Post by phoenix1915 on Apr 7, 2022 19:56:16 GMT
Hi There.
I live in a gated apartment community in Southern California (not a lot of humidity). I take walks around my community. I ended up discovering that there are snails down a certain path that has sprinklers that come on at night. I noticed that snails kept getting stepped on constantly and worse, weed whacked. Well I got tired of seeing it, and so I put 4 or 5 snails onto my back deck where I have potted plants. I figure there they won't get trampled and killed by gardeners!
Well, cut to me learning all about snail reproduction, clutches, and taking care of snails. One day I went out side and a potted plant was covered in baby snails. I have wild birds that just perch on my patio, and I have astro turf grass. I noticed them going outside of the pot and onto the fake grass. Essentially - this was not a safe place for baby snails. So I bought a tank and set up a home for them. Literally this happened 3 more times - going outside one morning and finding a clutch hatching. I decided to take them in each time and put them in homes inside instead of putting them outside to be stepped on and weed whacked (like seriously the apartment complex over does it).
I've been afraid to post and ask for help because I am sure there are those of you who are pros and might end up saying that I shouldn't have done what I did (bring the snails in and raise them). All I can tell you is that I kept finding snails with decimated shells from gardeners or just completely stomped on the sidewalks around me and didn't want that for them.
I am sure you won't be surprised to learn that I am completely overwhelmed now with keeping them and taking care of them. It was easier when they were babies, but I am just in over my head now. Honestly I don't mind the hours of upkeep it takes, I'm just at the point where I wonder if they would be happier outside, even if they have a much shorter lifespan outside.
So that leads me to my questions that I have been getting to:
-Will they survive back outside, or have I made them dependent on the food I have been giving them? I've searched for the answer to this question on the internet and can't seem to find it.
-Just general options/ideas - what can I do next to alleviate some of this burden? Ive reached out to 2 snails rescues but haven't heard back. Can I place them at a park that has a lake? I did recently discover other pockets of snails around my community. Slightly less hazardous areas, but still would be in gardeners paths and end up under peoples feet.
Any help/suggestions would be so appreciated. And please, if you can find it in yourself to not criticize/chastise me, that would be wonderful. I had no idea the snails would lay eggs on my patio and when the clutches came, I didn't really have time to think about if I should just let them die on the patio as nature intended or intervene. I intervened and that is where I am at. If anyone has ideas for how to move forward I'd appreciate it so much. I love snails and just want what is best for them.
I live in a gated apartment community in Southern California (not a lot of humidity). I take walks around my community. I ended up discovering that there are snails down a certain path that has sprinklers that come on at night. I noticed that snails kept getting stepped on constantly and worse, weed whacked. Well I got tired of seeing it, and so I put 4 or 5 snails onto my back deck where I have potted plants. I figure there they won't get trampled and killed by gardeners!
Well, cut to me learning all about snail reproduction, clutches, and taking care of snails. One day I went out side and a potted plant was covered in baby snails. I have wild birds that just perch on my patio, and I have astro turf grass. I noticed them going outside of the pot and onto the fake grass. Essentially - this was not a safe place for baby snails. So I bought a tank and set up a home for them. Literally this happened 3 more times - going outside one morning and finding a clutch hatching. I decided to take them in each time and put them in homes inside instead of putting them outside to be stepped on and weed whacked (like seriously the apartment complex over does it).
I've been afraid to post and ask for help because I am sure there are those of you who are pros and might end up saying that I shouldn't have done what I did (bring the snails in and raise them). All I can tell you is that I kept finding snails with decimated shells from gardeners or just completely stomped on the sidewalks around me and didn't want that for them.
I am sure you won't be surprised to learn that I am completely overwhelmed now with keeping them and taking care of them. It was easier when they were babies, but I am just in over my head now. Honestly I don't mind the hours of upkeep it takes, I'm just at the point where I wonder if they would be happier outside, even if they have a much shorter lifespan outside.
So that leads me to my questions that I have been getting to:
-Will they survive back outside, or have I made them dependent on the food I have been giving them? I've searched for the answer to this question on the internet and can't seem to find it.
-Just general options/ideas - what can I do next to alleviate some of this burden? Ive reached out to 2 snails rescues but haven't heard back. Can I place them at a park that has a lake? I did recently discover other pockets of snails around my community. Slightly less hazardous areas, but still would be in gardeners paths and end up under peoples feet.
Any help/suggestions would be so appreciated. And please, if you can find it in yourself to not criticize/chastise me, that would be wonderful. I had no idea the snails would lay eggs on my patio and when the clutches came, I didn't really have time to think about if I should just let them die on the patio as nature intended or intervene. I intervened and that is where I am at. If anyone has ideas for how to move forward I'd appreciate it so much. I love snails and just want what is best for them.