Damaged by diet?

[thefool]

Hello

I have two fulica that are about 7 months old, I've had them for three months.

I've noticed that when i first got them they had very pretty patterns on the shells, but most of the growth since I've owned them is a dark plain band.
It's not the aesthetics of this that worries me, but more that it may signify poor care from me and possibly more worrying problems.

Due to complications with my wages i was on a ridiculous budget (which i did not anticipate or else i would have waited before getting any snails) for about a month and their diets consisted solely of apple and cucumber (the only fresh food my housemates buy, which they kindly shared)
I've since sorted things out and they have a good varied diet, and paler stripes are appearing on the shells.

I was just wondering if anyone has noticed a link between diet and shell pattern, or shell pattern as an indication of overall health?
They have always been very active, and eating lots, and have grown steadily, so behaviour wise there is no concern.

Do you think I have hurt them? I am very fond of them and feel very guilty.

Thank you

[deadmansfinger]

do you have any cuttlefish in the tank for them?

if not you definately need to get some ASAP.


also post some pics and let us see them.


Brian.

[thefool]

Oh sorry I forgot to say, yes they have two huge cuttle fish bones which they have been eating consistantly.

Its not the quality of the shell, they are very strong and thick with a nice shine, its merely the lack of pattern in the new growth making me wonder if they are lacking a certain nutrient or something.

I will post pics as soon as i can borrow a camera from somebody ( some time this week)

thank you for replying

[LisaLQ]

How big are they? Sounds like they've just reached their adult size, and last whorl? Fulicas usually get a solid coloured main whorl, so I'm thinking from your description it's just that If they're still quite small, it might just be because of the basic diet they decided they weren't going to grow any more and just evened out into adult colour? Pics might help

[Val]

I don't think it is their diet at all, my fulica started out with a very striking pattern on it's shell but as it has grown it has turned into a plain brown colour regardless of the fact that the snail always has a very varied diet. Just apple and cucumber and cuttlefish for a short period of time would be fine.

Val

[thefool]

Hi thanks everyone for replying

Just an update, i dont have pics but the block of colour turned out to be temporary as the normal patterning has continued. So i was probably being paranoid. Weird that they both did it at the same time. I suppose it is their age as people suggested.

Anyway thanks a lot

Alice x