Urgent Pls Help!!! Tiger Snail + PICTURES

[jmurphy]

Please help!!

I deep cleaned all my tanks earlier, and moved my big tigers into their new home... a smaller tank.

When I next looked, one of them was frothing/bubbling from the side of his shell. I bathed him quickly in warm water... seemed ok. But then, when I checked him again, it appears that he has lost his sealant, around the shell that holds the body, if you know what I mean??? You can see right inside his shell. He seems to be just hanging from inside it. He is alert etc, but his shell now looks too heavy for him.

Please help asap.

[Val]

Found this Nix, it might just help, do hope so.

Val

www.petsnails.co.uk/problems/mantle_collapse.html#start

[jmurphy]

Thank you so much Val, and yes, it sounds very like mantle collapse or tear?? The whole of his sealant around his shell has completely gone and his shell is sitting hard on his flesh, poor poor thing.

What can I do to help him?? I'd be absolutely devastated if I lost him.

I really dont know what could have caused this? He never slimes up the walls of the tank as he is too big, bulky and heavy, so he doesnt even try??

Is it something I've done??

xxx

[Arno]

It isn't your fault nix,also it's not caused by them crawling up the sides of the tank.TBH,I have no idea what is the cause of mantle collapse.....Guess the only thing you can do at this moment is keep it separated in a small tank.

[jmurphy]

Thanks Arno, and everyone who advised me.

Does it definately sound like mantle collapse then Arno, I dont know what else it could be. What is his chances of recovery??

I've made him as comfortable as I can for tonight. Put him in his plant pot (that he fits as tight as a car in a garage, but he loves it!!), placed a small damp sponge underneath him so he doesnt get too dry. But when I checked again, he had come out and burrowed into the substrate, so I guess that is where he wants to be, so will leave him alone tonight, and see how he is in the morning.

Fingers crossed he comes thru this. I'd hate to lose him.

xxx

[jmurphy]

Pics of Chuck this am. He was still quite happy to eat his chicken mash, tho he looks rather sad.

[jmurphy]

This is going to sound soooo strange. But checked on Chuck a little while back (without disturbing him) and it would really appear that he is healing himself up again?? Can you from the pictures that there is definately NO sealant round his shell, well it looks as tho its coming back?? How does that work??

He still looks a bit sad, but this has surely got to be an improvement?

Will post pics soon.

[picklette]

Hmmm perhaps he had just kind of, retracted himself?

[jmurphy]

Dont think so Picklette, he had come completely away from his shell, not sure if you can make it out in the pictures?? So strange. His shell was razor sharp too, he's not completely better but he does look as tho it is starting to heal together again. Cant understand it??

Hows the tigs doing hun??

xxx

[Val]

Looking at that pic, and the fact that he is willing to eat, I would say that this isn't in fact mantle collapse at all!!! I think he has just drawn his body away from the shell and they do this sometimes.

Val

[jmurphy]

Really Val, thats excellent news. So do you think he'll be OK. Why do you think he did that??

xxx

[Arno]

nix said:

This is going to sound soooo strange. But checked on Chuck a little while back (without disturbing him) and it would really appear that he is healing himself up again?? Can you from the pictures that there is definately NO sealant round his shell, well it looks as tho its coming back?? How does that work??

He still looks a bit sad, but this has surely got to be an improvement?

Will post pics soon.

I think it looks worse than it is,a snails mantle is not attached around that part of the shell but rest against it.Where you see the mantle(under your thumb)is the place where the mantle is attached with a big muscle to the columella
(see this pic farm1.static.flickr.com/178/463488845_f365ca4e36.jpg)

[picklette]

nix said:

Hows the tigs doing hun??

xxx

They're doing really well! I've given them a really humid tank with heat mat, they're loving them wet tank walls!

What Val said, is what I meant but didn't express it very well. Like his body has kind of shrunk back.

[jmurphy]

Yes Arno, I dont think it was a mantle collapse now either. Not sure what it is??? He still asleep at the mo... but will check him soon..... give him another warm bath etc...

Will post pics of his improvement.

xxx

[rvd]

This has happened to my old snails before.

• Dont spray them to much!
  A few millimetres in your water bowl!
  Maybe wipe of the bubbles GENTLY
  Dont knock him to hard, BECAREFUL
  
• 
  
• 
  

This helped my old snail.