat is a pet carrier/tote from the pet store. There is Coconut substrate and moss with a water bubbler to help maintain humidity.  There is a cuttlebone and veggies in there too.  The hardest thing in there are the walls.  Here are some pictures of it.  Any advice would be very welcome!

Day two

Day 3 or 4

About 2 1/2 weeks

[Liguus]

Usually such large cracks are fatal but your snail is recovering very well. I would just keep doing what you're doing with the isolation terrarium until his shell is repaired and growing normally again. Feeding him some protein source like unsalted dog treats or mealworms will help him along too.

[jenns]

Thank you so much, I will give the protein thing a try. Should the meal worms be dead?

[witchpig]

Probably.

[jenns]

Well, 'Vinny' as I have named it, IS still doing ok in the little hospital terrarium.  The kids come over and check on it all the time.  Here is a close up of it's shell.  It hasn't changed much or gotten any harder than I can tell.  But it is definitely having a good time! By the way, I have fixed to obvious drowning hazard.  I didn't realize it would climb up there! 


Vinny is not as fond of the cuttlefish bone as I had hoped.  It grazes on the dog treats, apparently mealworms are like caviar in my neck of the world, but I am about to suck it up and buy them anyway.  Vinny is very particular about types of lettuce, and enjoys carrots, bananas, and romaine.  The kids take pieces of their vegetables and fruits to Vinny to see if it likes them.  I hope we are doing things right for it.


The other snails we have are doing great, and have laid three clutches of eggs! I think I need to deplete the mating friendly environment, but I am glad they seem happy!


Jenn

[Cashell]

Ouch! Those cracks looked brutally painful! The fact that it survived and is feeding well shows that it's really a trooper. You did the right thing by isolating it, monitoring it, keeping the humidity in check, and by offering cuttlebone.

[brigliadore]

I have had more then a few have accidents and get a cracked shell. If they crack isn't bad enough that there are pieces I can fit back together then I fix them. If the whole shell is pretty well destroyed them I put them down. I read an article about putting plaster of paris on the shell, but all the times I have had to fix them I didnt have any on hand. The thing that hands down has worked the best? Paper towel and glue. Glue stick held the best, but elmers has also worked. Kinda like making a pinata. Put glue on the paper towel, and place small strips on the shell to hold the broken piece in place while it heals. usually do 2-3 layers of towel. Let it dry really well and then put them back in their enclosure. Mine have always gone back in with their friends and their paper towel shell holds up just fine. usually within a week the towel starts to peel off in places but by then the crack has mended enough to be just fine. Lots of access to calcium and protein during that week and every one I have treated has made a full and complete recovery.