kate75
Achatina fulica
Posts: 7
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Post by kate75 on May 13, 2010 9:01:18 GMT
Thank you to everyone for their help and advice about my Land Snail.
He has been out (i.e not retracted) for 24 hours now without moving so sadly I think he has indeed died.
Kate
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Post by snailybailey on May 13, 2010 10:56:19 GMT
I'm very sorry to hear that Kate. In fact, it could have been me writing your last post about your snail, as one of ours has just done exactly the same thing. He was one of my biggest fulica and about 6 years old. He too had definitely died by yesterday. Will you be getting another snail? RIP snail xx
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kate75
Achatina fulica
Posts: 7
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Post by kate75 on May 13, 2010 11:09:19 GMT
Thank you for your message. I've always been interested in snails and I have wanted a Giant African Land Snail all my life so mine has been a constant source of fascination to me, however I don't intend to get another as he was the one for me and now I've experienced owning one once I can lay it to rest (if you know what I mean It's interesting that your snail behaved in the same way as mine before he/she died. I'm sorry yours died too but I hope you don't mind me asking - did he die out of his shell (foot and head out but no eyestalks) or retracted? Also how did you know he was definitely dead as I dare not move mine yet until I'm absolutely sure? Kate
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Post by snailybailey on May 13, 2010 13:02:13 GMT
Hiya, I dont mind you asking at all. I was the same as you - had to make sure he was absolutely dead, its hard to tell at first. I moved him out of the tank from my other fulica in case he had an illness, I didnt want to spread any bacteria etc, so I made him a little home on his own, kept him warm. But he just wasnt responsive, almost exactly the same as yours. I noticed at first his foot looked a fair bit smaller, as if he was shrinking. Not massively, but enough for me to notice. He stopped eating any food, not even a treat of cucumber which was always his fave. His foot just seemed to be a bit floppy, felt dry and cold to the touch, and if I touched his head he wouldnt retract it, it just stayed the same. No eye stalks, he didnt bring his eyes out for about 3 days. His face, around his eye and mouth area started to look quite black, there was no response when I touched his face. I was pretty sure he was dead by this time but was still too worried to move him just in case. But then by yesterday, his foot had started to go all hard and shrivelled, and then I knew he had definitely gone. He was my daughters snail, he first ever pet, so she was quite sad xx
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kate75
Achatina fulica
Posts: 7
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Post by kate75 on May 13, 2010 13:53:36 GMT
Thank you so much for replying to my message, I feel much better now I know of another snail that this has happened to. I was worried I had done something wrong .. epecially with him not responding to anything. As you said though it is almost exactly the same story! I will wait until I see him shrivel like yours did until I bury him then .. I am 99% certain he's dead but I still keep spraying him and his tank just in case, I need to be 100% certain first.
I'm really sorry for your daughter, losing your first pet is always so hard to accept so I do hope she's okay.
Many thanks again x
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on May 13, 2010 19:59:12 GMT
Kate and snailybailey, I am so sorry for your losses. Sometimes a snail will pass away in spite of our best efforts, and there is really nothing that can be done. But each one of your snails will continue to have a special place in your hearts.
Rest in peace, snailies.
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