|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 13:36:40 GMT
Ok, well since someone else didn’t want to participate I have set this thread up myself. I thought it may be a good idea to state about how I improved my dimi’s living considering they weren’t doing all that well at one stage. And anyone else having success with raising dimi’s can add their story to this thread What happened beforeMy dimi’s grew well until thy reached 1.5cm then they stopped growing, began to sleep more and retract, then eventually stopped eating and their shells became faded and scratched. This went on for about 6 months and they didn’t grow at all. How I was keeping themThey were being kept in a plastic tank with a ventilated lid. I was heating them by heat mat, and on soil with spagnum moss. I was feeding them a wide variety of foods, to try and interest them. Oh and I was spraying them once a day. Changes I triedWell I tried using the radiator instead of a heat mat, which did improve them a bit, they started to wake up and eat a little now and then. Although the big problem was when the radiator went off at night I would have to switch back to the heat mat, which obviously isn’t as warm as the radiator and if I forgot well… Another changeNext I taped a plastic bag to the lid of the tank and punched some holes in for ventilation this helped keep the warm in but also dried the soil out a lot, another thing I tried was switching to soley moss, but this also dried out quickly and soon had mites. So back went the dimi’s into hiding. Final changeAt eight months old and still only 1.5cm I thought that something had to be done as not only were my dimi’s like this but also my smithii and iradelei. So I decided to buy a massive tank for all of them, so I did, a big glass tank with a plastic lid that had a few holes in but not too many, I also taped a 1foot by 25cm heat mat to the side of the tank. I put capillary matting in the bottom with a pot of soil, a water bowl about 1inch deep and some ornaments to climb on. I also after finding out it wasn’t heating up that well fitted a 20cm tube light to the shelf above the tank which brought the temp up really high so that when I opened the tank loads of hot air rushed out. This caused the tank to stay very humid and damp, at first I thought, that’s way too hot for these little babies, but after putting them in they looked a lot happier. ResultMy dimi’s haven’t retracted since, they come out on their own every night and eat lots, they interact more with the other snails, and after 2 months of being in the tank they are 3-3½cm shell length and are still growing, the iradelei and smithii have also doubled in size, I also did this with 3 other tanks and moved all my other snails in and they are all happy now
|
|
LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by LisaLQ on Feb 3, 2006 13:57:13 GMT
The person who didn't want to participate was me, and that was because I've not had success, and was taunted about it - so didn't want to be involved. I'm glad your snails are ok Sarah.
|
|
gabi
Achatina tincta
Posts: 616
|
Post by gabi on Feb 3, 2006 14:02:32 GMT
Sarah, they are not even really out of the eggshells yet and I am still in the "hope I can at least get some of them to eat..."-phase. Nobody got them before to eat and develop. Hope that they survive and then I am for sure selling them.
|
|
Kevin
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,227
|
Post by Kevin on Feb 3, 2006 14:02:33 GMT
I have dimidiata from 4 different places now (and I'm also looking to get some "dimidiata" from europe in the spring to see how well they grow compared to the ones I have now) they are all different in how they're growing/have grown, but are all active and eat well, they're favourite food I think is cucumber, as they eat it faster than the other foods I give them.
They are all kept the same, my 2 largest ones from Virginia Cheeseman are kept with 4 fulica, which are about the same size as them, the ones from Beth are kept with my ones from ebay, and the ones from felix93 are kep on they're own at the moment.
They all have coir as a substrate, cuttlefish bone, and cuttlefish bone grinded and mixed within they're substrate, the only ones which have access to a water bowl are the 2 largest ones.
The ones I got from Virginia Cheeseman were sub-adults when I got them over a year ago (I cant remember exactly how long ago it was, It was the first time V.cheeseman had offered them, they were about 7cm when i got them, they are now around 9cm and are fully grown (I assume, since they havent got larger in the last year or so)
The ones from Beth have remained the smallest, they are about 3cm and have grown very little, but have remained active and dont seem to have bad shells (they're shells are striped) one died, but the remaining two are doing well, despite they're size, I also have an iredalei thats only 2cm even though he's well over 6 months old now, my other iredalei from the same batch are around 4cm, so I guess some snails stay small?
