Post by barnaclesnail on Apr 3, 2016 20:30:16 GMT
I did not handle them. The one poor one was lethargic from the start and only ate once that I saw. I handled it going into the tank and when I removed it exactly a week later for tank cleaning it has passed away the night before overnight. :[
It's companion lasted a week or 2 longer and I only handled it to clean the tank so 2-3 times maximum.
It's companion lasted a week or 2 longer and I only handled it to clean the tank so 2-3 times maximum.
I'm sorry you lost the first two slugs. Poor things, we get so attached to them... but glad the replacements are doing well! I've only kept an invalided Limax Maximus for a short while after my dogs stepped on one that was sliming around in the backyard, but I've had much more experience with shipped snails, and most of them have actually displayed similar problems as you describe. If you'll allow me to speculate, I *think* part of the problem is not handling them. That, of course, is only in instances when there is no genetic problem or issue going on (such as poor nutrition) from the seller. Since it looked like an injury with the mantle, it very possibly could have been a genetic disease that only cropped up due to the stress of being shipped.
But, I've noticed when I purchased snails who were rarely/never handled by the seller or mishandled by them, that they were more prone to illness and/or depression (no, seriously) upon arrival. Gentle handling often helped with this problem, whereas, those snails I left on their own literally wasted away due to sickness or anorexia. The ones I took out and handled more often lived the longest, even if the batch I received was of dubious health.
There's also something else I've noticed with new snails that I call "tank shock", which is, they can literally become sick and refuse to eat if their tank is not ideal. This usually means I've put them in something too large, not warm or humid enough, etc. That being said, I don't think in this instance it was anything you did wrong, because those pics looked like some sort of genetic mantle collapse. I'm only bringing up the point of handling since I once thought it was best to leave new snails alone as much as possible, but, IMHO, a little more handling seems to make them feel happier & more comfortable in their new surroundings, that they're safe in their new environment - remember, they will smell you on their food even if its been rinsed, so if they associate the new owner with safety, they have less reason to turn up their noses at food... unless they're just picky snots, which many slugs/snails can be, lol.
Anyway, good luck with the new pair. I love the look of banana slugs and am dying to get one or two myself
