Release Snail into the wild?

[phoenix1915]

Hi! If I have a baby snail born from a wild snail, and the baby snail has lived with me for about 5 months, can the baby snail be released into the wild?  Basically asking if a semi-domesticated snail can go wild. Just unsure if it will be able to adjust to different food sources? Thanks!

[snaileyhammy]

Hello! Since it is from the wild, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal if you did. However, it’s best to just refrain from releasing snails back into the wild. The baby has been indoors for a while now, and will have to readapt to the wild as well. So I’d say it’s best to just keep the baby. Why were you thinking of releasing it?

[phoenix1915]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING BACK TO ME!

I actually explained this is another post but no one replied, so I just boiled down my question on this post. But the full story is that I placed a couple of wild snails on my 3rd floor patio in the apt complex where I live (in southern california), since I noticed they were on a sidewalk where people blindly step on snails and worse, gets gardening done every darn week and I see weed whacked snails all the time

Well, at the time I knew I loved snails but had NO CLUE about their reproduction etc. So basically I put these wild snails in my flower pots thinking sure I don't care if you eat my plant, you are safe here! WELP! I then had like 4 clutches of babies on my patio that has fake astro turf and birds that visit. I didn't want the babies to just die on the patio and didn't know if putting them back into the complex was a good idea either, so I just pulled out some old fish tanks I had and raised them! It might not have been the most well thought out plan but uh, I'm sure you might know snails actually MOVE FAST and I just made the decision to take them in before they scattered about.

Now they are grown and I just don't think I can take care of them all. I try my hardest but end up with deaths. I believe it's a combination of me having too many to keep up with them, and just not being skilled enough in how to care for them. I do my best to research but information is actually very scattered about and hard to find, not to mention very unfamiliar to me - I don't know about mites etc and its hard to find information that a true beginner like me can understand. I've bought 2 how to care for snails books that turned out to be for like children and don't cover any complexities what so ever!!!

Anywho - that is why I was thinking of releasing some of the snails. I think they might have a better life outside since I am feeling like I am not doing a good enough job. If you have any personal opinions or advice I would love to hear back from you or anyone else who sees this post!!!

OH MY GOODNESS I see it's you Hannah! I recognize you from your name Hammy from your youtube! This is Sarah - I'm the person who has been emailing you the past few months!! Wanderlust did not get back to me!!!! This is where I am at - I've had a few die and I am just worried I'm not doing good enough. Feeling lost.

[snaileyhammy]

Oh hey!!! Of course!!

I’m sorry that WanderLust is not replying and things are not going well. I know how you feel, finding good information is not easy. I’ll see what I can do! I’m so sorry I have not been able to help you to the best of my ability. Things have been quite rough for me lately, and I haven’t been my usual self. I will see what exactly I can do to help!

[phoenix1915]

All good! I really understand rough patches and you've already done so much to help me, so thank you!!! KIT.