Help....................detached from shell!

[madhouse]

First off a big hello to everyone - sorry Ive not been around much during half-term but having the children home from school dont half mess up my routine!! But hopefully I'm back now and normal service will be resumed ;D ;D ;D ;D

Anyways on to my question - Brian (my was poorly when I first got them snail) appears to be half detached from his shell - I noticed it early part of this evening when he was hanging off the roof of their tank.

Help........................will he recover? What can I do to help him? Is he in any pain? Will he be okay?

I lost my lovely little 13 year old cat last week when I had to decide to have her put to sleep and I can't bear the thought of losing another pet now

Any thoughts please or advice as to how I can help my little mate

Thanks

[Katie]

i dont know for sure so you will have to ask those of more experience but all i can say is to put him in a small container on his own that isn't very high (so that he can't climb very far) and keep him moist.
dont put anything else in the container exept the thing he needs eg: food, water, cuttle. ect ..

sorry to hear about your cat

hope this helps xxx

[madhouse]

Thanks Katie - will sort out a temporary little house for him now. Will he be okay do you think or am I gonna lose him??

Thanks again

[madhouse]

well I arent really sure what to think now - he's in his temporary little house since last night and hasn't moved - he's still alive but hasn't come out of his shell at all and hasn't eaten anything. When I look into his shell I can see quite deeply inside - there looks like none of his body is attached to his shell anymore

What can I do to help him - is he suffering and is he going to get better or would it be better for him if I put him out of his misery? Help please

[goose]

It is difficult to say what might be wrong without pictures. I don't know how to post forum links but if you look under the pests, disease and illness section, the second page there is a post from eric2 which shows pictures of snails with a mantle collapse. Does your snail look anything like these?

[madhouse]

Thanks - like I said he was hanging off the roof of his tank yesterday by his foot but it looked like a large part of his body was also out of the shell and now when I look inside his shell I can see really far in and I cant see that any of his 'skin' is attached to the shell at all.

This is what it looks like to look inside



I'm unsure whether to put him into his little bath that he loves but I'm afraid he'll drown as he wont be able to get his head out properly to breath or he'll come out as normal and totally detach the shell completely and then obviously die anyway. Any thoughts please?? I hate to think he's suffering cos of my ignorance.

[monday]

Looks like deep retraction. probably caused by the mantle calaspe. Katie was spot on with the shallow container. Go ahead and bath him, snails can hold their breath a lot longer than you think...he isn't going to drown from having a bath (only when they fall into deep water and can't climb out)

The warm water should encourage him to come out, when he does get him on some of his favorite food, you may have to hand feed him.

Try to up his intake of protein too, to help him repair the mantle, pumpkin seeds are high in protein, but can be pricy. Hemp and sunflower seeds are also good. Grind some up and mix it with milk, water or fruit puree.


Keep us informed and good luck.

[madhouse]

great thanks for the dvice - will give him a bath in a minute and mix up some of his favourite porridge with a sprinkling of cuttlefish and limestone flour. Am keeping my figners crossed for the little guy - I've not had him very long but I've grown quite attached to them both. Thanks again

[monday]

happened to one of mine not so long ago...he didn't retract though.

[madhouse]

hope your little chap is okay now - will Brian he alright do you think??

[monday]

I've lost snails because of retraction before, but i wouldn't like to say if Brian will make it. Just gotta try your best. Bath him daily and make sure he hasn't got far to go for food.

[madhouse]

Okay thanks for all yuor help - will keep my fingers crossed for him. Thank you

[madhouse]

well he's had his bath but never came out so I couldn't tempt him with any food I'll do my bet for the little guy though and am gonna bath him again later on to see if I can at least get his head out so he can smell his porridge - will let you know how he gets on

[coyote]

Good luck! I hope he makes it.

[madhouse]

sadly poor little Brian passed away during the night.

Thanks for all your help and support guys, was much appreciated

[Dusk]

RIP Brian

[monday]

You tried all that you could, I'm sure he had a great life while you had him.

Sorry.

[morningcoffee]

Poor baby. I'm really sorry. You did your best for him, sometimes it seems there is just nothing we can do to fix things like this

[madhouse]

Thanks guys xx

[Katie]

im sorry to hear that he passed on
rip the little chap xxx
hugs and kisses

[madhouse]

Thanks lovey xx

[coyote]

I'm so sorry. Sometimes these things happen no matter how well we care for them.