What to do if you have to go away for more than 2 weeks?

[3snailsandme]

Hi all! Love all kind of creatures, got 3 fulicas, what do you do if you have to leave for 2-3 weeks? Do not have to at the moment but will have to at some point in future...

[snaileyhammy]

do you still need an answer for this?

[sas02]

I have that same problem. I’m a student abroad and I may have to go back to my country. So I don’t know what to do with my snails: I want to keep them but I find no solution other than to release them into the wild again.

If someone, who’s knowledgeable, can you put the snail in the fridge or freezer or is that harming the snail?

[Cashell]

This thread is almost 2 years old, but nobody has answered it. There is a recent question, so it makes sense to answer it.

If you are a student who is going back to their country, you can release the snails if they are a native species. If not, you will need to find someone else to keep them. If you cannot find someone to keep them, and they are not a native species, then... well... you are going to have to destroy them...😢 If you get caught releasing non-native species consequences can range from fines to straight up jail time depending on the country and the severity of its policies. Even if you do not get caught, and it is a species that can thrive in that country's climate, there may be environmental consequences.

If it were just 1 or 2 weeks, you can leave them on their substrate. Do not put food in there that will spoil or grow mold quickly.

[sas02]

I just have the two helix Aspersas that I found here so I’m pretty sure they’re native.
It’s a bummer that I’m gonna have to release them.
Are you sure there is no other way?
If I’m not mistaken, snails hibernate and can spend a lot of time in their shell. If I put the snails in the fridge, won’t that simulate the situation of hibernation?

[Cashell]

May 11, 2022 21:02:22 GMT sas02 said:

I just have the two helix Aspersas that I found here so I’m pretty sure they’re native.
It’s a bummer that I’m gonna have to release them.
Are you sure there is no other way?
If I’m not mistaken, snails hibernate and can spend a lot of time in their shell. If I put the snails in the fridge, won’t that simulate the situation of hibernation?

When you said that you were going back to your country, this sounded like a permanent thing. If you are leaving for good and never coming back to the country where you currently are, then yes, you either release them, give them away, or destroy them if non-native. I have never attempted hibernation through the use of a fridge, so I cannot comment on the efficacy of that.

[SuspiciousBagel]

Wouldn't advise forcing hibernation, its not really ideal for the snail to force hibernation and if your fridge is cold enough you risk freezing them to death. Your only options unfortunately are as cashell said still to release, rehome or otherwise leave them in the care of someone who can return them to you when you're back.

[LouLikesSnails]

What I do is carry them with me in a smaller container since they they are small enough to. 3.6 cm)) if they ara bigger I don't know..