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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 11, 2010 12:17:12 GMT
Hey.. another question  My 2 ablinos, Fluffy and Brian. They are both still young and when I got them there were pretty much the same size, about the size of a £2 piece. Fluffy has grown over double the size and his shell is coming through very nicely and hardening very quickly. On the worrying side though, Brian hasn't grown AT ALL!! He is slowing making new shell but the last 2 times I have noticed any new shell it has been broken. Like chipped off or something? Or eaten? :s I'm not sure why it is like this. He eats well and have seen him eating cuttlefish many of times. I have a few mites (I think the harmless ones) in the cage and I'm starting to worry that they might be damaging his shell? Or do snails bully each other? Is Fluff picking on him and his new shell? Or is it just that some snails don't grow very well? Any advice is great advice! |
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 11, 2010 13:22:01 GMT
Some snails don't grow very quickly.
He will make the new shell at his own pace.
I've never heard of snails bullying each other, or mites damaging shells.
If it looks chipped, I doubt it would have been eaten off, it would quite smooth, and out of the regular shape of the shell.
If you're worried, then put some liquid calcium in you spray bottle. And sprinkle grinded up eggshells, or limeston flour, over their food.
That way you know for sure he is getting enough calcium.
Oh and one final thing, stay away from fruit/veg high in oxalates. You obviously are right now because Fluffy is growing so well, but it's an easy trap to fall in to. So beware.
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Katie
Achatina tincta
Posts: 673
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Post by Katie on Jul 11, 2010 20:53:16 GMT
Hmm, i read somewhere that mites can cause snails to start chewing on their shells? because of the irritation or something?
But like Lee said, some snails will grow alot faster than others, and as long as he is getting enough cuttlefish/calcium, then i cannot think why he would do this? My old albino, sprout, did not grow very well either, perhaps it has something to do with alninoism?
I wish not to steal your thread, but i hope you dont mind me asking, what're oxelates?
Katie x
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Post by Paul on Jul 11, 2010 21:56:35 GMT
I wouldn't assume any mites are harmless ones. There are creatures you get in tanks that are small and could be confused with them, like springtails. What do they mites look like? In fact have a look at this: www.petsnails.co.uk/problems/mites.html#startAre they Riccardoella? |
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Post by 101100101111 on Jul 12, 2010 16:17:34 GMT
i have the same problem...kind of, i have an albino fulica and a standard retic, i have had them for about 3 months now, and when i first got them, the retic was about 1cm, and the fulica 2cm, however right now, the retic (called April) is growing well and now is about 5cm, and has now overtaken the Fulica (called Yet), whose shell is now roughly 3 or 4cm, both are eating, including cuttle, however April is generally a little more active than Yet, i.e. she comes out of her shell quite a lot quicker with a spray than yet, although i believe i have fixed this problem, it seems that it was too hot for yet, at 30 degrees C most of the time, so i decided to turn the heat mat off for a bit, this seems to have improved the situation, i am also now putting their food in 2 seperate dishes, so they can both get food. Yet is growing slowly, as i can see new growth on his shell, however its nothing compared to the speed of April, who seems bigger every day, i know that snails grow at different rates, but i am quite worried now as April is so much bigger...could this be eating problems, or something else, possibly because of Albinism, any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 12, 2010 16:35:34 GMT
Yes, harmful mites cause a snail to rasp at it's shell, but it doesn't look like a chip, a picture would be helpful?
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 12, 2010 16:37:34 GMT
Fulica grow slower than Retics
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Post by 101100101111 on Jul 12, 2010 16:57:32 GMT
that's good to know, i know their final sizes are different so i wondered whether it could be that, many thanks.
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 12, 2010 19:26:05 GMT
Well, it is true, Retics do grow bigger, but they also grow a lot faster as well.
I have one Fuli, twice the age of my Retis, but half the size.
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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 12, 2010 21:36:38 GMT
See this mite thing is really getting to me. Many have people have said that some mites are ok as they help clean the cage and that there are bad mites too. These mites and small and white and I only really see them under the cuttlefish mostly and sometimes they will be running around on my snails shells. Only ever seen them on the foot once tho.
If it was caused by mites wouldnt my other snail be affected by this too? His shell is perfect! Brians shell isnt great, it seems as though he has had trouble for a while growing new shell as about half of it is flakey looking?
He was the most active when I first got them but now Fluffy, the growing one is the most active.
I could try and get a picture but as they are albino and it's the new white shell that is broken its hard to see
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 13, 2010 19:23:04 GMT
Oh OK, it would still be helpful though.
Do the mites collect around the food/poo? Or around the breathing hole of the snail?
Maybe he's just got bad genes? What species is he?
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Post by Paul on Jul 13, 2010 20:17:03 GMT
See this mite thing is really getting to me. Many have people have said that some mites are ok as they help clean the cage and that there are bad mites too. These mites and small and white and I only really see them under the cuttlefish mostly and sometimes they will be running around on my snails shells. Only ever seen them on the foot once tho. I think they are wrongly referring to springtails (collembola). Try poking them with a pencil etc. - before it makes contact they'll spring away; it's the easiest way to determine if they are springtails. Also, they have an elongated body rather than being fairly round. |
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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 16, 2010 15:09:42 GMT
The mites hide under the cuttlefish mostly and never seen them near the breathing hole but they are easy to squish and don't seem to jump away.. Im just guna have another look now.... Ok so.. they are long and slim not round and some are white/silver in colour and some are grey. Some were on the shell and some were on the foot. When i put my finger next to them they didnt jump away or anything. Brian has grown some new shell and it has hardend nicely which is good but now im worried about the mites  |
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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 16, 2010 15:25:44 GMT
and sorry they are albino Archachatina (Calachatina) marginata. im trying to upload a pic of his shell
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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 16, 2010 15:31:55 GMT
dunno how to upload pictures sorry |
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 16, 2010 16:39:26 GMT
Hmm... I don't know then,
are they ever on the food or around poo ect?
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Post by FluffyTheSnail on Jul 18, 2010 10:59:29 GMT
yeah always under the cuttlefish, the food goes so quickly i dont really see any left in the mornings
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Post by lee2211 on Jul 18, 2010 11:12:48 GMT
Try putting the cuttlefish on a plate?
And microwaving the soil?
That's a point, what is your tank cleaning routine?
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My 2 ablinos, Fluffy and Brian. They are both still young and when I got them there were pretty much the same size, about the size of a £2 piece. Fluffy has grown over double the size and his shell is coming through very nicely and hardening very quickly. 
