LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 28, 2007 19:29:14 GMT
I wasn't going to post about this, as didn't want folks thinking I'm a sh*t owner, but I really need your help now - as from today I know now there's something wrong with some of my snails. It started around the same time as two recent additions and a change in substrate - so cant pin it on anything specific, but has spread through most of my fulica. It starts with lack of appetite, snails lose weight, then their flesh starts to get darker mainly round the edge of their foot but as it progresses, their whole body gets darker (not in patches or anything - it's just as if they've gradually changed colour, not some sort of skin problem). Then they retract, and today two fulicas gave up the fight. Most of my other fulicas are showing symptoms, and now my adult margies are off their food (but they dont usually have huge appetites so I'm not sure whether they're affected). Some of these snails have never been very strong, and have (looking back) had symptoms for a while (lack of appetite and retracting), but some have literally gone from fat to thin in a matter of days. Must add - thinking about it - this could go further back as this is exactly how Flucky went - she got the dark flesh etc, but I just presumed that was because she was weak and dying - it might still be the case, maybe that's not so much a symptom as it is a sign of them being ill. Another thing I've noticed is that they're giving out more slime - thicker, and clear but orange coloured. This rings alarm bells as I seem to remember someone posting about it on cybersnails (a long while ago now) - and it pretty much devastated their collection. TBH, I have a horrible feeling I'm going to lose most or all of my fulicas. I may be over-reacting on that part, as some of my snails are still eating and not looking too dark - but they're not eating as much. I've not seen any of them eat today (and I've been watching them constantly just about), although some food has gone through the night. I think that's the less poorly ones. I've taken all of my snails off substrate (it continued after a change onto compost - I just assumed they were being fussy because they didn't like the moss) and am keeping them all now on damp kitchen roll, changed daily - tanks cleaned daily. Has anyone heard of this before? Is there anything else I can do? Or am I just going to have to sit it out and see how it ends up? TBH, I'm scared sh*tless that I'm going to lose all my snails - but I do have a tendency to over-react - and like I said, I think the margies are just doing what they normally do and I'm reading too much into it because I'm worried. I've done everything I can (increased temps and humidity, changed bedding, cleaning daily, tried treats daily to increase their appetite - porridge, etc) and I really dont know what else I can do. Can anyone help?
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Post by copigeon on Jan 28, 2007 19:50:51 GMT
Have never experienced the problem, but I would recomend a strict quarenteen on any showing symptoms. And a strict washing of hands with an antibacterial soap or f10 hand gel in between handling/feeding of affected and unaffected snails to prevent cross contamination.
Hopefully someone here has some inclination as to what may be happening.
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 28, 2007 20:00:15 GMT
That's what I've been doing - washing hands etc, I always use anti-bac handwash before and after handling the snails. All the fulicas are showing symptoms, but only some of them are poorly poorly, if you get me. Ie. Some are refusing food, skinny and dark. Some of them are still eating, just not as much as before. The two who were retracting are now dead, the others are mainly normal in that respect - one or two are retracting now and again, but not all the time. There's no point me splitting up the poorlier ones from the ones with less symptoms - as they'll all be carrying whatever it is, if it's a virus or something.
I'm really super strict with handwashing when it comes to handling the snails - both for their benefit, and the fact I've got kids I dont want to pass any nasties on to. If you get me.
I'm doing everything by the book, it's just it doesn't seem to be enough. After that - is it just a case of letting it take it's course? It's so frustrating - it's not as if I can take them to the vet.
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Post by eric2 on Jan 28, 2007 20:24:25 GMT
havent read the whole thing but this is how i lost all my margie ovum most of my suturalis and a few albinos i dont know what to suggest accept quarentine the ones that show the symptoms a couple of mine also had flat bodies and wierd eye stalks it is hard to explain but i know what you are going through the person on cybersnail was crystabell she fed her snails lots of iceberg lettuce i think to make her snails poop allot more
my thoughts are with you
eric
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Post by copigeon on Jan 28, 2007 20:27:13 GMT
Sorry lisa Tried a few google searches for relevant terms to see if theres anything online in an agricultural sense which might relate to those symptoms. But nothing so far. Stick with the routine and monitor them closely? Youre doing the best for them so far.
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Post by eric2 on Jan 28, 2007 20:27:32 GMT
just read the rest of the messages and realized my post wasnt much help
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Post by katherineh on Jan 28, 2007 22:28:37 GMT
I know you had a snail from me recently, none of mine are sick. Best of luck!
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Post by Paul on Jan 29, 2007 9:20:47 GMT
Information about Christabel's experience with the orange discharge....
I responded to her with this:
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 29, 2007 9:46:33 GMT
Thanks for all the help and info. I've not lost any more yet, but my margies haven't eaten at all last night, not even the yummy melon I put in for them so I'm starting to think that they're affected too. I'm putting a hold on the snails I had planned to come in - TBH, if the worst happens, I'm considering the fact that I wont restock, I'll just chalk it up as a bad experience and stick with my fish I wouldn't want to risk exposing any more snails to it. I have 7 baby margies here that I wont be able to rehome now - god knows what to do on that part. It sounds as if it's the same thing that Christabel and Eric have had, just not as quick? Katherine - sadly one of the ones that died was one of the ones from you - I'm very sorry. The other was Delilah, Fidget's sister - the possible rufescens from Eric (she was initially Kathy's but joined me a couple of months back). How long ago did you have this prob Eric?
