Back again - with 2 new GALS!

[Mweekie]

Hello everyone,

I am back again.

Unfortunately Jay-Jay and RoRo died about 2 years ago and I've had so much on since that time to get more - until today lol!

I went to The Bugfest Eastern Invertebrate Show in Bedfordshire earlier on today (first one in my area - they normally are either Kent, Bristol or Northern Ireland lol). As I was wandering round, I saw a table that had loads of snails from the Snails4You company. I wasn't planning on getting any more until next year, but Mum surprised me by buying 2 baby Albino Achatina Reticulata snails !! Apparently 1 of the snails is Mum's, but I'm doing all the love and cherishing lol.

So I am a snail Mummy again, and thought I would pop back on here to a) share my happiness (and of course - baby snails lol) and b) apologise for not being on the forum for absolutely ages lol.

I have just settled the new arrivals into their new abode and popped in a piece of carrot and parsnip, some cuttlefish bone and a shallow milk bottle top of water for them.

I have named mine Casey and Mum has named hers Squidge lol.

I will post photos up in a few days - going to give them a little time to settle into their new home.

Mweekie xx

[Cashell]

Ohhh, I can just imagine how pretty they are!

[Mweekie]

Hi Cashell

They're definitely pretty...but then I would be bias lol.

They seem to be doing OK. I have been trying them on different foods like parsnip, tomato, carrot and banana. Going to try peas and sweetcorn tonight.

Casey came out on my hand this morning, which is the first time since I got them. Squidge seems to be shy coming out, although both are active enough in their box, so I am glad they seem to be happy there. I have only had them 5 days, so still got a long way to go yet lol.

I was wondering, how do you give tiny snails a bath? Casey and Squidge are only about the size of a 20p coin?

Any help would be grateful.

Mweekie xx

[morningcoffee]

Sept 20, 2018 9:16:25 GMT Mweekie said:

I was wondering, how do you give tiny snails a bath? Casey and Squidge are only about the size of a 20p coin?

Just use a shallow dish with a small amount of warm water. Something like a small saucer or jam jar lid would be OK. Place them in the water and you can drip some over the top of their shells as well.

[Cashell]

You can either mist them or place them in a small saucer. If using the saucer method, make sure that the water level is very low and nowhere close to their breathing hole.

[Mweekie]

Thanks morningcoffee and Cashell.


I will use a shallow jam jar lid as I haven't got a shallow saucer. Will give them a bath tomorrow and will take photos to show you as well

Mweekie xx

[Mweekie]

Apologies for not updating Casey and Squidge's thread.

They are both OK, although still very small.

Squidge used to keep sealing himself in his shell, but that soon stopped when I put their home in the warm airing cupboard.

They seem to really like it in there as it's constantly at a warm temperature and is also dark a lot of the time (is that OK?)

I let a friend look after them when I went away on holiday in October, but when I got them back I found that she had almost swamped them with spraying too much...so that was when I put them into the airing cupboard and only lightly spray them twice a week now and they're doing fine .

I'm going away in January to Center Parcs in Thetford, Norfolk in January, but I am reluctant to let my friend look after Squidge and Casey again, due to the swamping. Do you think it would be OK to leave them for a few days and make sure I leave plenty of food/water for them, or do I take them with me on holiday?

Mweekie xx

[morningcoffee]

Dec 27, 2018 14:03:04 GMT Mweekie said:

Do you think it would be OK to leave them for a few days and make sure I leave plenty of food/water for them, or do I take them with me on holiday?

They'd be fine left on their own for a few days. Just put in food that's a little longer lasting and won't go mouldy super fast and make sure you give the tank a good spraying before you go. You can also plant seeds of edible plants in the tank substrate a few days in advance so that fresh sprouts come up for them to eat if they want - I always do this when I leave my snails for a few days.

[Mweekie]

Wow! So I am back and I know it's been ages since I updated this thread!

I am a bit worried about Squidge (who is now 3" long) as "he" seems to always be retracted inside the shell, although will come out when I bathe him. I rarely see him eating food, but he must be having some as he wouldn't be that big now. Just a bit worried that's all.

Casey, on the other hand is growing brilliantly and must nearly be at adult size (just over 4" long). "She's" definitely more outgoing than Squidge is as she is always out and about, normally munching on something or other.

I am thinking of moving them out of the warm airing cupboard now and will live next to Bonnie (my Russian Hamster), and above Aztec's (Corn Snake) vivarium in the hallway as I think it will be a little cooler temperature wise than the hot airing cupboard. Would moving them affect them at all?

I have upgraded them into a large, circular tank, but I might separate Squidge from Casey as I think Casey has taken over the entire place lol.

I am in the process of updating photos from my phone to my laptop and I have a few photos of the snails, so will try and put them up for you all to see.

Any help with the queries I have would be most appreciated.

Mweekie xx