m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24 
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Post by m00n1e on May 1, 2017 22:32:59 GMT
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Cashell
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,124
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Post by Cashell on May 1, 2017 22:44:24 GMT
Post a picture of it by using an image site like photobucket or imgur. I have a feeling that it may be a tropical species, so you definitely should not let it go, but keep it till it dies. Continue to monitor it, and make sure there are no rocks, sharp objects or a high ceiling height to make it fall from afar. I'd recommend cuttlebones for the calcium.
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 1, 2017 22:50:25 GMT
I will have to post the photos once I'm home I can't from my phone
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Post by jroberts on May 1, 2017 23:06:04 GMT
I bought a bag full of bananas at the grocery store and when I got home I noticed a snail was in the bag (poor thing had a crcaked shell) the journey must have been trying. I live in the US and the bananas came from some where in south america, what a trooper. Anyhow initially I thought the snail wouldn't make it, after finding this website and learning how much they can survive I decided to try to make him comfortable to see if he could live through the injury. Within just a few days he was checking out his temporary home. Upon looking up tips to release the snail I have come to the conclusion that I should keep it I believe the snail is illegal to own where I live but it would be far worse to release it. Besides I have grown slightly attached. I'm also worried the shell will never fully recover and he/she just has better odds in captivity.. providing I do it correctly. Sorry for the long story but with all that being said I have moved him to a new tank and he seems fairly content from what I can tell. I'm looking for any advise or knowledge especially concerning his crack in his shell. I have tried to take photos from as many angles as possible but I can't figure out exactly what species it is. This is an amazing story. I live in England and sadly all fruit imported to England is radiated upon arrival to the country after a man found a deadly scorpion in his banana in 2001. I wouldn't consider releasing him, simply because he probably wont survive. If he does however and is carrying eggs, you could find yourself with a foreign infestation on your conscience which "could" cause catastrophic damage to the environment. If you are able to put up a picture of your find that would be awesome. I'm sure their will be someone on hear who will be able to help you identify him and his country of origin, which in turn could give you a much better idea of how to care for him. For a broken shell id recommend sprinkling his food with powdered cuttle fish/cuttle bone. You could also place whole cuttlefish in his enclosure, but their is no guarantee the snail will go for it. Also if you can get the snail to eat mushroom this will help him to absorb and "transform" the calcium into his shell growth. (sorry, not that great with word). What you may find if the snail is fully grown and old, is that he may never repair his shell. If you don't see any improvement over the next few weeks, or if his flesh is exposed through the crack, then weird as it sounds, cover the damaged area with duck tape so the snail doesn't dry out or run the risk of further damaging his shell. |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 1, 2017 23:11:52 GMT
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Post by jroberts on May 1, 2017 23:41:20 GMT
Hi again. The photos are fine as links  if you want them visible on the forum, I recommend photo bucket. Probably one of the easier photo hosting sites to use and understand. From what I can see, its likely you have an achatina species (probably fulica). These are illegal pets in most states of america, so id advise avoiding posting any pictures of him on facebook, especially if you don't find fulica in your local area. If he is fulica, then good news is you will have no problems getting him to adapt to captive conditions, and he certainly will go for the cuttle bone. Wild caught fulica don't always go for mushroom though, so id keep his enclosure near a window so he can absorb vitamin D from the sunlight (still no harm trying to feed him mushroom). If you could post a few more picks of him that would be great, and will make definite identification easier. I have found fulica living in Thialand and Mexico and oddly enough, it seems wherever you go, fulica vary in size and colouration depending on their country of adaptation making them slightly harder to identify in the wild if their are similar species living localy. |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 1, 2017 23:47:44 GMT
If you could post a few more picks of him that would be great, and will make definite identification easier. I have found fulica living in Thialand and Mexico and oddly enough, it seems wherever you go, fulica vary in size and colouration depending on their country of adaptation making them slightly harder to identify in the wild if their are similar species living localy. I will take some more photos when I get home, I was just reading the post about how to take the best pictures for identifying. Getting some angles may be difficult due to his broken shell. I try not to disturb him too much. But I will do my best to get his features in there. |
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Post by jroberts on May 1, 2017 23:59:51 GMT
If you could post a few more picks of him that would be great, and will make definite identification easier. I have found fulica living in Thialand and Mexico and oddly enough, it seems wherever you go, fulica vary in size and colouration depending on their country of adaptation making them slightly harder to identify in the wild if their are similar species living localy. I will take some more photos when I get home, I was just reading the post about how to take the best pictures for identifying. Getting some angles may be difficult due to his broken shell. I try not to disturb him too much. But I will do my best to get his features in there. Not a problem. Just a little friendly advice though.... lose the strawberry. They contain a tenderising agent which can affect shell hardness.They are okay in small portions say once a month, but right now is probably not the ideal time while your trying to fix his shell. And NEVER feed him pine apple. |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 2, 2017 0:04:32 GMT
Thank you! I only gave it the one strawberry and it was removed the next day just because it was going bad. But I won't give it another, why no pineapple? I did not know!
