|
Post by urbangardenfairy on Jan 19, 2019 22:06:08 GMT
I am a mum with a curious toddler who picked up a snail just before we went on a long bus ride back in June. After an hour of try to not let the snail escape on to the bus, thinking it was actually quite cute and my son naming him Snaily, we decided to keep him as a pet.
In November I finally cracked and decided he looked a little lonely so got three more C. Aspersa to keep him company. We have now got two egg batches and wondering just how many I will end up with!
|
|
|
Post by rubberman on Jan 29, 2019 10:04:18 GMT
Rofl! Welcome. I currently have 602 Aspersa's and several tanks with 100's of eggs yet to hatch. As I live in England I have to put up with all those babies until spring before I can release then
|
|
|
Post by urbangardenfairy on Feb 8, 2019 22:29:01 GMT
The first batch of snail eggs have just hatched and there are loads of little snaily babies crawling around Just wondering how long it takes Aspersas to grow to, say a, cm long? Also in spring when do you release them or is it just dependant on the weather? Guessing I might have a longer wait here in Scotland
|
|
|
Post by rubberman on Feb 9, 2019 19:48:37 GMT
Once the frost has stopped is ok to set them free. As for growth... depends on temperature, food and humidity. (Off to take a photo of a month old Aspersum ....) At about a month the shell is tough enough to pick them up without fear of crushing them between your fingers at least but they're still pretty small. They're usually a little bigger than this but due to the cold snap they've spent a lot of time aestivating and less time feeding. Like everything in the snail world, progress is slow. Takes about 2 years before they become adults in this country in the wild but considerably faster in captivity. My babies like powdered cuttlefish bone which seems to toughen their shells faster than their wild counterparts. I generally break a bit off and put it in the oven for 5 mins or so (if the oven is already hot of course) then use a pestle and mortar to grind it up. After a couple of weeks, I add lettuce to the tank for them and sliced tomato.
|
|
|
Post by urbangardenfairy on Feb 11, 2019 21:56:49 GMT
That's really helpful info, thanks. It's shell looks a normal colour by a month that's good as the little ones are all transparent atm and so tiny. I put a bit if cuttlefish in the tub but they don't seem to be interested- I'll try baking it to make a powder- guess it's a bit more digestible that way. I also gave them courgette and cucumber as that's some favs of the big snailies but will try the tomato. I've got tons now..as several batches have hatched..not at your 600 yet but getting there
|
|
|
Post by rubberman on Feb 11, 2019 22:49:44 GMT
Cucumber doesn't really feed them as it's over 90% water. (I still feed it to mine as a treat because, as you say, they love it). As long as you keep up the calcium and offer them whatever your adults are eating they should grow well. When you put veg/ fruit in though it's best to thinly slice them. My baby tank has soil in it so when the eggs are laid I plant seeds in the soil and when they hatch there are lots of seedlings to munch on. Don't get upset if you find a few empty shells. I usually happens
|
|