gail
Achatina achatina
Posts: 95
|
Post by gail on Jul 4, 2005 8:10:06 GMT
Has anyone had any problems with their Brixton Tiger snails? found one of mine this morning with just his tail sticking out of his shell, upside down. Have tried tempting him out with a warm water bath, but so far no luck. He is still alive and I have seen his head moving around alongside his tail. Does that make sense? He seems slow and sluggish and unreponsive.
Any ideas?? all help appreciated.
Gail
|
|
|
Post by natrat84 on Jul 4, 2005 12:19:09 GMT
I don't have any brixton tigers, but just wanted to say keep trying with the bath, offer him soft mushy foods, chicken mash, or porridge I've read are usually irresistable! Hope hes well soon Nat
|
|
|
Post by Paul on Jul 4, 2005 12:44:22 GMT
That kind of sounds like the behavior of my poorly snail. He kind of tucked his head into his tail and shell, so his tail was sticking out as you describe. He seems to be doing much better now but it was a close-call. I don't know what to suggest other than what was suggested in that thread. although I have no idea what made the difference: petsnails.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=problems&action=display&n=1&thread=1636
|
|
Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
|
Post by Val on Jul 4, 2005 17:17:19 GMT
Hi Gail, Sorry to hear you have a sick snail. Have you got his tank heated? Sometimes if they are kept VERY warm for a period it can help. I hope something helps.
Val
|
|
|
Post by anjieburdett on Jul 4, 2005 17:50:22 GMT
Hiya Gail,
Sorry, i've just got in an noticed your post. They can take a while to settle sometimes....but if i were you i would just keep a close eye on him, the more you mess around with him the more he might stay in his shell.
Remember these may well be wild caught creatures and are mainly nocturnal....maybe he will creep out and eat something tonight.
Let me know how you get on Gail.
Anjie,x.
|
|
gail
Achatina achatina
Posts: 95
|
Post by gail on Jul 4, 2005 23:27:24 GMT
tiger snail still no better wont come out of his shell at all. How deep and how warm should the water be. dont want to drown him. Its not looking good at the moment. He is still alive in there, cos he keeps sliming me, but totally unreponsive, feels like his tail is paralysed or something.
|
|
Kevin
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,227
|
Post by Kevin on Jul 5, 2005 0:08:14 GMT
tiger snail still no better wont come out of his shell at all. How deep and how warm should the water be. dont want to drown him. Its not looking good at the moment. He is still alive in there, cos he keeps sliming me, but totally unreponsive, feels like his tail is paralysed or something. My Marginata Snail from Brixton is very slow and unresponsive untill very late at night, Ive noticed he's very nocturnal, around this time he comes alive and moves around his tank much faster, and does most of his eating, maybe your snail is very noctural as well? Otherwise all I could suggest as already been suggested..hope he gets well soon.
|
|
|
Post by anjieburdett on Jul 5, 2005 0:10:38 GMT
Hi Gail,
Sorry to hear that. Have you got a heat mat? I know the weathers quite warm at the moment but have you tried keeping him warmer? Has he eaten anything since you had him? Have you got any medium porridge oats? Try him with those they seem to be great for getting snails to eat. Just wet them with warm water breifly then drain it off.
I've got one snail here at the moment that i saved today and he was totally unresponsive! Out of his shell but just floppy...its the strangest thing when they are like that, he couldn't even be bothered to lift his shell up it was pressing down on his neck!! But he started eating eventually and hasn't stopped for the last 4 hours. Maybe some of these guys have just had enough of the starvation and torture.....
Don't give up on him yet Gail, he may decide to come out and eat something.
