How to know when the snail is dead?

[TheOnlyTherian]

I have 7 garden snails I got in today from outside after a rain shower, got two big ones that look 'old' and had bits of white on their shells, like color fading? I was wondering how do I know if they have passed on and died. One of them is really slow but I really like the little fellow, it would be sad to see it pass on. Please show photos, It will help.

[Liguus]

I don't have any photos on hand, but it will be easy to tell because a dead snail smells extremely bad, even one day after dying. Smell it and you will know for sure if it's dead. Live snails don't smell.

They tend to be retracted deeply into the shell when dying, and the foot also tends shrivel and sticks out a bit leaning to one side of the shell.

[Cashell]

You'll know they're dead from some of the following signs:

- dried, shrivelled up body
- Deep retraction and doesn't come out when bathed
- Stinks
- Revolting fluids seep out of the shell when tipped
- Heart beat has completely stopped (you can see this from the shell in a certain area)
- Did I say that they stink really bad?

There may be more signs, but these are the most common.

[kaidashade]

The stench is definitely the biggest giveaway, oh boy. It smells like rotting fish, is the best way I can describe it