I got 2 from ebay, they are about 4-5cm, about a cm or 2 bigger than when I got them a few months ago, they're growing slowly, but usually have small growth at the front of they're shell and are doing well.
My 2 from felix93 are doing great, kept in exactly the same conditions as the others, and sprayed regulary like the others, they are growing well, are about 4-5cm, are looking like they are developing they're 2-tone colour like my adults, and are nearly always active.
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 14:07:42 GMT
The person who didn't want to participate was me, and that was because I've not had success, and was taunted about it - so didn't want to be involved. I'm glad your snails are ok Sarah. Well Lisa i think you have done really well with your dimi's they seem so much better
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 14:08:08 GMT
Sarah, they are not even really out of the eggshells yet and I am still in the "hope I can at least get some of them to eat..."-phase. Nobody got them before to eat and develop. Hope that they survive and then I am for sure selling them. ok thanks, let us know how they get on
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 14:12:01 GMT
I have dimidiata from 4 different places now (and I'm also looking to get some "dimidiata" from europe in the spring to see how well they grow compared to the ones I have now) they are all different in how they're growing/have grown, but are all active and eat well, they're favourite food I think is cucumber, as they eat it faster than the other foods I give them. They are all kept the same, my 2 largest ones from Virginia Cheeseman are kept with 4 fulica, which are about the same size as them, the ones from Beth are kept with my ones from ebay, and the ones from felix93 are kep on they're own at the moment. They all have coir as a substrate, cuttlefish bone, and cuttlefish bone grinded and mixed within they're substrate, the only ones which have access to a water bowl are the 2 largest ones. The ones I got from Virginia Cheeseman were sub-adults when I got them over a year ago (I cant remember exactly how long ago it was, It was the first time V.cheeseman had offered them, they were about 7cm when i got them, they are now around 9cm and are fully grown (I assume, since they havent got larger in the last year or so) The ones from Beth have remained the smallest, they are about 3cm and have grown very little, but have remained active and dont seem to have bad shells (they're shells are striped) one died, but the remaining two are doing well, despite they're size, I also have an iredalei thats only 2cm even though he's well over 6 months old now, my other iredalei from the same batch are around 4cm, so I guess some snails stay small? I got 2 from ebay, they are about 4-5cm, about a cm or 2 bigger than when I got them a few months ago, they're growing slowly, but usually have small growth at the front of they're shell and are doing well. My 2 from felix93 are doing great, kept in exactly the same conditions as the others, and sprayed regulary like the others, they are growing well, are about 4-5cm, are looking like they are developing they're 2-tone colour like my adults, and are nearly always active. Thanks for that, an interesting variety from different places
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2006 15:51:21 GMT
thanks sarah that's very helpful ;D
|
|
|
Post by section8angel on Feb 3, 2006 16:46:01 GMT
Don't know if this will help at all but here we go lol I bought my two dimis from ebay, they were brought to me by the sellers mother as she lived near me rather than being posted. They are growing slowley and their shells look rough (but don't feel that bad), but I haven't had any major problems with them. They don't have a huge appetite, but do eat their fair share. They are kept in with my margies as they like it as wet as the margies do. Their temp used to be around 24c in the day, but I now have lights by all the tanks the temp can go up to 28c. It normally depends on how warm my room is to start with. It feels nice and warm when I open the lid, and there is nearly always tiny drops of water on the tank sides and on the lid. They've never been heated at night as I can't set anything up at the moment, but since they've been warmer in the day I have noticed them growing a bit faster. They've always been very active, and have always eaten cuttlefish readily. They're kept in a big plastic storage box, with about 18 holes in the lid which are about 1.5" inches across. This is then covered with mesh on the inside and chiffon on the outside. (It has mesh on the inside to stop them poking their heads up through the holes and possibly moving the chiffon off lol) The humidity (according to the gauge in the tank) is between 70 and 90. It is damp enough so that if I squeeze the moss or matting, a bit of water comes out of it. Umm.. that enough? lol Oh, their size. They're only about 5/6cm and I've had them since September. (Around the 10th I think) My baby margie is about half a cm bigger, and she is younger than them and was smaller than them when she arrived.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2006 16:48:53 GMT
so basically its 'keep the tank very warm and humid'
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 16:53:49 GMT
everythings a help :-) we can all read through eachothers and hopefully if theres anything we have missed or whatever we can put our ideas together to produce something better, i don't have a thermometer but i'll get one soon and let you know what temp mine are at Just a question, will a aquarium thermometer work out of water in a snail tank the same as it would usually? it's just they have them for £2 in pets at home...