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Post by deeks35uk on Jan 29, 2007 13:00:35 GMT
I might be stating the obvious, but you mention a change in substrate, do you mean from what you normally use, or change as in clean out the old substrate, and replace with new, becuase what paul said that this could be a defensive reaction (which they just cant win) then is it not possible that the new substrate is contaminated in some way, either from source or since you have had it in storage, no chance it could of had something spilt in it or anything like that?
Hope it all works out, I feel for you.
Ellis
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 29, 2007 13:06:30 GMT
I've changed their substrate for clean substrate, then when that didn't work, I swapped them to another type, then when that didn't work and they started getting really poorly, I moved them into clean new tanks with damp kitchen paper. I dont think it's the substrate, I think it's possible that one of the newer snails brought in a virus of some description - as the snails were on different types of substrate, not all on the same type. If you get me.#
On a small plus note - Cooper's eaten this morning (he's been really tucking into some melon - I say really tucking in - it's nothing compared to his usual big appetite, but it's a big improvement on not eating at all!), as has Sam a little - and Rocko has lightened in colour a bit, but still has some dark patches. I'm hoping that the stronger snails will pull through but also not trying to get my hopes up too soon. But there is poo in the tanks - so some of them are definitely getting some food into their systems.
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Post by gastropodgirl on Jan 29, 2007 14:16:25 GMT
I've got my fingers crossed for you that the other snails will be o.k.
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Post by section8angel on Jan 29, 2007 16:45:26 GMT
If you need anything you know where to find me, I'm keeping everything crossed for you.
Hopefully your margies are just being sods like mine and making you worry for no reason!
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Post by eric2 on Jan 29, 2007 18:23:07 GMT
. It sounds as if it's the same thing that Christabel and Eric have had, just not as quick? How long ago did you have this prob Eric? it was last year now when i had the albino shelled ventris/pupurea and albino shelled tigers strange thing was none of my retis were affected they were kept in the same tank as the margies that died all other snails were taken to my dads house to try and keep them safe i lost apriximatley a snail every day the virus was here
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Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
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Post by Val on Jan 29, 2007 18:24:02 GMT
www.petsnails.co.uk/docs/Nisbet_1974_Presidential_Address.pdfIt is interesting that in this link Nisbet says that tanks should not be excessively clean or hygenic in fact "slum conditions should be aimed for" I have read this theory before that although our tendency is to keep our pets nice and clean the animals themselves in fact do not want it or like it, they much prefer to be left alone, it certainly gives you food for thought!! Val
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 30, 2007 1:33:34 GMT
Thing is, if I leave them alone - they retract more - and as they're leaving their food, if I left it and didn't clean them out - it'd be all mouldy. Eric - would that co-incide with me getting the albino fulica back then? It would certainly make sense, as she wasnt eating when she first arrived - I chalked it up to being newly captive. If you get me. I dont mean to make it sound like I'm blaming anyone - I just want to work out how it came in, so forgive me if it comes across the wrong way. I'm really sorry you had the same probs - it's breaking my heart, and I've only lost two (so far), so you must have been devastated.
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 30, 2007 9:39:49 GMT
Woke up this morning to find three fulicas eating - maybe they'll pull through? Margies still haven't eaten yet though.
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Post by eric2 on Jan 30, 2007 17:53:13 GMT
Thing is, if I leave them alone - they retract more - and as they're leaving their food, if I left it and didn't clean them out - it'd be all mouldy. Eric - would that co-incide with me getting the albino fulica back then? It would certainly make sense, as she wasnt eating when she first arrived - I chalked it up to being newly captive. If you get me. I dont mean to make it sound like I'm blaming anyone - I just want to work out how it came in, so forgive me if it comes across the wrong way. I'm really sorry you had the same probs - it's breaking my heart, and I've only lost two (so far), so you must have been devastated. it was after that it started with my iradeli(just remembered when i was writing a page about them and the yellow eggs) i will hunt out the post and find a date
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Val
Archachatina dimidiata
Posts: 2,498
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Post by Val on Jan 30, 2007 18:02:04 GMT
Woke up this morning to find three fulicas eating - maybe they'll pull through? Margies still haven't eaten yet though. Great news!! Val
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Post by eric2 on Jan 30, 2007 18:02:53 GMT
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 30, 2007 19:41:19 GMT
Oh you know Eric, I'm a pratt - I didn't get the albino fulica from you anyway so sorry about that! *cringe blush looks sheepish*
I swear I have no brain...
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Post by eric2 on Jan 30, 2007 20:55:12 GMT
i didnt read it properly i thought you ment albino margies
do you still want the fulicA/?
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 30, 2007 21:36:07 GMT
If it's not possible for you to hang on to him for a bit to see how things go, then you'd probably be better off selling him to someone else? I dont know. I'm scared of bringing any more in, if I lose them all I doubt I'll restock, I'll just pack it in. But if they recover, I dont know how long to leave it before bringing in newbies. So if you're needing him to go soon-ish, you'd probably be better off selling him on to someone else. Completely understand if you cant hang on to him TBH, I just dont know.
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Jan 30, 2007 21:40:04 GMT
Ps. Thanks to everyone for all the messages and pms and things - I promise I'll get back to you all tonight or tomorrow - just so run off my feet here, snails to clean out, rats to clean out, kids to clean out...erm...hang on...that's not right....kids to see to etc etc. Back's killing me, pain relief's not working, and I'm dire need of a prescription for antidepressants, or a damn good p*ss up. As I cant do either, I'm settling for Maltesers, a brew and the sofa - love you guys, will get back to you all soon xxx
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Post by eric2 on Jan 30, 2007 21:51:20 GMT
nooo he isnt for sale lol i can hang onto him for as long as you want he is a nice little character
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