Anjie,x.
|
|
|
Post by Paul on Jul 5, 2005 1:16:38 GMT
My poorly snail that was recovering has got worse again As for your tiger, one thing I have noticed is that even in a warm tank the snails feel fairly cold. My snails react to being held. I think the heat from my hands, warms them up and makes them come out for a nosey. So try wrapping your hands around his shell fairly tightly. My tigers have been out but they don't move a great deal or eat that much. My largest one just sits there, coming out to have a nosey every so often. My original tiger, which was wild caught was the same for a few weeks but he's much more settled now and eating better. Here is an extreme measure to force them out of their shell. Turn him upside down so his shell opening is facing up. Fill with water and hold for about 10 seconds, then tip away and hold him the right way up to let any water drain away. Do this a few times. They will realise they can't breathe and will come out. Don't worry, snails don't respirate often or a lot so there is no harm in this as long as you do it carefully. It is just a bit like tipping a bucket of water over someone who is lying in bed, half-asleep. I don't recommend this as a normal course of action, but if there is no improvment soon I'd suggest it. You need to see what state he is in. After you've done this it is important to keep him the right way up to let any excess water have the chance to escape. If he doesn't react to this then I think he is definitely unwell. Just before my ill snail died, he didn't even respond to that and that was worrying.
|
|
|
Post by guest on Jul 5, 2005 6:03:48 GMT
Thanks Paul for that tip. he didnt respond in any way to filling up his shell with water. He hasnt been out of his shell since I found him like this a day ago. I think hes still alive, although smells funny. To be perfectly honest Im not sure thou. Dont know what to do now. Guess there is nothing I can do, just wish I knew what had caused it and could it have been prevented.
gail
|
|
|
Post by anjieburdett on Jul 5, 2005 6:41:58 GMT
Its not your fault Gail! Really its not! I tried to make sure that every single one of these snails was eating..i had them all in open tanks infront of me during the evening and watched them all...but maybe i missed one - its hard when you have so many.
We're doing our best for these creatures and thats all we can do.
I'll mail you Gail.
Anjie,x.
|
|
gail
Achatina achatina
Posts: 95
|
Post by gail on Jul 5, 2005 8:44:39 GMT
Its no-ones fault, just wondered if there was any way of stopping it happening again. No you didn't miss one not eating Anjie, he was eating fine, all the tigers and all the margies have been active and out and about loads. Been checking them myself to make sure. In fact this particular tiger was into extreme snail sports ie hanging upside down off the tank ceiling. I know its him because he had funny chunk missing off his tail. Just wish I knew what happened and why. Pretty sure hes dead now.
gail
|
|
|
Post by anjieburdett on Jul 5, 2005 10:54:05 GMT
I'll send you another one Gail...i'll mail you off list later. Gotta go get my baby from Mums now.
I'm really sorry Gail, I feel soo bad. And i know its not my fault its just one of those things............theres only so much abuse a snail can take i suppose before it catches up on them.
Anjie,x.
|
|
|
Post by natrat84 on Jul 5, 2005 11:04:11 GMT
I'm sorry to hear that Gail You did what you could.
|
|
Kevin
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,227
|
Post by Kevin on Jul 5, 2005 11:05:57 GMT
Sorry to hear that your snail died
|
|
|
Post by pheonixx on Jul 5, 2005 13:29:18 GMT
Sorry to hear this...we can but try..some snailians are not meant to be...Linda
|
|
Arno
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,493
|
Post by Arno on Jul 5, 2005 16:11:03 GMT
Gail,sorry to hear your Tiger died,sometimes snails are too sick to be rescued.
|
|
Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
|
Post by Val on Jul 5, 2005 18:29:08 GMT
Gail, Sorry to hear about your snail, he could just have died of old age!!! No one can know how old these snails are.
Val
|
|
gail
Achatina achatina
Posts: 95
|
Post by gail on Jul 6, 2005 8:27:12 GMT
Thanks for all your concern and help everyone, its been much appreciated. Its a real shame he was going to be a real character. All the others seem to be ok, hope I'm not speaking to soon. Its nice that petsnails exists for help, advice and company for when these things happen. Its not like you can take your snail to the vet. Many thanks.
Gail
|
|