HELP, Deep retraction and seems back to front!

[louiseandsid]

HI
Sid our Nursery GAL appears to be deeply retracted and also when he does comeout( when I givehim a shower inside his shell) he appears to be back to front, Scar his friend died over the half term holiday while they were staying at a childs house but they were both retracting prior to this.
He is only two years old and Is usually very healthy.
I have cleaned the tank and put new substarate in Has anyone ot any ideas?? He does come out when we shower him and if we tip his shell upside down so theopening is at the top we can see his head and tentacles etc but his bottom is usually what appears!
PLEASE HELP!!!
thanks in advance
louise and Sid!

[Snail Lover.]

Hi,ive had the same problem in the past with my GAL , Maybe if you've changed something that he doesnt like or he disagrees with , or it might be something to do with the temperate of the tank,anything you may of changed or done could be why he's being this way,But mainly i think its something to do with temperature maybe he's too hot or cold so he's staying in his shell. thats the best advice i can give you , goodluck with it ! Just try get the temperature balanced and see how he goes. Im also thinking pests such as mites, ive also had that problem but i got rid of them by washign my GAL with warm water and i dampened the soil to kill them.

[louiseandsid]

I have done as you sggested and he does try to come out when I give him a warm bath but he is backwards! either tail first or pside down in his shell!, THe other snail who was in with him has recently diesd and they were bothe retracted so I am worried that he will pass on ,I will be so sad. Thanks for answering xxxxx

[coyote]

I've never heard of a snail turned around backwards in its shell. I'm so sorry your other snail died, and I'm so sorry this one seems in bad shape as well.

You mentioned that the snails spent some time at a child's house. Is it possible something happened at that home during that time? Did the child and the parents understand the details of snail care and proper handling? That may have been where things started to go wrong.

It's also possible that even under the best of conditions, snails will die in spite of our best efforts. There is so much we don't know about snail diseases and illnesses or how to prevent them or even treat them once they show up. I'm so sorry you have been having these problems. Best of luck with Sid, and please let us know how he's doing.

[louiseandsid]

Yes Coyote I do believe we will loose him ,They were both retracting prior to their stay and its been nearly three weeks since they returned ~shrugs~ He comes out when we warm bath him ,upside down of course and is pooing as I have found it in the tank around his shell so he must be eating,I have no cue why he is doing it,he is about 3 years old so not too old.Will keep you informed how he is getting on but think maybe he will not be for thisworld much longer.

[coyote]

I'm so sorry. Did you get these snails as adults? If so, it would be hard to know exactly what their complete health history was before you got them. And, as I said, sometimes a snail is just poorly right from the start, in spite of all we do for them, and it's impossible to know when we get them how it will all turn out.

[louiseandsid]

We got one as an adult but had got Sid when he was a baby and sadly Sid passes away last night . I got to work today and he was totally retracted so far you couldn't even seehim and the smell of fish was so strong,We are all extremely sadand think it must have been some sort of a bug or mite or someting for them both to have gotten ill so suddenly and die so quickly.
thank you for your kind words and help
I am sure he is happy now with stan

[coyote]

I'm so sorry for your loss. He will live forever in your heart, though. Rest in peace, Sid.

[Snail Lover.]

Im sorry to hear that too,im sure sid will be sadly missed, but in a way hes not suffering now and you dont have to worry about him, he'll be fine where he is now and healthy again.