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Post by anjieburdett on Dec 3, 2005 20:37:22 GMT
Lo' Everyone. I've shown these pictures to Arno and just wondered what you guys thought. Here's some pics of George - my very very very first Margie....ever hehe. I've had him from a tiny baby. About ummm 6 months ago probably longer his shell started deteriorating and then broke off completely, i was soo worried at the time, but left him in the care of my mum as i was going on holiday. After 2 weeks when i arrived home i was amazed at the repair he had made to his shell - it was great and i was soo relieved. Trouble is, as the new growth is getting longer its not really attached to the old shell...i find it hard to explain so heres some pics........   The longer i leave it the worse its going to get. Any ideas on what i should do?? Anjie,x. |
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Post by eric2 on Dec 3, 2005 20:39:05 GMT
all i can think of is dont give him calcium
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Arno
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,493
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Post by Arno on Dec 3, 2005 20:41:11 GMT
Why shouldn't she do that?
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Post by eric2 on Dec 3, 2005 20:43:43 GMT
it will stop the new shell growth so it wont grow furher away from his old shell
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gabi
Achatina tincta
Posts: 616
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Post by gabi on Dec 3, 2005 20:47:28 GMT
Eric, even if you never feed pure calcium they grow. I have an 3 year old fulica from an person kept in an birdcage and this fulica never saw a piece of calcium and has a beautiful shellgrowth. Calcium is in most of the things we feed to the snailies.
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Post by eric2 on Dec 3, 2005 20:48:17 GMT
ahh i never new that  |
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Post by anjieburdett on Dec 3, 2005 20:48:44 GMT
But that won't 'bridge the gap' thats appeared. I was thinking of trying to fill the gap with gauze and plaster of paris but it's gonna be really tricky to do.
Anje,x.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2005 20:51:24 GMT
the irregular shell growth is stopping the snail from extending its mantle to the edge of the shell. i recommend breaking off the crappy bit and giving him lots of calcium.
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Post by anjieburdett on Dec 3, 2005 20:55:44 GMT
i thought of that MikeyMoo but i would have to break it soo far back that i don't really want to risk it.
Anjie,x.
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Post by Ben snail on Dec 3, 2005 20:57:10 GMT
the irregular shell growth is stopping the snail from extending its mantle to the edge of the shell. i recommend breaking off the crappy bit and giving him lots of calcium. Thats proberly the best thing to do, but its a lot of shell to brake off, it might hurt the snail.  |
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Post by anjieburdett on Dec 3, 2005 21:02:52 GMT
And how do you make sure it only breaks to where you want it to break to!!!   |
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Arno
Archachatina puylaerti
Posts: 1,493
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Post by Arno on Dec 3, 2005 21:07:04 GMT
I agree its too much shell to break off,only when it comes loose and will be a danger to the snail I would consider breaking it off.
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Post by sezzy5889 on Dec 3, 2005 21:10:43 GMT
thats what happened to my margie just before she died, i'm not saying thats the cause, but when it happened she just went down hill and died, is he still eating and moving ok?
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Post by Ben snail on Dec 3, 2005 21:13:10 GMT
And how do you make sure it only breaks to where you want it to break to!!! Put the length of your thumb to where you want to break it and then snap it. But ive never done it before so dont try it unless its the only thing you can do.  |
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Post by anjieburdett on Dec 3, 2005 21:13:22 GMT
Yep, he's slowed down a bit now, as have all my snails, but he's still eating and moving around. And growing ARGHHHHHHHH
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Post by sezzy5889 on Dec 3, 2005 21:14:21 GMT
oh thats ok :-) as long as hes eating, give him a little longer before you make a decision :-)
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tara05
Achatina achatina
Mmmmm, I Love Mollusks!
Posts: 95
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Post by tara05 on Dec 3, 2005 22:24:36 GMT
What about using a small file (eg. nail file), to file it down a bit? Doing it not too often, and not too long....it shouldn't hurt him. Or...what about using small clippers (nail clippers or cat nail clippers), to clip small amounts, then file it down (so it isn't rough). Just thinking about what we have had to do with some of our reptiles (beardies & over grown nails, etc). Not sure if it would help, but I'd rather file than break anything off  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2005 15:06:16 GMT
And how do you make sure it only breaks to where you want it to break to!!! ok i think you should break it where the edge sorta starts to curve off. you could do this by getting a metal file and sorta filing a bit at the side and then break it off from there. i cant really explain very well. i dont think it wud hurt to break off that much tbh, his mantle doesnt even extend to the edge of the shell anyway so you might as well break off the excess bit. i had a fulica with a similar problem but much milder. i used a file and filed the edge smooth. there was a tiny gap where the edge curved off but actually he filled it in himself, and now his shells growing really fast, albeit it looks rather strange (red-pink colour with yellow bits at the side) |
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