to bathe a snail

[snailgirl]

hello! I GOT ANOTHER SNAIL!!!!!!! His name is Pheonix because when i found him i couldnt tell if the shell was empty or not... I was irresponsible and left my snails alone for about... well... quite a while.. and Speedy is OK!!!! But my shy one, Captain Mollusk hasn't gotten out of his shell..... but anyway.... how do you bathe such teeny snails? oh, and can you please tell me how to know if Captain Mollusk is ok? Thanks!

[danikat]

How small are they exactly?

I believe the general rule is that when they're out of the shell the water shouldn't come up to the lip of the shell. They breathe through a hole beside the body just inside the shell so that needs to be open to the air. It's best to do it in something with sloping sides like a shallow bowl or one of those reptile dishes so they can climb out if they want to, but if they're really small you might be better off with something flat so you can control the depth easier.

As for waking them up some people say spraying them with water can do it, but I found either a warm bath or placing them directly onto food did it best. Basically give them an incentive to wake up.

[crossless]

I think it's best not bath smallest snails. My size limit is that I don't bath snails that are under 3,5cm in shell length I think it's best that way. I mean really tiny ones can even drown in small drop of water. If you need to wake some snail just put it on substrate so that side where foot comes out touches substrate so snail will feel that it's moisture and safe to come out.

[snailgirl]

I mean i cant even see his little foot! ( but the biggest one is a little under an inch for his shell. and also, i put all of them in a little water (like they are now...) and Captain Mollusk isnt out! But the others are! (

[Deleted]

i have a snail which her shell is smallr than apea! i dont bathe her i get a cup or bowl of water get a cotton bud dap the cotton bud in the water then gently rub it of her shell, its easier that way also what ever you do DO NOT WASH YOUR SMALL SNAILS IN THE SINK! my snail the sink over flowed my snail nealy went down the floor gap so i stupidly took the plug out and my sail went down hehe.... i put on a sad face and di a pretend cry to my dad so he unplugged the sink and i got my snail back and leftt my dad to the sink

[Deleted]

maby capptin mollusk is dead or maby he has mites and he is ill, if he dosent havee mites smll him if he smells horrid then its sad to say that he has passed away otherwise he is in a very big sleep. if he dosentt smell then try getting a cotton bud and gently poke his foot, if it moves he should be alive

[snailgirl]

thats what i did to Speedy but I cant SEE captain mollusk's sweet little tummy/foot i smelled him and didnt smell nothin but to wake my other snails up i put them in a teeney bit of water and they poked there cute little heads out except for my little captain....

[Deleted]

Hmmmmmm......Maby get a water squirter and spray him? If not put him in a dish of water for about 5-8 secs if he isnt moving shake his shell if theres a tapping then....he is gone... or put him in a clear tub with water a bit deep (depends how big he is) then hold his shell under the water and swirl it around if the foot appers and is sort of flowing with the water he could be dead........I hope hes alive, unless he is in a COMA!!!!! but i dont think snails can do that.

[snailgirl]

I put him in a little bit of water a lot! nothin.... i am afraid to shake his shell though :S