goose
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 311
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Post by goose on Sept 29, 2006 8:14:05 GMT
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas as to whether snails are spatially aware ie if they can 'map' the position of their home range and objects within it and remember it. I know some gastropods for example limpets return to the same specially ground out niche in a rock between tides, one that is unique to them. I have noticed Ivan and Igor trundle round their house purposefully but it would be interesting to know whether they just come across things or whether they get to know the specific locations of objects for example their food bowl or burying pot and will seek them out knowing their location. Also this would link to the point as to whether by moving items in the snails' houses ie their home range it confuses them or if they simply 'remap'.
Also do snails get used to a routine - for example my goldfish are fed at the same time morning and evening and will what I call 'shark' (swim up and down the front of the tank) when they know this time is approaching. I feed my snails at the same time every day also - the rescue fulicas seem to be more awake around the time they get fed - is this just coincidence or are they anticipating the event. More difficult to tell with the baby tigers since they are largely nocturnal and I usually have to wake them up if they have buried themselves or they stay buried!
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Post by Paul on Sept 29, 2006 10:42:54 GMT
Apparently, you can move a snail a hundred yards and it will find it's way back within a few days. If that is true then they must be pretty spatially aware. I think they do know where they are and what is around them. I have a margie who, before I got tank mates for him, would immediately go back to his sleeping place, no matter where you put him. Straight back, no detours or trying to find it. So I think they do know.
I also think they get used to routine, from what people have said on here about feeding times. But they're nowhere near as clever as fish, and it's worth remembering that fish have one of the best memories of the animal kingdom (their memories can last 1/3 of their life on average - better than humans!) so it's probably less obvious in snails.
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Post by erica on Oct 15, 2006 9:43:24 GMT
too confusing! does that mean i shouldn't rearrange the tank each time i clean? i've been trying different set ups to see what works best and didn't realise it'd be disorienting them, i thought it'd make it a bit more interesting for them instead...
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goose
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 311
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Post by goose on Oct 15, 2006 17:10:25 GMT
Well certainly for fish rearranging the decor in their tank can make it more interesting for them - I would't worry too much - in such a small space as a tank they won't have too many problems finding things - but once you have found the ideal set up for the interior I would just leave it as it is - after all if someone continually rearranged your house every time you were out you would be a little disorientated on coming through the front door. I think that as Paul said as above they aren't amazingly intelligent so I don't think you will give them a nervous breakdown or anything by rearranging things.
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Post by Tigs on Nov 2, 2006 22:33:16 GMT
My Tigers have just proved this to a certain extent.
I just put new Hygrometers in all the tanks. 10 minutes later all 7 of the Tigers were in that corner having a good look and doing their best to pull it off the glass. ;D
Update - After pulling it off they all went back to their normal routine - Sleeping
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Post by deadmansfinger on Nov 2, 2006 22:40:39 GMT
I have 11 margies in my tank and I find certain snails always go to the same place to burrow/hide etc so I doubt it is coincidence.
Brian.
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zirliz
Achatina achatina
Posts: 46 
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Post by zirliz on Nov 8, 2006 21:07:59 GMT
Yeah i read a scientific journal and it said that older snails (Wild) found their way back to certain resting spots, younger snails weren't as home ward bound. It was Very interesting read. If you type in google scholar Achatina fulica it comes up as a journal.
I'm studying Zoology so I've to know all about journals searching.
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dio23
Achatina fulica
2 Achatina fulicas: Vladimir and Boris
Posts: 5
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Post by dio23 on Jan 31, 2007 23:57:33 GMT
I agree, mine woke up tonight and went straight toward the food plate. However, it sometimes seems that when they wake up, they don't remember where they are. Vladimir pushed himself under the food plate to sleep. The next day, he/she very slowly moved left, then right to find an exit, and finally straight backwards, where he found calcium to eat.
Maybe he was trying to decide? Or maybe they just do things for reasons we don't understand (but for a reason, nonetheless).
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