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Post by GailTheSnail on Feb 12, 2021 5:29:56 GMT
Hi everyone! I just noticed some tiny, and I mean tiny bugs on the shell of one of my snails.
I unfortunately have extensive experience with predatory mites and I know that’s not what they are, but I’m wondering what they are and if they are harmful. Maybe someone knows?
I can say they are small, half the size of the predatory mites, clustered around the shell, and move super super slowly. The only substrate is coco coir which they’ve had for months.
My other snails (different enclosures) do not have these, and the only thing these guys have that those don’t is coco coir. Hope this may help someone identify. I’ll try to get a picture next time I see one and in the meantime if anyone can help that would be greatly appreciated!
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snaileyhammy
Achatina tincta
Hi I am Hammy! I adore snails and slugs.
Posts: 550
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Post by snaileyhammy on Feb 12, 2021 21:30:42 GMT
Do they look anything like mites?
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daniele
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 245
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Post by daniele on Feb 14, 2021 14:09:25 GMT
Hi Gail, the fact that they move very slow, could mean that they are not the feared Riccardoella, but on the other hand the fact that they are clustered around the shell is not a good sign in my opinion: it happens often to find some little bug over our friends, but usually you can distinguish if those "mites" are interested in the snail itself, or instead they are only interested in some grime deposited over them or in the food the snails are eating and so on, by their behaviour too!
Do they seem to live close to the lung hole? Is there on your snail's shell any dirty spot that may attract them (for example once I noticed three springtails eating some dirty stuff that remained attached to the shell of one of my guys) and also ho many of them are present on the snail? Yes anyway I suggest to post a pic asap
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Post by GailTheSnail on Feb 15, 2021 5:31:32 GMT
Do they look anything like mites? They look nothing like the mites. They’re 1/4 of the size and a darker shade. They also barely move and are only on the shell, nowhere near the body or breathing hole.
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Post by GailTheSnail on Feb 15, 2021 5:32:49 GMT
Hi Gail, the fact that they move very slow, could mean that they are not the feared Riccardoella, but on the other hand the fact that they are clustered around the shell is not a good sign in my opinion: it happens often to find some little bug over our friends, but usually you can distinguish if those "mites" are interested in the snail itself, or instead they are only interested in some grime deposited over them or in the food the snails are eating and so on, by their behaviour too! Do they seem to live close to the lung hole? Is there on your snail's shell any dirty spot that may attract them (for example once I noticed three springtails eating some dirty stuff that remained attached to the shell of one of my guys) and also ho many of them are present on the snail? Yes anyway I suggest to post a pic asap [br Thank you for your reply. In the pictures I’ve tried to take it’s not even possible to see what’s going on since they’re so small and similar color to the shell, but I’ll keep trying. I’ve seen none anywhere near the body, just on the shell.
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daniele
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 245
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Post by daniele on Feb 15, 2021 12:29:07 GMT
ok, and are they still on the shell now? didn't move at all?
You tried to removing them by giving her a nice bath, and see if they come back or if you can get rid of them?
Springtails, in my experience, come in different sizes, I think it is due to different stages of their growth, but they could also be some kind of different species.. I'm not expert at all so I cannot be too usefull.. But I have experienced several kind of springtails, and found some darker and some whiter ones, also some bigger and some smaller; some are even smaller than Riccardoella, some instead are a lot bigger! The thing they all have in common is the shape of the body, and the fact that they jump when touched! Maybe you can try this too, in order to get more infos!
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snaileyhammy
Achatina tincta
Hi I am Hammy! I adore snails and slugs.
Posts: 550
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Post by snaileyhammy on Feb 15, 2021 17:58:12 GMT
I would just give them a nice bath, hopefully that helps.
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