|
Post by frankjackdaw on Nov 7, 2009 11:14:47 GMT
Hi all! It's getting to that chilly time of year, and I presume my box of garden snails is going to want to start hibernating soon. I've never done this before, so a few questions if that's okay. Do they always hibernate - ie, is it necessary - or will they happily stay awake all year if it's warm enough? I don't have central heating here, we just use storage heaters, so the temperature can go up and down. Will this bother them? If they're going to hibernate, do I need to make any special preparations? And do I need to put them away somewhere undisturbed and take them out again at a particular time? Sorry for all the questions! Much appreciated!! Adam
|
|
|
Post by siobhanc54 on Nov 7, 2009 14:19:49 GMT
I would imagine that any snail kept in captivity is prepared enough to hibernate as we feed them so they have plentiful supplies without searching. Not sure whether they will hibernate being indoors (warmer than out) I'm sure someone will be able to answer
|
|
coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
|
Post by coyote on Nov 7, 2009 16:57:20 GMT
I've kept garden snails, and I made no special preparations for them during winter, except to keep the tank in a place that never went below freezing temperatures. Some of them hibernated, some didn't. There was always fresh food available every day in case they woke up and wanted to eat. I don't think it will affect them adversely if they do not hibernate all winter long. Just keep on doing what you're doing, and they should be okay.
|
|
|
Post by frankjackdaw on Nov 7, 2009 23:05:33 GMT
Thanks for the advice! If they do hibernate, should I just leave them be? I presume they'll burrow into the soil or something, I don't know a lot about it. They all seem pretty active at the moment, anyhow.
|
|
coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
|
Post by coyote on Nov 8, 2009 20:53:39 GMT
If mine hibernated, I would let them be. I find that mine respond more to dryness than to low temperatures, though. In my area, we really don't get long stretches of cold weather. As long as the humidity stays above a certain level, mine have remained active even when it is very cool.
|
|
|
Post by crossless on Jul 16, 2010 0:22:41 GMT
This is the first time ever that one of my snails started hibernation because too much heat. My snails like the best about 24degrees and they are fine in 26degrees, but this one fella don't like that hot for some reason.. I noticed so that we have had here about 2weeks heat wave, not normal in my country. My apartment is all the time about 28degrees because is so hot. One day snails just kept sleeping.. I thought oh well I shall try to get temp little down so snails wouldn't be so sleepy. I tried to spray terrarium with fridge cold water. Temp dropped about 2degrees and everyone woke up and slimed around. One of them though it's too hot still and started to hibernate. That snails hibernated all ready in spring so I decided to get it wake and eating. I cooled one storage box with ice pack wrapped in moist towel after hour or so he woke up and started to eat. I cleaned bigger storage box from him and placed on balcony so he can gain strength in little bit cooler temp before I put him back to terrarium. I'll take terrarium inside if outdoors temp drops too low. I just keep him about that temp what is ideal fulicas and don't let it change too fast so he won't get sleepy again. I just covered storage box on balcony with towel so neighbors don't get heart attack when going to to have days first cigarette. I live that kind of apartment house that has two floors and there's no hallways so you need to go to every apartment from separate doors. I live on second floor so middle of balcony is stairs to ground level. Every second floor apartment have to share the same balcony with other apartment. And that snail that is now in storage box is that 14cm or 15cm shell length so it would be kind of shocking neighbors to see it. =D Edit I found lovely 24degree spot in inside of house so I can now go to sleep knowing my snail can't be harmed while I sleep.
|
|
|
Post by lee2211 on Jul 18, 2010 11:15:23 GMT
It's called aestavation when it's too hot
|
|