Post by deto on Feb 28, 2019 15:25:04 GMT
Hello. This is the first time I've witnessed a snail go into hibernation and sealing itself with the calcareous epiphragm. When some cold temperatures struck the city recently, he dug himself a hole in the ground as he usually did ever since I've set up a terrarium for him. But when I dug him out to give him food, I found him sealed up. For about a week so far, I've kept him half-buried (the shell opening is covered with the coconut soil so he retains moisture) while the back of the shell is out of the soil. I check on him from time to time, doesn't seem to have retracted himself, so I guess he's still alive. No bad smell either. [Edit: has a slow heartbeat so confirmed alive). Is it ok if I keep him like that?
Pomatia are usually out and about in April around here, so I expect him to wake up around that time. But if he doesn't wake up until the end of April, should I try waking him up? I've read that some people give their snails warm baths to wake them up, but not sure if that's safe.
Also, he ate a lot in the weeks prior to hibernating, although he reduced the amount he ate near the hibernation day. For some reason he kept staring at the window like this:
Pomatia are usually out and about in April around here, so I expect him to wake up around that time. But if he doesn't wake up until the end of April, should I try waking him up? I've read that some people give their snails warm baths to wake them up, but not sure if that's safe.
Also, he ate a lot in the weeks prior to hibernating, although he reduced the amount he ate near the hibernation day. For some reason he kept staring at the window like this:
Edit: He woke up yesterday (7th March), so I gave him some water and some banana and apple, now he's back to sleeping with his foot on the lettuce leaf.
The epiphragm was shed on the ground.
