Dead Snail... Mantle Collapse

[Annelie]

I've just found one of the nigerians dead. Well, at least I think it's dead, but I would be surpriced if he's alive...

He has loosen from his shell. I don't really know how to put it in english so I took a couple of pics.

If you're sensitive and don't want to see his insides, don't look at the pics!

www.annelie.mypetpages.net/index.php?getpage=photoAlbums&artist_id=3340&gallery_id=6336

His body is all stiff, he doesn't smell dead and he doesn't react to anything.
What do you think? What should I do? Is he dead? Why is he like this, and is there anything I can do to prevent it from being happened to my other snails?

[anjieburdett]

Ohhh Annelie - thats awful! The same thing happened to my fulica but not so severley. The mantel has broken away from the shell, i've no idea why it happens people have suggested a kind of muscle wasting disease some have suggested old age (but my fulica is only 1-2 years old!). Paul has mentioned that snails usually die when the mantel tears loose as the lungs are behind the mantel. My fulica was obviously very lucky.

petsnails.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=pests&action=display&n=1&thread=4361&page=1

Have a read on this thread.

Anjie,x.

[Annelie]

Thanks, Iv'e read through it all now *puh*

So he's dead then?

[Deleted]

oh im sorry annelie thats awful. his insides are probably to exposed for him to be alive. im sory

[Annelie]

Just what I thought then

Btw, before I get rid of him... Can there be any use of him, for research or something? I hate it when something that can be used for something good just goes to waste!

[Deleted]

you could keep the shell? i keep all my shells in a shell collection on my shelf.

[Annelie]

No I don't want his shell. It's in a really bad shape. If I remember correctly he had been dropped before.
Besides, it'll only get lost or something ;D But if he could be of any use to someone, that would be great. Much better than just getting rid of him!

[Arno]

Sorry to hear and see about your snail.I don't think he would be of any use because once a snail is dead it goes bad very quickly.Unless you freeze him and can send him to some kind of researcher in Sweden for an autopsy.

[Annelie]

Ok.

Hmm, could an autopsy definitely show what species he is? Would be interesting to know if he's a margie or not

[Paul]

Mine is still in bad shape, I can't imagine it healing because the mantel is no longer in contact with the shell, it is like a sock around his body. It's heartbreaking, I just don't know what to do. He's not eating still and I am worried that pressure is being put on his lungs so he'll find it hard to breathe. But he's always out of his shell, which makes it hard to decide to Euthanase. He never ever retracts. What do you all think I should do?

[natrat84]

Does he not retract because he 'can't'? If thats the case and with him not eating either, I think I would Its such a shame.

[Paul]

I think he can, but I've never seen him do it. Perhaps you are right and he can't. He has hardly eaten since I have had him. I think perhaps I will have to.

[natrat84]

I dread the day I have to do something like that

[Val]

It's horrible having to make the decision, and even worse carrying it out!!! I think though, that you have to assess their quality of life, if there is NO quality to their life and they are just existing and perhaps even suffering then I think it is best to end their life. Prolonged suffering is just not an option, it has to be done. So sorry Paul that you have to face this I know just how hard it will be

Val x

Sorry about your snail also Annelie

[anjieburdett]

OHHHHH Paul ......... What are you going to do? I mean ..... How are you going to do that if you need to? I need to know - incase i ever have to do it (well, get someone else to do it - i couldn't). I also couldn't sit there thinking about a snail slowly freezing to death in my freezer! I couldn't pour boiling water over it OMG NO! I was talking to Arno about this at one point.....if i took a sick snail to the vets would they euthanaise it for me....could they? God am i making sense. Is there a way that a vet could euthanaise a snail painlessly?

OK....forget i typed this it sounds crazy rofl.

[Paul]

I really don't know

If he was deeply retracted I may choose the fridge, then freezer. But he is never in his shell so I can't help thinking the cold would burn him. Boiling water sounds very unpleasant. Then I have the options of crushing it underfoot or something. Which do you think is the least painful and the quickest?

What a horrible choice!

[bookitten]

i think that if u errm....... gave him a visit from doctor shoe........

[Paul]

I think you may be right...

[bookitten]

it is the fastest way...

[Val]

Oh no, I definitely couldn't do that. I have never had to euthanaise a landsnail but I get on well with my local vets so I think I might just ask them about this one in case it ever happens. Hope they don't say they would inject it though

Val

p.s. Failing the vets, I would wrap him and put him in the fridge & then the freezer.

[Bessica]

Hi, can anyone help?
I have a GAL snail that has retracted so far into his shell I can barely see him at all. I don't want to bury him just in case heS not completely dead! How can I be sure?
Thanks

[Kevin]

bessica said:

Hi, can anyone help?
I have a GAL snail that has retracted so far into his shell I can barely see him at all. I don't want to bury him just in case heS not completely dead! How can I be sure?
Thanks

dead snails usually smell real bad upon closer inspection unless they're very small,
what size is your snail?

[Deleted]

Hi Bessica. even if the snail isn't dead when they're so retracted you cant see them usually it means they'll die anyway. sorry

[Bessica]

Thanks for your replies. He doesn't really smell of anything that I can tell. I measured him and his shell is about 8cm long. I think my other snail (who is fine) is a bit lonely. Do you guys recommend I get another snail to replace him if he is dead? Are they communal animals?

[lee2211]

petsnails.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pests&action=display&thread=9543
If you want to read more about mantle collapse look at the thread above ^. Thanks.