PLEASE HELP! Snail Shell Broken :(

[yellowsnail]

Hello all. I've read many threads about a broken snail shell and cannot come to a conclusion: do I cover the shell with anything or just wait for it to heal? 


Info: he is a Helix Aspersa.  A large part of his shell is gone, perhaps a quarter, some of his organs are visible. I would get a photo but he is pretty distressed right now. He is walking around and his soft body is not injured. 

Please give advice. 

[Rasplutin]

Hello,
Helix aspersa (Cornu aspersum) is extremely good in repairing its shell!
Unless some of its soft body needs temporarily support there will be no need to cover the shell.
You will notice a whitish milky skin on the damaged parts after one or two days. This skin will harden and then protect the soft parts.

[yellowsnail]

Dec 29, 2022 8:31:02 GMT Rasplutin said:

Hello,
Helix aspersa (Cornu aspersum) is extremely good in repairing its shell!
Unless some of its soft body needs temporarily support there will be no need to cover the shell.
You will notice a whitish milky skin on the damaged parts after one or two days. This skin will harden and then protect the soft parts.

Thank you.

Here he is after a day, he has little improvement but is eating cuttlefish and we are keeping him hydrated. I was wondering if I should be worried about the area that is a little more stuck out - looks like a small lump - or will his shell grow around this and help compact things again? Or should I help him for now? 


Picture shows snail with broken shell and as mentioned above:

imgur.com/p4pzM3r

I really appreciate the help. 

[Rasplutin]

Thanks for the picture! The damage is severe and we can only hope that his internal organs are unhurt.
There is nothing you can actively do to help him, any taping or covering would be just too risky.

The area that is "stuck out" does not seem to be a problem, he can repair that part.
I am more concerned about the broken apex - I do not know how much damage its breaking has done to the soft body.

[yellowsnail]

Dec 30, 2022 10:14:51 GMT Rasplutin said:

Thanks for the picture! The damage is severe and we can only hope that his internal organs are unhurt.
There is nothing you can actively do to help him, any taping or covering would be just too risky.

The area that is "stuck out" does not seem to be a problem, he can repair that part.
I am more concerned about the broken apex - I do not know how much damage its breaking has done to the soft body.

Oh no this snail, Shelly, was born with a deformed apex. He seemingly grew in to a snail with a healthy shell, but I am assuming he is this badly hurt because of it, as my enclosures are safe and snails do tumble often so this was a shock.

Is it difficult for snails to repair the apex? Could I help out covering that bit up after he has repaired the other part of his shell?

RE: The bit that is sticking out- it seems a thin layer is already growing around most of his organs, but this bit seems to be extruding, like the shell is healing around it. I am quite worried.

Also, seems a silly question, but is there anything I can do to ease his pain? While I am leaving him alone almost entirely, the times i do have to move him slightly he seems to “bubble”, I know this is a fear response. He never use to do this so I know it’s because of his injury. I just feel so bad for him. I don’t want to lose him or have him in pain.

Thank you for taking the time to help, it means a lot.

[yellowsnail]

An update: he has gone downhill. He is no longer extending his eyestalks out, and barely reacting to anything. The "lump" seems to be where he has hurt himself, as it is excreting yellow fluid. I'm almost certain he is about to die. I think he was damaged too badly.

[Rasplutin]

I am sorry to hear that. The fluid indicates that there is indeed a damage to his organs.
Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to estimate the severeness of a snail's injury.