snail with a hole in its shell

[smorel]

Hello everybody,

I have a question about a rescue snail. Here is the story :
About three weks ago (24 days to be precise), I found a small snail with a hole in its shell on the boardwalk. I think its species is cepaea hortensis. The shell is 1.5-2 cm in diameter, and the hole roughly circular, about 3-4 mm in diamater, a few mm from the lid.
The snail was retracted past the hole, but I could see it breathing, so I took it home and put it in a tupperware with a few leaves and water. A day later it was out of its shell, had filled the hole with a papery covering and starting eating salad.
It took me a week to find cuttlefish bone, but the snail started eating it right away. I also feed it carrots, peach, zucchini, apple, salad (well, it gets a little piece of every fruit or vegetable that I eat, in fact).
The problem is : the coevring of the hole in its shell seems to have hardened a bit, but apart from that there isn't much change. How long does a snail need to repair such a hole ? I would be very happy to keep it for as long as it needs but I have to move to the USA in 2 months (I'm in France now) and there is no chance that they will let me take a french snail with me, I fear.

--
Sophie

[CelticCraftress]

I think he will be just fine, ive had a snail of the same species in MUCH worse condition. He was so bad off he looked like someone stepped on him, lots of cracks on his shell everywhere, he looked like he might fall appart! But he healed up fine amazing enough. Tough wee critters.

Sounds like you're doing everything perfectly! I don't know if you would be able to bring him to the USA, I think that species was introduced to the USA anyway, but I don't know if it's listed as a pest species. Im sure someone could answer that. ;D

Good job feedling a varied diet and cuttlefish! Keep the humidity up.

[Deleted]

I think he'll be fine.