burrowing snails

[carly1979]

my giant land snails have started burrowing into the substrate - does this mean they're cold? the smaller of the two did it for a couple of days then came out and has been eating today.

the larger one has now almost completely disappeared under the substrate (the only other time i've seen him dig a bit was when he laid an egg).... this time of year does it likely mean he's hibernating?

it is really cold here but with the heating on it's not really getting THAT cold in the house.

would it be best to leave him be or should i take him out and [if he's sealed over] 'wake' him up?

i'm a bit worried about him.

[siobhanc54]

What sort are they?
My tigers and margie always burrow during the day and come out at night for food, while my retics rarely burrow, and my 1cm fulica (9 months old and very stunted) likes to stay above ground but does burrow on occasion, it may be colder and that would make them less active, but the burrowing behaviour is a normal snaily thing.
I have got 3 tigers hibernating at the minute and they have sealed themselves in (so have left them to it if I keep unsealing them I would worry about the energy needed to keep sealing up again, there is a heat mat but they have decided to hibernate anyway while the other 5 don't feel it necessary) I wouldn't worry best time to check who is up and who isnt is to wait til night time.

[carly1979]

it might sound stupid, but i don't actually know what species they are. looking at the pics on this website their shells look most similar to Achatina Smithii......

The bigger of the two snails has burrowed and hasn't come out for a couple of days - fairly sure he's not been out at all (even at night). and this is new behavior for him.

i don't have a heat pad, and can't really afford one right now, but if it might be harming them then i might have to consider it.....

thanks for your input anyway.

[Dusk]

If you post a few pictures, including shell shape and columella,we can probably identify them - which will make it much easier to determine if their behaviour is out of the ordinary or not

[carly1979]

these are the photos i have uploaded at the moment, hopefully you might be able to tell from these. if not i shall try to take some more tomorrow (these are quite old photos - they've both grown A LOT since this!):




hmmm only seem to be able to post one photo in a post? hang on.....

[carly1979]

[coyote]

I don't know what species that might be, but it is a very beautiful snail!

[kanin]

Achatina Fulica would be my guess from looking at the pictures. To my experience it is unlikely for this species to burrow for longer periods unless for egglaying or if something's wrong heatwise or humiditywise.

During wintertime I've always had to use heatmatts as room temperature usually gets down to betwen 18-20 degrees celcius. My personal advice would be to check tank temperature, if it's lower than 22 degrees then definetly get a heatmat or push the tank up to a radiator or a hot waterpipe. If temperatures somewhere above 22 but less than 25 I would still try to raise temperatures and see if theres any increase in activity

[crossless]

Is your room drafty I had change snail terrariums to opposite wall than is window. Now there not too much draft and heating mat and lamps work better. Last winter they didn't mind 18degree temperature, this year they were really picky of temperature if it lower than 20 to 22 they strat to sleep. If you don't have chance to change terrariums plae or get extra heating I think it's better let snails to sleep and not waste any energy.

[aerliss]

Beautiful shell markings! He does look a lot like a fulica, although his shell seems a lot... squatter (very wide compared to its length) than other fulica I've seen. Might just be the angles though.

My fulica likes to dig, though he never buries himself more than an inch. He just has a nudge around in the topsoil sometimes. My retics LOVE to dig in the moss.

Can't add much to the help other than remember to raise the water content along with the heat so as not to let them dry out.

[crossless]

My fulicas too when they start to grow bigger whorls. They seem to look kind of wide when they starting to grow wider whorls. So mostly you can notice growing when you measure them.

[carly1979]

Thanks for the help with IDing them. They are indeed beautiful snails. And I have just set them up with a heatmat, so hopefully they should be happier (and cosier) now!