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 2, 2017 1:59:42 GMT
I got home in hopes of getting some photos but he is in a difficult spot to reach. Although this makes for a good shot of his cracked shell sorry for the blur  |
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Post by Liguus on May 2, 2017 3:52:12 GMT
Has it eaten any of the fruit or vegetables or is he a picky eater? This may be an Orthalicus species (tree snail) from South America, which would require a bit more specialized diet and care. Any chance for higher quality photos, it's a bit blurry and hard for me to tell.
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 2, 2017 4:44:46 GMT
Has it eaten any of the fruit or vegetables or is he a picky eater? This may be an Orthalicus species (tree snail) from South America, which would require a bit more specialized diet and care. Any chance for higher quality photos, it's a bit blurry and hard for me to tell. This might sound stupid but would it be obvious? He crawls all over things but I don't see a significant amount missing from the food. I just have different things all over the tank. There was one time I noticed a decent sized hole bitten out of the dandelion greens I put in but most of it goes bad before it gets eaten. The shell is only about the size (of course not shape) of a bottle cap, how much should it be eating? As for the photos my very first post has my clearest ones. I will try to take some more once he moves from the hard reach corner he is hiding in. Tree snail from south america would explain him coming on my bananas. Thank you for helping |
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Post by finch on May 2, 2017 19:40:09 GMT
Has it eaten any of the fruit or vegetables or is he a picky eater? This may be an Orthalicus species (tree snail) from South America, which would require a bit more specialized diet and care. Any chance for higher quality photos, it's a bit blurry and hard for me to tell. This might sound stupid but would it be obvious? He crawls all over things but I don't see a significant amount missing from the food. I just have different things all over the tank. There was one time I noticed a decent sized hole bitten out of the dandelion greens I put in but most of it goes bad before it gets eaten. The shell is only about the size (of course not shape) of a bottle cap, how much should it be eating? As for the photos my very first post has my clearest ones. I will try to take some more once he moves from the hard reach corner he is hiding in. Tree snail from south america would explain him coming on my bananas. Thank you for helping If it's a leaf-type food, it's normally pretty obvious. I once left three leaves of lettuce in my snails' habitat, and by morning they were just shreds! If you have a mushroom, carrot or any other chunk of food, turn it over and see if it is eating the bottom. I hope I've helped! P.S.: It's so cool that you found him/her in some bananas! Has he/she been eating those? It might not be hungry right now. Good luck! -paracosmic |
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Post by Liguus on May 3, 2017 3:36:39 GMT
Yup. if this was a GALS or other typical land snail that lettuce would be shredded by morning. So I do think you have an Orthalicus species. Extremely lucky find!
I will warn you they require UV light bulbs ($20 each from the reptile section in the pet store) and a special food mix. It's $23 for a pound of it (comes as a powder and you mix it with water and smear it on the glass). May sound expensive but you smear it very thin and it lasts quite a while, especially with few snails.
