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Post by Paul on Aug 8, 2010 17:06:47 GMT
If i put Polystyrene on the back of the heat mat and drill holes in the storage tub, do you think it will help? Yeah, use something that doesn't conduct heat like thick polystyrene, so the heat will be forced one way into the tank. If you use a conductor like tin-foil it may actually do the opposite and sink heat away from the tank, because it will conduct more readily than the tub will.
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Post by Paul on Aug 6, 2010 14:51:27 GMT
I think the difference in shell colouring is simply weathering... Some look like the periostracum has worn off quite a bit.
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Post by Paul on Aug 6, 2010 14:48:14 GMT
reccomend painting nail varnish on their shells, should another climb over it. Once dry, oil-based paints and nail varnish are probably safe. I mention that because snails, unlike humans, can digest cellulose and there are plenty of tales of fulica eating the paint off peoples houses in Africa! I'm not saying we want them to or that it's good for their health, just that it's not as bad as it would first appear. However, it also depends on what else is in the paint - certainly what chemicals are used as pigment.
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hey :)
Aug 5, 2010 1:05:16 GMT
Post by Paul on Aug 5, 2010 1:05:16 GMT
Welcome to the forum!
What species are "rod snails"?
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Hi
Aug 5, 2010 1:04:19 GMT
Post by Paul on Aug 5, 2010 1:04:19 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Anyone who likes snails is more than welcome here, regardless of whether they are freshwater or terrestrial. A lot of stuff overlaps, and suggestions and knowledge can be helpful to both. There is an sister-forum, specifically for aquatic snails you may wish to join: snails2die4.proboards.com/index.cgi
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Post by Paul on Aug 4, 2010 21:56:59 GMT
Some of those species are no longer recognised - for example burnupi is a form of dimidiata.
Achatina dimidiata doesn't exist at all. Achatina monochromatica is also obsolete, it being a variant of Achatina achatina.
Those lists look pretty old.
Andreas Leiß and myself are trying to compile a up-to-date that take all the changes we've heard about into consideration, hopefully including all the new genera like Lissachatina, Cochlitoma etc. It's a huge job, and a lot of the information is probably unobtainable but we're currently trying to make sense of it. It'll never be perfect but some of the lists floating around are way off from what we know now.
Out of your lists, I've seen evidence that the following have been kept in captivity: Archachatina purpurea, Achatina zanzibarica, Achatina monochromatica (ie. Achatina achatina var. monochromatica), Achatina smithii (but it was never confirmed they were that species, unless something came to light in the past few years that I didn't know about - I always suspected they were immaculata). I have no idea whether these are still kept in captivity.
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Post by Paul on Aug 4, 2010 21:33:40 GMT
They're Helix pomatia.
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Post by Paul on Aug 4, 2010 11:59:23 GMT
Snails have cephalic tentacles (the lower pair), which have chemo-receptors - to all intents and purposes they are a snails nose, and a lot more more sensitive than ours!
Whether they smell or taste is debatable. Scientists still don't really understand smell anyway; one camp argues that it's caused by molecule vibration. Taste in humans has a lot to do with smell as you'll know from having a cold - your sense of taste is practically useless without it. So, is it taste or is it smell - is there a significant difference!?
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Post by Paul on Aug 1, 2010 15:16:29 GMT
I remember a long time ago, someone on here had a snail that such went about with it's penis protruding right out, to the length of the shell. It kept that up for at least a week without retracting it as I recall. The pictures of yours remind me of it, except that yours is more bunched up.
There's a good chance it's just desperate to breed and that it's not actually a health problem. My indicators of health have always been: Are they eating? Are they active? If the answer to both is a resounding yes, I don't think there's anything to worry about. In every afflication I've seen, appetite and activity are nearly always affected to some degree.
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 17:34:33 GMT
Paul said NO! to all three, thats a bit stupid You asked me three questions... 1. Have I chosen anyone yet? 2. Have I any tigers for sale? 3. Have I any other snails for sale? That's what my three no's were for!!
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 2:52:25 GMT
see the first post...
I appreciate the offers so far. I was hoping people would vote for others to see if anyone emerged as a popular choice amongst the forum members.
