Research on bacteria

[achatitan]

I work at the national veterinary diagnostic lab, and me and my colleague who is a microbiologist are embraking on a research on microbes present in Achatina snail feaces, by isolations on solid media as well as other methods. When research is complete and when my colleague identifies the bacteria that thrive in snails' gut I will show you some interesting results about the possible flora present.

[anjieburdett]

OH WOW!! We've been looking for you for ages hehe ;D

[Val]

Yes, that will be brilliant!!!

[Paul]

Will this study be able to identify harmful bacteria? I mean, would you have to know what bacteria affects snails or are their common families that are likely to attack snails? And is it possible to identify the beneficial bacteria the snails have?

Also, with a few of us having invisible problems with a few snails, would there be any virtue in sending you some specimens for your study. I'm sure one of us could freeze the next one to die, I have one ill now. Then you could remove the faeces from the bowels for your study.

If this suggestion is viable, it would mean a more wide-ranging sample for your study and the hope of answers for us in that perhaps at the very least a study would identify bacteria present in ill ones but not in healthy ones. Where are you getting your faeces samples from? Is it only wild-caught ones you are looking at?

At this point, I'm a bit stumped as to where to pursue the answers I need. If you have any ideas or contacts of who could help us to do a bacterial/parasite health study please, please, please let me know.

Tell us more about the study.....

[Val]

Paul, where can this bacteria. if it is that, be coming from?

Val

[achatitan]

For now we are trying to isolate any type of bacteria and we are observing motilities and whether they are gram negative or positive bacteria, for now we have observed a lot of rod shaped bacteria most probably bacilli, large and small bacilli.

Well regards, the ill snails, it would be interesting to test any of which. The samples I am using are feacals from my fulicas, for now buty would be interesting if we get a sample from an ill snail.

What we are doing for now is looking for both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria if present. There is the posibility that we may have encountered some pseudomonads too. The Api20e will confirm whether there is the presence of Salmonella.

If you're interested in sending a sample of your ill snail you can send a small specimen to me, PM me and I'll give you my address.

[Paul]

I'd love to send you a sample but unfortunately the ill snails stop eating and therefore stop passing faeces. If it dies perhaps I can extract some from its bowels.

Now I know what to look for, perhaps I can catch it early and get some before it stops eating. I doubt this will be the last.

This is great because even if we can't find cures we can hopefully identify possible causes which gives us a chance of beating it.

Val, I'm not sure where such bacteria come from. I keep my tanks scrupulously clean but I have received a lot of snails from lots of people. It is possible that one of them was ill or had been in contact with ill ones, perhaps ones from cramped conditions in a pet shop; something we've all seen. I also read that Pseudomonas bacteria are all around us, we carry it but it only affects us when our immune system is low.

I am writing a problem section at the moment which is coming along nicely. It will details and document this problem amongst others with details on what has been tried etc. I hope that with a list of symptoms, others can spot the problem early and try new things so we're not all helplessly doing the same thing.

I wasn't gonna bother showing anyone this until I had tried it and perfected the plan, but basically I have been toying with the idea of creating rain in the tank and I have been constructing a page at the same time. So here is my first design:

www.petsnails.co.uk/docs/rain_machine.html

I mention it here because I think one of the benefits will be a better ventilated and cleaner tank, and this may help keep things like this problem away.

The cybersnail answers are promising at least, because they show that the problem is not a new one, and in their cases it didn't wipe out all their snails.

[natrat84]

I too would love to send a sample if it meant help to you, me, or anyone. But like Pauls it hasn't eaten for weeks now and if it doesn't eat it doesn't... If it died, would that be any use? I mean I don't want to go throwing it away and then find it may have been of use to somebody to research this problem. I certainly wouldn't like to see this again in any of my snails, so anything that will help.

WOW Paul at the rain machine Coooool. Me likes. Me thinks me is going to print, and leave lying around... on Jas's desk maybe.... rofl. I'll have to creep

Nat

[Paul]

I get carried away....lol

[natrat84]

lol, No its great, very good idea

[Arno]

admin said:

I get carried away....lol

Better be careful or you will get carried away,the g'ment doesn't like rainmakers rofl ;D

[Deleted]

rain machine is a nice idea but it sounds a bit complicated for us lay people , if you ever do make one, let us know how well it works.

kind regards

mike

[Leah]

I love the idea! But I think I'm a little to stupid to figure out how to make it.

[copigeon]

Paul you state something along the lines of guaze for the drainage from the bottom of the tank?
Had a very quick glance so sorry if you already came to the same conclusion but..
Can I suggest, an undergravel filter plate? Theyre pittance to buy, sturdy? self constructed would do the same job?

[Val]

I had just come up with EXACTLY the same idea!!!!!!!!!!!

Val

[Paul]

I'll check that out. Sounds perfect and that was bothering me, about how clogged it would get. Your idea is much more elegant!

[Arno]

Paul wrote:

I wasn't gonna bother showing anyone this until I had tried it and perfected the plan, but basically I have been toying with the idea of creating rain in the tank and I have been constructing a page at the same time. So here is my first design:

Ok,here is my execution of the idea,haven't tried it yet with soil in,but it was an interesting experience to make lol.Is this what you had in mind then Paul? ;D

[natrat84]

Wowwweeeeeeeeeeeee look at you go ;D

Well done Looks great and as though it works. You'll have to try it out properly and report back ;D

Just mentioned it to Jas, and he said give him the plans and what he needs he will make it for me. Woooohoooooo bless him ;D

Great job Arno ;D

Nat

[anjieburdett]

You smart arse rofl. Well done Hon, you kept that one quiet hehe. Now get on that EuroStar and get over here and make me one ;D - looks really complicated

Anjie,x.

[Paul]

Looks absolutely fantastic Arno! I think I'd have made the water chamber slightly smaller but your tank is very tall so that looks great! Try it with soil and see how you get on. Can't believe my eyes really. I'm definitely gonna do it eventually, just been so busy with work and these ill snails, its hard to keep up with everything.

[Deleted]

wow arno go you! i hope the snails love it

[Darren Vella]

Hey guys its been a long time since I last posted in thid forum.

Well..regards the ongoing bacterial research we have discovered that out achatina snails, carry loads of different species of rod bacteria such as Bacilli and possibly soil thriving chlostridia. These are not necessarily pathogenic to snails but seems that they have a special role in the breakdown of cellulose into essential sugars needed by the body. Pseudomonas was also present and it seems to be frequent in snail feaces, it most probably becomes pathogenic when the populations oif such microbes exceed limit, they might possibly thrive in their gut but as Eschericia coli in humans thrives in guts it may also become pathogenic when in high numbers.

[Darren Vella]

BTW Darren Vella is Achatitan's real name.

[apple]

Very interesting

[section8angel]

It all sounds scary 'cause I have no idea what it all means Lol.

*Puts her dunces hat on*