Justin the dimidiata update

[KathyM]

So much for him dying - he came out the day before yesterday and hasn't retracted since. Been keeping up with the regular baths but nothing has changed so I'm not sure why the sudden improvement. Yesterday I put them back on the B&Q organic compost and they all seem livelier.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Keith and Jethro have been up to no good, but I always get my hopes up and none of my snails have laid eggs yet *lol*.

[eric2]

good to know he has improved

[KathyM]

Thanks! I'm waiting to see if he eats properly - he seems quite weak (but he is little) and seems to be rasping quite poorly. Haven't seen him touch the cuttlefish but he has done a circuit of the tank through the night....

[section8angel]

That's great news

[sonicsnail]

Great! Lets hope he keeps well.

[Deleted]

thats great news and very interesting about the organic compost.

[sonicsnail]

I used organic compost with my new tank, it had loads of worm like things in, as I complained about lol. I'm was going to go back to using peat, but now I use topsoil, for flower beds etc.

[Val]

Don't you find that a bit 'sticky' when it is wet? Why don't you try the coir I am sure you will like it.

[sonicsnail]

What the top soil? The top soil is a much lighter form of compost. I have tried to get coir from shops, but no luck. However, one shop may have some in stock later.

[KathyM]

I haven't had any problems with the B&Q organic compost - was it that brand you used? If so, I'll keep me eyes peeled just in case, thanks for the warning.

Can't seem to win with any substrate apart from this - they hate sphagnum moss, and other composts let the water through to the bottom and dry out on top even though they're swimming underneath.

Justin's still out and about but still no new shell growth That's 4 months without even a millimetre. He's still fairly retracted even when out but at least he's active. Haven't seen him eat, but I have seen a tiny weeny poo today that must be his.

[Paul]

This may be of use for you all, coz hopefully it'll help you find out seasonal conditions...

I've been putting together an immaculata page. It isn't finished but I have made an African distribution map.


Click for full map and key

[section8angel]

Mmm I'll let someone smart do it. I searched and it came up with a load of gobeldy gook

Good to hear he's still out and about. What is the temp in the tank? (You've probably said before but I can't remember, sorry lol)
Maybe you could try a lamp like I am with mine? My dimis have shown improvement already.

[KathyM]

Temp is generally no less than 24. I have a lamp over them at the mo. I honestly can't think of what's made him improve as everything's been pretty stable and nothing has changed since he was retracted for so long. I just hope he keeps picking up instead of levelling out like he has since I posted this thread. I'd love to see him interested in food and cuttlefish. He seems very weak when he's rasping.

[section8angel]

Strange. But good lol. Have you got any marigolds?
petsnails.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=pests&action=display&n=1&thread=4353

Maybe they're worth a try? Or any of those others posted on that thread.

To be sure they were free from pesticides etc, you'd probably have to grow them yourself. One of the local garden centers didn't want to sell me some plants in case they had been sprayed before they were sent to them.

Unless there's a place near you that grows the plants themselves and doesn't use anything bad on them?

[KathyM]

Spoke too soon, he's gone back into retraction

Sian, thanks for the advice - if he pops back out I'll look into it.

[felix93]

kathym said:

Spoke too soon, he's gone back into retraction

Have you tried warm him up in a warm bath?

[LisaLQ]

Yes she has, daily. He's not in hibernation, he's poorly and has been since she got him. If you check out my thread about Gary, and the other dimidiata threads, you'll see what's been going on and what's been tried.

[KathyM]

Yep warm baths daily or more often if needed. Sadly although he'll come out, he's still not eating and goes back into retraction as soon as he's left. When he retracts, he goes about 1.5-2cm back into his shell, just before the "bend" if you get me This really is dragging on now, he's very skinny. It's not heat, it's not too much or lack of moisture. I know he's going to die eventually - I've got to the point where I wish he'd do it for my daughter's and his sakes.

[anjieburdett]

Don't you just hate it when these snails do this!! I had a fulica that Nat got for me from a petshop that wasn't exactly looking after them very well. She got 2 herself and one for me and they were all the same - retracted for days on end - to the point you think they must be dead but then they don't smell. Then the next day or so they are out and about!! They have all died since Its enough to drive you crazy though.

If the baths and the extra care doesn't work then i am under the train of thought that its best to leave them be - if they are going to eat then they will if they aren't then you can't force them! Sometimes less is more.

Good luck with this one Kathy - i know exactly how frustrated you must feel All i can suggest is leaving him alone and stop handling him - see if that works.

Keep us posted.

Anjie,x.

[Val]

Yes, that is what I did with my albino margie, I already thought he was either dead or in the process of dying, so I just put him in the corner of a warm tank and just left him alone, no baths, no spraying, no putting him on the food, just left alone and there he stayed for 2 WEEKS!!! It's worth a try, if everything else you have done hasn't worked then anything is worth a try.

Val

[KathyM]

Thank you so much Anjie and Val. That is exactly what I will do from now on. We've tried this before but it's worth another shot now (last time he retracted for 3 weeks and I couldn't bear not knowing if he was dead and gave him the warm bath and he came out but still isn't eating). I really, really appreciate your advice.