Snail gut extrusion

[kt]

Hello. I’m new to the site but looking for advice. My GALS is quite old around 8 and has been quiet lately, very slow and not retracting well. Today I found him with what I think is a gut extrusion. Has anyone experienced tia and what was the prognosis. I think it’s quite bad. I read advice to drain the bulbus part and see if he retracts which I have done and am waiting to see if he does. Anyone had this with their snail and what was the outcome. Many thanks.

[etana]

Welcome to the forum. That's a great age for a snail!

I have a snail has now lived for over 1 and a half years with recurring gut extrusions. I think the prognosis depends on the reasons for it, at this point I am convinced there are many different reasons why this happens.

There's a thread I wrote about my snail, I really need to update it. It's called "My notes on gut extrusion", I'm on the mobile version so linking is a bit hard. I never thought he'd survive this long.

Anyway, I always puncture the craw with a needle to release the pressure, and then the snail puts it all back in by himself. Sometimes he does it by pushing against my finger, sometimes he pushes it against his own shell edge, sometimes he puts it in with his own foot and ends up looking like he's digging deep inside his own face.

I have experimented with medicine grade castor oil and there seems to be some effect, but I'm not sure it will help everyone.

Also, lately it seems the snail has maybe figured out it might be somehow connected to what he eats, but it's a slow and mystifying process to everyone involved.

Best of luck to you.

[kt]

Thank you for your advice. I’m not sure what he is doing now. He has retracted but I can’t really see him. I guess time will tell. I’ve changed his soil and made his home conditions good so not much more I can do.