Herbie - living proof that shell-less snails can survive
Jan 9, 2022 22:15:21 GMT
via mobile
superbherbz and jakeistragicuwu like this
Post by herbie1 on Jan 9, 2022 22:15:21 GMT
Hello. I am new to the forum. I am always reading that garden snails that have completely lost their shell always die. This is not true. With special care, as long as the body itself isn't badly damaged, they can and will, grow a complete new shell.
I found Herbie trying to climb an outside wall one cold evening.I think a Blackbird Had smashed him on the path but was disturbed and he managed to crawl away. His shell was in large bits on the path. He was frothing and very distressed.I put him in a shallow, plastic takeaway container with airholes and damp kitchen towel on the bottom. He climbed up to the lid to keep his airway open. He was completely without his shell but his soft body was still intact. If he tried to climb down, his body collapsed and closed off his airway, so he stayed on the lid. I sat every night for weeks,feeding him by hand while he hung upsidedown from the lid. I also mixed up powdered cuttlefish bone with a little spring water and smeared it on the lid. For the 1st couple of weeks he refused to eat but did drink the calcium water eagerly as if he knew he needed it. After about 3 weeks he started to get random patches of rough but thin shell starting to appear. I was careful not to handle him at this time and lightly misted him with spring water being careful to avoid spraying directly into his airway. He then started eating finely grated carrot and snail porridge. Gradually all the rough patches of shell met up and sort of knitted together until the whole body was covered. The shell was fragile at 1st but became hard and tough. He was unable to retract into this shell so slept with his head out and eyeball stalks tucked in. Gradually he was able to climb down from the lid to feed so I could stop the hand feeing and let him feed himself. Now he has grown normal shell but still has the rough shell at the back/underneath. He can now tuck himself inside his new shell and is a normal, healthy happy and huge snail with crazy eyestalks that whizz round in circles! He is a real character and I love him.
He lives in a large container and sleeps in a plastic hamster house. He is spoilt rotten and wants for nothing. He still has damp kitchen roll as his carpet but has branches and leaves to climb on. He is very happy.
I wanted to share Herbie's story so that if anyone else ever finds a poor snail with no shell at all, with a bit of effort and care from his finder, he can grow a whole new shell from scratch and live a normal happy life once more.
Thanks for reading Herbie's story.
Di & Herbie.x
I found Herbie trying to climb an outside wall one cold evening.I think a Blackbird Had smashed him on the path but was disturbed and he managed to crawl away. His shell was in large bits on the path. He was frothing and very distressed.I put him in a shallow, plastic takeaway container with airholes and damp kitchen towel on the bottom. He climbed up to the lid to keep his airway open. He was completely without his shell but his soft body was still intact. If he tried to climb down, his body collapsed and closed off his airway, so he stayed on the lid. I sat every night for weeks,feeding him by hand while he hung upsidedown from the lid. I also mixed up powdered cuttlefish bone with a little spring water and smeared it on the lid. For the 1st couple of weeks he refused to eat but did drink the calcium water eagerly as if he knew he needed it. After about 3 weeks he started to get random patches of rough but thin shell starting to appear. I was careful not to handle him at this time and lightly misted him with spring water being careful to avoid spraying directly into his airway. He then started eating finely grated carrot and snail porridge. Gradually all the rough patches of shell met up and sort of knitted together until the whole body was covered. The shell was fragile at 1st but became hard and tough. He was unable to retract into this shell so slept with his head out and eyeball stalks tucked in. Gradually he was able to climb down from the lid to feed so I could stop the hand feeing and let him feed himself. Now he has grown normal shell but still has the rough shell at the back/underneath. He can now tuck himself inside his new shell and is a normal, healthy happy and huge snail with crazy eyestalks that whizz round in circles! He is a real character and I love him.
He lives in a large container and sleeps in a plastic hamster house. He is spoilt rotten and wants for nothing. He still has damp kitchen roll as his carpet but has branches and leaves to climb on. He is very happy.I wanted to share Herbie's story so that if anyone else ever finds a poor snail with no shell at all, with a bit of effort and care from his finder, he can grow a whole new shell from scratch and live a normal happy life once more.
Thanks for reading Herbie's story.
Di & Herbie.x
I am so glad to hear that, Herbie is doing better, and he has recovered. 