|
|
|
Post by section8angel on Feb 3, 2006 17:01:17 GMT
Aquarium thermometers are what I use I have the stick on the front ones and one tank has the glass use on the inside ones. The inside ones are better as they give you a better reading of the actual tank, where as the stick on ones read the temp of the room as well as the tank. Thermometers are all basically the same (I think), the ones for fish tanks are just called so because they have the suction cup on or stick on the outside. And they have the "safe zone" on them. Even though some fish need to be higher than the safe zone lol
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 17:09:40 GMT
oh ok cool, i'll pick a few of those up next time i go :-)
|
|
|
Post by section8angel on Feb 3, 2006 17:12:53 GMT
You might have to stick them on with something other than the suction cup if you're getting that type as mine kept knocking them off lol. I had to move them into another tank for a day and get dad to super glue it to the tank front He superglued just the suction cup so that I could still clean the thermometer if I needed too lol You could get the stick on ones and stick them inside, but I don't know how long they would stay stuck with it being damp. Although saying that, my hygrometers are still stuck to the inside
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 18:02:43 GMT
ok, thanks for the tips
|
|
LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by LisaLQ on Feb 3, 2006 18:48:59 GMT
Sian, your snails growth sounds much like ours. We've had them since October, and they're 4-5cm, and 2cm. That's now, not then.
Yes Mike, it is keep them warm and wet. But I thought we'd all said that on the other zillion threads about dimis *lol*
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 19:39:07 GMT
yeah, lol, i think that is the secret though, keeping it humid
|
|
LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by LisaLQ on Feb 3, 2006 19:44:44 GMT
Yup, but I've also found they dont like it too wet either, it's getting the balance right. Saying this, mine have started burying themselves again, and I'm having to wake them up...I swear they're either poorly, or lazy b*stards.
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 3, 2006 19:51:04 GMT
well, Gary especially doesn't look ill, he seems plump and healthy ;D
|
|
Leah
Archachatina puylaerti
Do you want me to sit in the corner and rust, or just fall apart where I'm standing?
Posts: 1,261
|
Post by Leah on Feb 9, 2006 19:24:03 GMT
So the answer is heat/ humdity? Very helpful..
|
|
|
Post by ian on Feb 10, 2006 19:29:49 GMT
Ive just moved mine to a new tank and they have both sprouted about 2 or 3mm of nearly formed new groth in about a week. This is after 4 months of nothing. The new tank has the same substrate(coco humus) but it is a bit deeper. The tank is much bigger than the last one and they share it with three fulica which are about 6-7cm (dimis are about4 cm). They interact well with the fulica and havent attached to the roof since being in their. They are also eating more and are more active. They have the same level of heat as before.
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 10, 2006 20:53:17 GMT
yes they like lots of space and companionship too
|
|
KathyM
Achatina tincta
Posts: 709
|
Post by KathyM on Feb 12, 2006 20:53:05 GMT
yeah, lol, i think that is the secret though, keeping it humid Doesn't work sadly. I think if the snail is weak enough to retract, there's sod all going to change it unless it recovers itself enough to gain strength - what causes that change, who knows but I've learnt it's nowt to do with conditions. We keep Justin warm and humid, and he's retracting further every week. I think at this point it's kinder to weigh up their quality of life and do the kindest thing.
|
|
|
Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 12, 2006 20:56:37 GMT
I have just seen your other thread and i think For Justin the answers have come a little late, he looks extremely thin, it's the worst case i have ever seen, and i don't think hes going to come back either, sorry :-(
|
|
LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by LisaLQ on Feb 12, 2006 21:42:51 GMT
Erm the answers came too late? In his case, the answer wasn't the answer, if you get me, because Kathy did everything she could. Perhaps could be worded more sympathetically Sarah, as your "answers" were not ignored, so didn't come too late - they were wrong. Dont mean to be rude, but it does seem like someone's deliberately posting inflammatory comments to get a reaction...
|
|