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 3, 2017 6:15:20 GMT
Yup. if this was a GALS or other typical land snail that lettuce would be shredded by morning. So I do think you have an Orthalicus species. Extremely lucky find! I will warn you they require UV light bulbs ($20 each from the reptile section in the pet store) and a special food mix. It's $23 for a pound of it (comes as a powder and you mix it with water and smear it on the glass). May sound expensive but you smear it very thin and it lasts quite a while, especially with few snails. Is there a way I could confirm this or find more specific care info for the species, like what would he/she like to eat out of what I have, humidity etc? Would it possibly just be not eating due to the stress of having its shell broken? |
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Post by Liguus on May 3, 2017 7:07:41 GMT
I would need to see higher resolution pictures, or just really cut down on the blurring/ try macro mode on your camera. Any way that it would be possible?
Unfortunately the powder food formula is the only thing that works. I have been keeping Orthalicus for a few years and spoken to other keepers so I can say the current method I'm following is the only way. They will only eat a mix smeared on the terrarium walls. I tried a smoothie mix from household fruits and vegetables which they ate, but they did not thrive on it. In fact they eventually die on it.
Join our "snail enthusiasts : USA" group on Facebook, it would be easier to talk through PM there. I'm one out of a handful of tree snail keepers so I will say (and I don't want to sound arrogant) that you probably will not get much more info from anyone else. They are not a common species in captivity, and much of it had been expertimental until just recently.
P.s. Can a euro snail keeper confirm this is not a fulica? I haven't seen what juvenile fulica look like, but from what he can find online fulica shells are not striped at such an age and the foot seems wider.
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Post by kaidashade on May 3, 2017 20:24:50 GMT
I would need to see higher resolution pictures, or just really cut down on the blurring/ try macro mode on your camera. Any way that it would be possible? Unfortunately the powder food formula is the only thing that works. I have been keeping Orthalicus for a few years and spoken to other keepers so I can say the current method I'm following is the only way. They will only eat a mix smeared on the terrarium walls. I tried a smoothie mix from household fruits and vegetables which they ate, but they did not thrive on it. In fact they eventually die on it. Join our "snail enthusiasts : USA" group on Facebook, it would be easier to talk through PM there. I'm one out of a handful of tree snail keepers so I will say (and I don't want to sound arrogant) that you probably will not get much more info from anyone else. They are not a common species in captivity, and much of it had been expertimental until just recently. P.s. Can a euro snail keeper confirm this is not a fulica? I haven't seen what juvenile fulica look like, but from what he can find online fulica shells are not striped at such an age and the foot seems wider. Fulica keeper here, they're definitely not a fulica. Fulicas aren't striped like that and their shells are longer and more pointed. The stripe pattern doesn't match a reticulata either and again, they're more pointed. Beyond that, I can't offer any ideas for ID as im only really familiar with garden snails and GALS. |
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Post by Liguus on May 3, 2017 21:56:58 GMT
Thanks for the confirmation that it's not a fulica. I'm almost certain it's an Orthalicus species then. Yeah, you need to get the UV light bulbs and swap them out every 6 months and the tree snail powder formula. It will absolutely die without that. Get in contact with me (www.facebook.com/groups/snailenthusiastsUSA) for a complete care guide, he will only be alive for a week or two in captivity in his current conditions. I have more than enough to sell (and the $23 price tag is pure cost of materials only, I make no profit on it. The only reason I keep the powder formula a secret is because a market for Orthalicus was developing which would cause thousands of them to be collected and die in the hands of those not able to provide the proper care. If people can't replicate the powder, the control of the tree snails' well being and peaceful existence in the wild is back in my hands). If the care is too much, you could always mail him to me. Here are a few of my  juvenile Orthalicus floridensis for comparison: http://instagr.am/p/BTpXAufj642 |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 4, 2017 3:29:27 GMT
I sent a request to the snail group on Facebook! I am so worried now I hope he makes it I will buy the paste if its what he needs. Would it help to make him something for food in the meantime? I did notice one time he ate a hole out of a dandelion greens leaf so maybe some of that? I have two more pictures here and two more downloading but they are taking forever UPDATE also worth re-mentioning he is all smooshed on one side so you have to look past the crack to see his shell shape if that helps in identifying. I am blown away by the knowledge on this website. Identification is impossible to me based on pictures but I guess this is my first snail   |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 4, 2017 3:32:36 GMT
