Samson has died...

[sonicsnail]

Samson, one of my biggest and oldest fulica has died. He seemed fine, he was eating less though, but still eating, which was good. Now Stripe hasn't got a friend like Samson anymore. He was so special...

The strange thing is though that his body was still out of his shell. Most snails die with just their tail sticking out. I would like to keep his shell though...There was some talk of how to keep shells but I can't seem to find it. Something about compost heap???

Another strange thing happened as well. Just as I noticed that Samson was dead, two of the younger fulica, only about 5cm shell length, started the mating process! I was like, no ..no ... don't start that you two, lol. I couldn't afford anymore fulica babies! So I had to split them up, they weren't doing it a few minutes ago, so luckily they hadn't mated properly. Lol, some snails. Weird isn't it, just as one life ends, life begins.

[Deleted]

awww thats sweet the little fulica started mating. sorry about samson. theres a few ways to retrieve the shell

-skewer it out
-put it by an ants nest
-get some maggots or something
-put the shell in ur hand and swing it really really hard so the body flies out
- put it on a compost heap or just leave it in the garden

yuck...

[sezzy5889]

rofl at the third option, it doesn't quite work like that the other 3 are fine though

[sonicsnail]

I know he's dead but I don't want to swing him around lol. So compost heap would be better? The other animals could get into the shell that way...or I suppose ants would do the same thing. I don't normally keep the shells, I wouldn't like to skewer the body out, but he's special. Rather than throwing him away at least you could save the shell, something to remember him by.

[felix93]

I am sorry aboput Samson.

I think I read that Sarah just leaves hers out in the garden and let the maggots to do the job. (Correct me if I am wrong Sarah.)

I have seen my Albino Margies and Fulicas mating last night when I feed them (again). They're just doing it for hours, pretending that I was not standing just around them.

[LisaLQ]

Sorry to hear about Sampson (((hug)))

[sezzy5889]

yeah i leave mine in the garden although the ones that died recently will have to stay out there until summer now as there are no flies around

[ian]

Yeah i left one out there a few weks ago and nothings happened, i think shes kind of just frozen.
Ive read something about boiling the shells lightly-might be completely wrong though but heard that it loosens the body so it just falls out!

[anjieburdett]

Another thought as well - i usually leave them out in the garden for months and months on end and eventually you end up with an empty shell ;D - BUT, have you ever found a snail thats got stuck in an upturned pot or watering can or something thats filled with water. I have before.....and grabbed the poor little mite to save him only to have the body flop out of the shell of its own accord because its been in the water a bit too long to be saved Just a though - would this be as traumatic as swinging him round until he flies out of his shell lol. To me, anything to do with removing a snail from his shell makes my blood run cold brrrrrrr.

Anjie,x.

[Arno]

Sorry to hear Samson died,Sonic.Maybe it was old age and thats the way they die,hanging out of their shell.

[section8angel]

Removing them is fine for me, obviously I don't like it but you know what I mean lol (I hope) it's the smell I can't stand.

Very sorry about Samson

You could try letting it just dry out? Delilah my second fulica dried up so she was easy to pull out and the smell was no where near as bad as the smell from others that have died.

[sonicsnail]

Thanks everyone, I’ll see what I can do. Like I said I'm a bit reluctant to remove his body, but it would be a shame to put his lovely shell in the bin and he was very special.

[Deleted]

usually when you let them rot away ur left with loads of bits in the shell its not nice. removing the body is a more clean way.

[Val]

Just wanted to say that I am also sorry that you lost Samson Afraid I haven't got any ideas for keeping the shell, like Anjie I cannot imagine trying to remove the body.

Val

[xxbeckyxx]

sorry to hear about samson m8 xxxxx

[sonicsnail]

Yes, it doesn't sound like a nice job to do. I'm not squeamish at all, but when it's your pet, it's a little discomforting. I might get someone else to do it lol... Then leave the rest or what’s left in the shell for the ants or things in the compost heap.

[sonicsnail]

Oh, I forgot to update on this, but I'll do it now. As I found out, you were right Mike, removing the body is much cleaner way to do it. It wasn't nice though... The body reminded me of oysters or eels, not nice at all. I think I will soak the shell in boiling water several times and a disinfectant solution.

[anjieburdett]

How did you remove him in the end?

Anjie,x.

[sonicsnail]

Skewered it out...

I wont go in to detail, it wasn't nice.