THE HORROR!!!

[Amagi]

IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE THIS THEN DON'T READ ANY FURTHER

At about 9am this morning, I went to my tank to pick up a snail to play with/handle... I chose Rex (a cepaea nemoralis), and tried to pick him up, while doing so, I felt a slight resistance (as if the snail was out of his shell, which he didn't look like he was from that angle).

When I pulled him out, there was something on him: looked like the intestine worm of a chicken (White, very thin, like spider web, but it had a small thicker area in the middle) and also, from his body was coming out something like an intestine.

Rocky (C.hortensis), who was right beside him before the pulling out, had the same things, plus what looked like a love dart...

I am afraid I just murdered their babies
Rocky and Rex were probably expecting babies by X-mas

What have I done!? I am a murderer, I should have my head cut off with a guillotine!!!

I am a bit worried about Rex: Rocky retracted his 'intestines' immediately after he came out of his shell, but Rex hasn't done so yet... Should I wait, or do something, should I isolate them/will they be okay???
I hope they find it in their tiny little hearts to forgive me for this odious deed.

Here's all the stuff- the white stuff kinda turned brownish and brittle after a few minutes...

[madhouse]

Sorry hunny I dont know the answers to your questions but just thought I'd send you a hug - you sound so upset. Don't go beating yourself up about it - whatever has happened has happened and it was an accident lovey. I'm sure your little guys will soon be having some more little ones for you

[Amagi]

I realize that, but if I had waited a bit (I was practically half-asleep) I would have probably saved them the pain of being separated halfway through sexual intercourse (must have hurt).

A reassuring sign is that Rex too has retracted his 'intestines'.

[madhouse]

Sorry I never meant to offend you.

Am glad Rex has retracted his intestines

[Dusk]

I think you're probably as traumatised as they are! I hope they will recover soon. I do think, however, snails should accept that if they're going to keep humans as pets, they should understand that a little coitus interruptus is a risk they take, along with giving up their free time to play with them. If they can't handle that, well, maybe human pets aren't for them....

[Rachel]

lol Dusk.
amagi, i'm sure everything will be fine, it is even possible it was *ahem* poop. even if you did interrupt their "fun time" they'll probally be fine, the number of times i've accidentaly disturbed my snails when they did it one on the lid, one on the tank wall. *hugs to you*

[Amagi]

Very unlikely that it was poop...Because I saw Rocky retract his 'sextestines' in the right side of his body, and that left a small, dark stain on the area (it has always been there since I found him-so I assume Rocky has done it before)

[Katie]

im sure they will be fine, i have done that to garden snails before :S
xXx

[zakalwe]

They look like love darts too me. I remember finding a pair of Cepea Normalis mating when I was working in a client's garden a few months ago, and I tried to pick them up. Unfortunately, they took exception to this and immediately retracted into their shells, seperating. What you described sounds exactly like what they did, and I can assure you that the one I took home was fine, and in fact laid eggs shortly afterward, before proceeding to mate with another Normalis I had in the tank (And even as I write this I think it's the same one mating with a Hortensis I have in the tank.)

So no worries mate, they'll be fine.

[zoe1011]

hmmm was it wrigling or moving once detached from the snail? if it was fo a few seconds or longer its a worm looks like a worm you can find in horses poo! arond 1 cm- 2 inches long. but if it wasnt its prob a love dart they will be okay and apparently grow back so i have heard any who.

im sure they will be okay

zoe