Possible mantle collapse and retraction?

[stiff]

Hiya,

I'm at a bit of a loose end with my snail, Gary. Looking over previous threads I think Gary may have mantle collapse, but it looks similar to retraction too.

Gary's not eating and stays very still most of the day. He's very dry (despite doing what I can to keep him humid) and his slime is much more sticky than normal.

I've tried getting him to eat cuttlebone and fresh greens, but if anything he runs away. I've even mixed cuttlebone shavings with water to try and make it easier.

The other day I found him trying to eat his shell, and pounced on it being my chance to get him to eat some food. I had no luck though

I'll post pictures tonight when I get home so you guys can see what I mean. I'm terrified that I can't help him.

[SnailsPace]

Hiya, when mine had a collapsed mantle I kept him in a very low tub so he couldn't climb. I kept him warm and humid and coaxed him out by wetting him to try and get him to eat. He made a full recovery and I hope yours does too

[coyote]

Hi stiff, welcome to the forum. Sorry your snail is not doing well. A pic will be helpful for us to figure out what's going on. The dryness is worrisome. It is not usually associated with mantle collapse, as far as I know. It may be something else going on.

[stiff]

Hiya,

I will get some pics up. I meant to do it today, but I'm suffering technical problems.

He ate a little bit of cuttlebone last night, and climbed on some cucumber and an apple but didn't seem to eat it. I'm having a really hard time keeping him from climbing too.

[stiff]

Photos listed below.
The second one shows the problem better.

[stiff]

I should say that those photos are good ones*. Gary's body has been a lot deeper in the shell than that.

*as in he looks healthier.

[SnailsPace]

Is the edge of his shell very rough? Perhaps a fall? Doesn't look like the mantle collapse mine had but when I've had one with a chip in edge of shell it stayed in shell like that

[stiff]

He might have had a fall. I wouldn't know. The edge of his shell is very rough compared to how it normally is.
He seems to be improving since I posted this. I've been keeping him wet and encouraging him to eat.

If it is a fall, it would have happened in his tank. I've never dropped him and I'm very careful when holding him to make sure his shell is supported. I think it feels too heavy for him!

[coyote]

There is information about mantle collapse on the main websaite:
www.petsnails.co.uk/problems/mantle-collapse.html#start

[stiff]

I guess just perseverance with the water and food is the key then? I've put him in a shallow container already and He is getting offerings of fresh food as normal. His tank is way more humid than normal too.

What is the best bedding to use? I'm worried that I'm not using the best stuff.

[coyote]

I don't know of any special substrate to use for mantle collapse. There are many acceptable kinds of substrate, with no single one particularly superior to the rest. I'm partial to coir, but there are others just as good.