I would need to see higher resolution pictures, or just really cut down on the blurring/ try macro mode on your camera. Any way that it would be possible? Unfortunately the powder food formula is the only thing that works. I have been keeping Orthalicus for a few years and spoken to other keepers so I can say the current method I'm following is the only way. They will only eat a mix smeared on the terrarium walls. I tried a smoothie mix from household fruits and vegetables which they ate, but they did not thrive on it. In fact they eventually die on it. Join our "snail enthusiasts : USA" group on Facebook, it would be easier to talk through PM there. I'm one out of a handful of tree snail keepers so I will say (and I don't want to sound arrogant) that you probably will not get much more info from anyone else. They are not a common species in captivity, and much of it had been expertimental until just recently. P.s. Can a euro snail keeper confirm this is not a fulica? I haven't seen what juvenile fulica look like, but from what he can find online fulica shells are not striped at such an age and the foot seems wider. I hope these photos help! I have a bad camera but 3 more pictures are loading to my computer right now. I'm so worried now, I have had him/her for about one month now which means it is probably starving to death! |
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 4, 2017 3:41:04 GMT
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Post by Liguus on May 4, 2017 3:52:44 GMT
Yes, I'm 99% certain this is Orthalicus. I could narrow it down to species if I knew which country the bananas came from.
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m00n1e
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 24
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Post by m00n1e on May 4, 2017 4:13:48 GMT
Yes, I'm 99% certain this is Orthalicus. I could narrow it down to species if I knew which country the bananas came from. I can go to the grocery store and find out where the bananas they have now come from and there is a chance its the same. I would take any advice you can give me on its care. Should I remove the cuttle bone? The moss? The food? All still safe? Is it too moist or should it be wetter in there? Poor thing! =( |
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Post by jroberts on May 4, 2017 19:18:11 GMT
P.s. Can a euro snail keeper confirm this is not a fulica? I haven't seen what juvenile fulica look like, but from what he can find online fulica shells are not striped at such an age and the foot seems wider. Fulica keeper here, they're definitely not a fulica. Fulicas aren't striped like that and their shells are longer and more pointed. The stripe pattern doesn't match a reticulata either and again, they're more pointed. Beyond that, I can't offer any ideas for ID as im only really familiar with garden snails and GALS. Fulica are known world wide as an invasive species and can be found wild in many tropical countries. Although most captive bred specimens are not "striped", I think you will find that most wild caught specimens will strongly contradict that. If you find Fulica in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Vietnam etc, Achatina Fulica are a very common find and ALWAYS have densely striped shells just like the snail shown in these pictures. I myself used to keep fulica and can say this much. Captive fulica and wild specimens are very different in size and colouration due to years of captive genes. However even in captivity these snails can develop dense striped appearance just by simply having a rodatzi fulica mate with a common fulica. By the way, about 5 years ago i was very well known in this forum as axoloa. Anyone who recognises that name will be able to back me up when it comes to knowing my stuff about snails (having sucessfully kept and bred almost 40 species) |
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Post by jroberts on May 4, 2017 19:37:15 GMT
While their is a chance I'm wrong and your snail could in fact be of orthalicus sp as surgested by 'Helix Pomatia', I'm still confident that you have found a fulica.
You say your snail is not eating properly... well; have you ever seen a banana farm? Their huge! Their also well maintained and usually have any other vegetation removed to maximise banana trees growth and minimise lost nutritional value in the soil (if their are no other plants, the banana trees/palms get all nutrients).
my suggestion to you would be to see if he will eat sliced banana; with the skin left on (if you haven't already). If he was born in a banana farm, the chances are banana and banana flower and banana greenery are all he knows.
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if you want them visible on the forum, I recommend photo bucket. Probably one of the easier photo hosting sites to use and understand.
