My babies have arrived!

[modifiedmummy]

Hello everyone!

I got my first snails yesterday! They're baby Achatina Fulica Hamelli and we have 4. I bought them from a seller on ebay, and actually I can see the same listing I ordered from in the ebay advert banner at the moment. I'd grab a screencap but it's probably not that interesting to anyone else, lol.

I'm not sure how old they are, I've emailed the seller asking them. I wouldn't have bothered except for the fact these snails are my son's pets too, and it'll be nice for him to know how old they are and see how they grow relating to age.

I got a couple of tanks on freecycle for them, staggered in size so as they grow their homes will adapt to them

I'm really excited, we've never kept snails before and this is one of my ventures my husband actually supports me on, and is fully involved! Normally he just goes along with it grudgingly

It's hard to believe these teeny tiny snails are gonna grow so big! I wanted to name them after the pac man ghosts, but we've all named one each and let our son name the one left over. I did call mine Clyde though, which is obviously the coolest pacman ghost

I'm a complete videogames nerd, so inanimate objects and pets tend to get VG names. Like our kittens were called Rikku and Tifa. 10 nerd points to those who know what games they're from, lol

[Dusk]

Hurrah! Welcome to the first snail of the rest of your life

[goose]

Congratulations - I have been keeping snails for ages now and it is still exciting getting new babies and watching them grow - sounds like they are going to spoilt rotten in your household!

[margiebargie]

Congrats! So exciting getting your first snail/s - let us know how they settle in! x

[Rachel]

congrats the first snails are always the start, just wait till the obsession begins, lol

[modifiedmummy]

Ta-da!

This one is called Diyah, and is the first one we've held

My 4 year old, Callum, is holding him here, and he was absolutly amazed at it all, it was all he could do to keep still! I've gone through so many batteries this past day it's unreal!

Dusk:
Hurrah indeed! And yes, this does look like this could become a veeeery long term obsession!

Goose:
Spoilt rotten for sure! Well, I'm not allowed to spoil my kids 'cause that wpould be unfair on the world when they're adults, but spoiling snails is okay, as only we'll suffer any consequences, lol.

MargieBargie:
They seem to be a bit more active today, having a good nosey around their new home. Found one hanging upside down from the lid of the tank this morning, and two were 'racing' along the walls for a while (seriously, they were pretty much sliding parallel to each other, was wierd to watch!). Thanks for the congrats

The Snail Sanctuary:
Obsessions breeds easily in me! I have to say, the rest of the internet is getting very neglected at the moment, all I'm doing is reading snail forums and pages and stories, lol. Oh, and saw a snail poem and song on these ones yesterday (can't remember whom it was that wrote it, sorry) and I've been teaching it to my son. Obsessive enough for a newbie?

(More piccies in this facebook album. Think it's public so shouldn't need to join to view it.)

www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57695&l=07509&id=543882766

[Rachel]

aww, very cute little baby

lol, you sound like me with snails, all I do is look at snail stuff on the net and almost always have a snails with me when i'm on the computer

[margiebargie]

So cute! Thanks for the pic! You're like me = obsession breeds easily! I've got a 3 yr old son & 5 yr old daughter who I swear to my husband are the reason we keep the snailies, but really it's me! The kids love them just as much tho, they have a tank each in their bedrooms and help clean them out & hold them, etc! The snail forums are a great way to find out all the info you need to start out - housing, breeding, feeding, etc, and everyone's so friendly! And it's always nice to know that you're not going mad because you love snails so much! I was amazed at how many people do! I only started out six months ago and I now have over 30 snails - it's amazing how fast the obsession grows (and you'll be amazed at how fast they grow!!) ... and theyr'e so darn CUTE!!! Thanks for sharing with us all! Know they'll be really happy contented snailies living with you xx

[coyote]

What an adorably cute little snail! ;D

[modifiedmummy]

The Snail Santuary:
Thankies And now I'm picturing a snailey sat on your shoulder as you're sat at the computer, and getting huffy at you because you scrolled down and they haven't finished reading yet.

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't write every little thought down

MargieBargie:
Ha ha ha, when I first started looking into GALS I did say to hubby that they seemed like a good pet 'for the kids'

And you're right, I've learned so much more from forums and peoples actual experiences than the copy and pasted information that's on other sites. Plus the whole friendly thing rocks, especially as the only other person who has expressed interest rather than disgust at this venture is the girl at the local aquatic shop, lol. And 30 snails? Wow! I thought we were being brave having 4!!

And maybe we are all mad! It's just that the madness is concentrated into a small area and thus becomes normality, ha ha ha.


Coyote:
Isn't he I wasn't really expecting them to be so darn adorable. Cool yes, funky yes, but cute was a pleasent surprise

[Dusk]

Feb 7, 2009 22:04:59 GMT modifiedmummy said:

And now I'm picturing a snailey sat on your shoulder as you're sat at the computer, and getting huffy at you because you scrolled down and they haven't finished reading yet.

Like this?




This is my Amberdrake when he was smaller. I took my eye off of him and zoom, he was all the way up my arm.

[modifiedmummy]

Dusk:

LMAO! Yes, just like that! That's a lovely photograph too. It's funny, a few days ago I'd've doubted the words 'snail' and 'zoom' in the same sentance. Now I wholeheartedly believe you!

[modifiedmummy]

Some more snails arrived over the school break!

I've recieved 5 Albino Achatina reticulatas. 2 That are rather large, and three a bit smaller (each 'group' from someone different.)

I was surprised by the bigger ones, because I really didn't realise they would both be as big as they are! They were from an ebayer, and even though the listing said the size, I just can't put measurments to real life without something physical to see!

The smaller ones were from welshlassy. There was one extra as well which was lovely They're in a smaller tank than the big ones, I'm not sure if the big main tank and the older snails would be okay for them yet.

Anyway, piccies!
The older ones shocked my eldest!


One of the younger ones, they're adorable

[Katie]

Awww, they are all so sweet =]

[Dusk]

I love the picture of the two young young'uns, human and snail, each fascinated by the other!

[coyote]

Great pics!