Growth verses Length data

[minniechops]

Hello,

I have been taking in some poorly snails recently, and as part of their care plan I have been weighing them and measuring their length. I have gained some interesting figures. BUT..........

What I could really do with is some more data. If anyone is interested in taking part them please e-mail me the following.

Type of snail
Length of snail in cm
Weight of snail in gms

This should hopefully give us some good information on what is the range in weights for snails of a certain size which will help with poorly snails. Once I have enough data I will let Paul have a copy and hopefully he will put it one the web for everyone to look at.



Hope you can help

Zoe

[pheonixx]

Hi there are you interested in just land snails or snails in general as we have been weighing our pomecea canaliculata and have some runts that are older than these hugh babys we have been weighing...Linda

[Paul]

I think its a great idea, many things could come from this. It may help us find ways to determine illness or behavioural cycles. Also, some snails seem heavier/denser than others. This could give us meaningful data that can be used to help identify snail species.

I know Sophie will be interested in this, she suggested this category for tackling these kind of problems.

I don't actually have any scales, I am thinking about getting some cheap ones but I wondered how accurate they are and how accurate we need to be. I imagine most scales are accurate within 2-10g. Does anyone know about this?

Just thought of a way for everyone to test their scales accuracy at the level we need them. Most scales can be calibrated by adjusting that wheel. And it could be used by people who have some balance scales as a means of weighing.

Weights of UK Coins:

£5 40.0g
£2 12.0g
£1 9.5g
50p 8.0g
20p 5.0g
10p 6.5g
5p 3.3g
2p 7.1g
1p 3.6g

You can use multiples to achieve most weights roughly but still more accurate than a set of scales probably is.

If people are willing to take repeated measurements, say once a month or more often even, I think we need to try and record age also. We may as well get as much info as possible at the same time.

Maybe I'm going too far here but I think it's a great idea and I'd love to see some meaningful results come from it.

Zoe, when the results start coming in, if the idea is maturing I could make a little util that lets visitors fill results in and does the statistics for us. "The Great Snail Weigh-In!"

paul

ps - I think we need a master snail list, sorted by species rather than owner. I can generate this info from the data we'll get from the members section. I'm nearly there now, the data entry is done, I'm just trying to write a section where the info can be viewed. No point until then. I keep mentioning it, but it is happening, albeit slowly. It is a big task and keeping up with everything and finding time to crack on is tough, but fun!

[fredrik]

Could be an idea.

But if we should weigh the snails, we must determine on how it will be done.
The result will differ depending of how much and what they last ate.
My suggestion would be to weigh the snails on an empty stomach, preferably the day after, to make the measurement fair.

/Fredrik

[Arno]

I don't know how you would go about that,when do I know my snails stomachs are empty,which I believe they never are.The scale I have has a minimum of 1 grams,without tenths of grams,in my opinion thats not really necessary.I don't think this is exact science.

Arno

[minniechops]

Hi folks, glad everyone likes the idea.

I have been recording lenght and weight of my own snails for some time as well as the snails that I take in and rehome. I confess I do it twice a week when I give them a bath. I have noticed that the weight does sometimes top but this tends to coincide with the snails just having done its poo. I have a set of electronic kitchen scales which can cope with my 3 gm reticulata.

Because this is being done my loads of people, it will be impossible to make this 100% accurate. I agree that age would be a good thing to note but not everyone knows how old their snails are. From the data that I have at the moment, there is a really nice curved graph appearing. How about we just crack on with some weights for those who have scales and take it from there.

Zoe

p.s argos do some good cheap scales

[Correne]

Hi all,

I do think this is a super idea. I only wish I had started this with the first snails back in February. They were adult fulica and we have no idea when they were hatched. However, with new species arriving and approximate birthdays, I hope my data will be of some use to our collective. I'll keep a close eye on weight and growth. What I said to Stud Muffin (aka Fredrik) earlier is that I will take readings and arrive at a weekly average for each snail. Just because I am pedantic, (at this stage) I will keep records of food offered/eaten, too.

Fantastic idea, thanks.

Love Correne

PS off to Argos tomorrow!

[Paul]

I think Correne is right, taking a few measurements and averaging it out for each week would remove the problem of them having eaten or having an empty stomach.

I think accuracy to a gram is more than enough, I was just thinking that most postal scales are only within 5g accuracy. Still like a few have said, this is hardly an exact science

And, even if everyone's measurements aren't accurate with each other, like Zoe mentioned they should all show similar curves in the results.

paul

[Correne]

I hope so, Paul. As everyone is aware, I have been so worried about my reticulata. They do eat, I know that, and they are more active at night. They just seem to grow so slowly.

This is such an exciting idea to collate growth/weight data.

I have been thinking alot about it and will measure/weigh each day, after removing and replacing any uneaten food from the evening before. Then each Saturday, I will enter the averages into a database. Also will measure food offered against food consumed. I do feel that Fredrik is right in offering a varied diet and have been thinking about that also. For example:

Monday: Common Plantain and dandelion
Tuesday: Dandelion and cucumber
Wednesday: Cucumber and pear/apple

etc etc (and I may be wrong there, anyway)

I know I have much to learn and appreciate any suggestions, however I think that together we can all help each other keep our snails healthy and happy. That's what this is all about.

Love Correne XXX

[Arno]

Yes I agree that a varied diet is the best thing,that way the snails get all the things they need for healthy growth.I guess snails are a bit like kids,if you give them a lot of variation in their diet they'll learn to eat different things.

Arno

[bookitten]

My a. panthera, Kibeth is about 9cm and weighs 59-60g, but she is not an adult though. I'll get back to you guys when I find out how old she is.

sophie

[fredrik]

Of course I'm right, Correne! ;D

Or what a wise man said, You are what you eat...

But you forgot to mention that I feed my snails Viagra leftovers to boost the breeding

[bookitten]

So if you eat a snail, your a snail... yeyyy!


sophie

[Correne]

So, that's your secret, Fredrik!!!!

You'll have to send me some, coz I don't have any!

Love Correne

[Arno]

Well Fredrik,I'm surprised you have any Viagra leftovers at all;-)

[fredrik]

Actually, it's my girlfriend who talked me into feeding the snails leftovers. She said something like, she didn't want a rabbit as a boyfriend. I wonder what she meant by that....

[Correne]

Well,

Without Viagra my new margies appear to have settled-in well. They have been mating this evening.

God only knows what would happen if I gave them some of your type of left-overs, Stud Muffin!