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Post by herecomethegals on Oct 30, 2009 12:56:37 GMT
Hi, Just wondering if it is safe to mark GALS shells with a felt tip pen/similar to help tell them apart without harming them? I think it should be ok, just wanted to check! Thanks
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Oct 30, 2009 20:17:37 GMT
I'd be careful about which kind of felt-tip pen you use. The "magic marker" kinds of pens contain xylene, which is toxic, and not something I'd want anywhere near my snails.
I'm not sure about the ordinary kind of felt-tip pens, but if it were me, I'd err on the side of caution.
This is an interesting question that comes up from time to time, and I don't think anyone has yet found the definitive answer as to how to mark snails permanently and safely.
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Post by herecomethegals on Oct 31, 2009 12:18:52 GMT
OK, thanks!
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Rachel
Archachatina puylaerti
They see me snailin'
Posts: 1,183
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Post by Rachel on Oct 31, 2009 19:27:33 GMT
I have on occasion marked snails shells carefully with a TINY blob of nail varnish while they were asleep, and kept them on their own for 45 minutes after. Its rare I do that though
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aerliss
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 281
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Post by aerliss on Nov 1, 2009 20:12:20 GMT
What about the pens that are pretty much designed to prevent curious children from poisoning themselves?
Food colouring? Beetroot juice? Lol
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Nov 1, 2009 20:44:36 GMT
I would imagine food coloring and beetroot juice would wear off in time, being water-soluble. The outer part of the shell, the periostracum, is a thin membrane-like organic layer that covers the outer surfaces of the shell. It is capable of being worn away by rubbing against objects in the environment or by contact with acidic substances that will dissolve it. Even a non-toxic pen mark would probably disappear in time -- but how long it would last is unknown. It may last a long time, or at least long enough to establish a particular snail's identity.
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Post by crossless on Nov 24, 2009 1:37:48 GMT
Nail polish will vanish about in few months Why you should need to mark them anyway always you can notice some different coloring in their shells when they grow up. You can buy now days less toxic organic nail polish so that's could be safest. When my snails very babies like hmmh.. 10months ago I just took nail polish I wiped brush "dry" from nailpolish and just put some color on 1th and on 2nd whorls. Let it dry and did same thing again when color was almost all gone. And snails didn't have any sideaffect of it. Now I can remember who is who 'cos they are so big now.
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