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 1:41:38 GMT
Does anyone keep Archachatina camerunensis and Archachatina adelinae. If you do or did, can you tell me what foods you were successful with?
Mine seem to only want to eat sweet potato and snail mix and I've now tried a pretty large list of things...
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 0:37:41 GMT
Welcome to the forum!
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 0:37:40 GMT
Soooo (sorry, excited by the tiny cuteness of them) has anyone ever looked into how many batches can be laid from a single mating? Is it likely that both sets came from the nemoralis? It's really hard to say - how many times do they mate when we don't spot them? They can store sperm and possibly more than one snails'. In my experience of Helix apsersa and Cepaea they tended to lay two clutches, 2-6 weeks apart. But they could easily lay more in a season. I reckon a single snail produces a faily consistent size though, so they sound like they could be from different snails.
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Post by Paul on Jul 29, 2010 0:34:22 GMT
Snails grow at different speeds, and in fits and starts so I wouldn't worry as long as they are eating. Sometimes refining your conditions can help but if they appear active and healthy, I'm sure they're fine.
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Post by Paul on Jul 28, 2010 11:26:10 GMT
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Post by Paul on Jul 21, 2010 17:04:02 GMT
I know what you mean, I worry when it takes a long time.
Most of mine were fine, there was one dead actually but I don't believe it was anything to do with the journey - they were well packed, with food, moisture and air. The dead snail looked like it died early on the journey - there was no sign of damage or asphyxiation.
If they're packed well, snails can survive long periods of time - they aestivate and hibernate for months at a time. Hundreds, if not thousands get sent every year with very few problems - I certainly don't blame polyped for the death - I reckon it was just the snails time - we have no idea how old they are because they are wild caught.
I had some sent to me once that got redirected through Italy by mistake - they took 12 days to arrive and were absolutely fine, as I'm sure yours will be.
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Post by Paul on Jul 21, 2010 12:43:49 GMT
bump
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Post by Paul on Jul 21, 2010 12:41:32 GMT
Mine took about 6 days to arrive.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 22:21:05 GMT
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 17:10:40 GMT
I have a couple of plastic plant pots that I tip over and kind of half bury - they make great hiding places and the snails lover them.
Regarding tank size, I'd always suggest you get the biggest tank you can manage for them. A 2x1 foot tank should be fine for 2 adult fulica and a few babies.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 16:33:41 GMT
I agree, I just think what's the point of having flimsy plants that get trampled? Since they're artificial and don't have any benefit to air circulation or purification I'd just not bother. They're not gonna improve the decor because they'll be knocked over in the substrate.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 11:55:47 GMT
I like loam, mixed with potting soil but there are many alternatives: www.petsnails.co.uk/care/substrate.htmlThe consensus is that 4 inches deep is about right for fulica. I think that they should be able to completely bury themselves with room to spare at a minimum. I'd stay away from stones and rocks, there's no point having the risk of them breaking their shell from a fall. Most wood is suitable but it starts to rot in tanks so have a look at cork bark. Any plants are fine, I would suggest trailing ones for cover and thick, sturdy ones for them to climb around and over. If you get flimsy ones they'll just bulldozer them.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 11:15:21 GMT
Why not start a blog on-line... www.blogger.com/startThen you can do an entry per person, as you suggested.
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Post by Paul on Jul 20, 2010 2:55:43 GMT
I don't know what to suggest, I've tried everything and documented it on the deep retraction page: www.petsnails.co.uk/problems/retracted.html#startAlso, have a read of the mantle collapse page, the way you describe her body sounds possibly like what I've witnessed - where the snail can't fully retract. www.petsnails.co.uk/problems/mantle_collapse.html#startI have a new theory about the deep retraction problem, I think it is some sort of bacterial infection, like a cold. I believe the way to prevent it may be ventilation and spells of drier conditions. I try to vary my conditions - sometimes I dampen the tank more than normal for a few days, then I tend to let it go drier than normal. I think this dryness helps kill off some bacteria. I also have a wooden framed lid, with chiffon stretched over it. This allows good ventilation with the added bonus of keeping even the smallest flies out. I need only cover it when I want higher humidity. I also keep live plants, worms and woodlice in the tank to keep things fresh. I know it doesn't solve your current problem but I think it is food for thought.
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