twisting snail shell

[lexi]

hello~ Im new to snails, and new to the forum.
I picked up a cute little helix aspersa at work form a greenhouse plant that had been shipped in.
He seems happy and healthy, though I noticed some strange behavior the other day. I was trying to put his new home together, and must have woke him from his little nap when I was trying to pick him up. He was suctioned to the plastic lid he was on and i tugged at his shell VERY lightly (probably a bad idea either way) and he popped out and woke up. after that, he started rotating his shell, back and forth.. almost like he was stretching? it was very strange. he did it maybe 3 or four times in about 30 seconds.
is this normal? did i hurt him? he seems perfectly fine, still doing what snails do best. it was just a very strange sight since Im new to snail behavior.

[Katie]

i think he is probably just trying to make his shell more comfortable for him.
But i wouldn't tug on his shell, even if it was lightly, if you want to get him off the side, wet your fingers and then slide them underneath his head, gently lifting him off the glass

other may say different on the twisting though, but i have seen snails do this when their shell has been twisted whilst trying to get to something

hope this helps!

xXx

[coyote]

I also recommend sliding the snail's body onto your hand and not trying to pick it up by its shell. Your snail may have been trying to readjust its "clothing" after its shell had been tugged on. If it stops doing it and crawls around normally and eats normally, there's probably nothing wrong. But keep an eye on it for a while anyway to make sure it doesn't keep on doing it.

[lizzie97444]

THIS is PERFECTly normal to snails.
every snails would do this.

[whodoesntlovesnails]

yes, i think that u just adjatated him, and he is just fixing himself

[lexi]

that you that is a relief. yes I feel pretty stupid for tugging on him. i just wasnt sure how to get him out of his nap Ill have to work at picking him up.. its a little hard to get my finger under such a small body, though i guess i can always wait for him to work his way over to me.
Im looking forward to finding out more interesting quirks of the little dudes. they do things i never thought i snail would do.

[coyote]

If mine is stuck to the side of the tank, I spray some water on the tank to make it easier to slide him up to the top edge and onto my finger.

And there are times when he just does not want to be picked up, so I leave him be for a while.

[Rachel]

or try holding food (lettuce leaf?) in front and let him crawl onto it. food is good motivation for movement

[Katie]

dont feel stupid, i bet all of us have done it before, come on guys, admit it ... lool

If he is near the top or an edge then sliding them gently is fine, but dont do it if their is a long way to go

bye xxx

[whodoesntlovesnails]

Oct 20, 2008 15:09:42 GMT Katie said:

dont feel stupid, i bet all of us have done it before, come on guys, admit it ... lool

If he is near the top or an edge then sliding them gently is fine, but dont do it if their is a long way to go

bye xxx

i have done it in my early days of snail owning

[madhouse]

My theory is their shells give them a wedgy sometimes so they have to wiggle about and readjusted themselves

[lizzie97444]

yup.
It's kool to think of early snail keepin days

[whodoesntlovesnails]

Oct 22, 2008 11:51:51 GMT lizzie97444 said:

yup.
It's kool to think of early snail keepin days

i think that i got my first snail, whom i still have now and is 9 years old now...i got her in kinderguarten, and now i am in 9th grade.

[lizzie97444]

wow.
that's kool.
good snail keeper.