What Happened!!!!

[lisaevans]

When I went to feed Bert & Ernie last night, Bert was completely sealed within his shell

I Sprayed him as usual and popped him ontop of a large slice of cucumber. After about 20 seconds, this cracking sound happened and he stuck his head out and ate the cucumber.

What Happened

Is he sick, or am I doing something wrong? Got up 3 times during the night to check him and he was slimeing around his tank as usual and one of them had layed a large batch of eggys. I always spray them at breakfast and dinner, cant understand it

Please help me if you can, dont want to loose him!

[lisajane8482]

It sounds like he was hibernating, snails usually hibernate due to either lack of moisture or thier tank is not warm enough.

He will be healthy, you just need to check the temp the tank is at.

When i got my two snails they were hibinating due to the pet shop being cold, so i put them in a warm position.

[katherineh]

Bert was aestivating, the seal over the aperture is called an epiphragm, and it is normal for snails to do this as a survival mechanism when conditions are adverse. It could be that your tank had become abnormally hot/cold/dry for some reason. One of my iradalei was doing that all the time (came out when bathed, then sealed up again) and I had to play around with the temperature and humidity to get it right for him- now he is fine.

Cross posted

[lisaevans]

Thanks guys, will check the temperature, the tank is certainly not too dry, always keep it very moist. At least I can sleep tonight, been worried sick about him this morning I Lost some babies to mites the other week, so i'm feeling a bit paranoid.