Newbie Needs Advice

[weezywyke]

Recently acquired two baby African Land Snails (about the size of a small marble). Have done some research online and understand that these snails like to bury themselves from time to time but ours bury themselves all day and seem to only come alive at night. Is this normal ? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Many Thanks

[Dusk]

They do tend to be more active at night, but they'll also bury themselves if they're too cold or too dry. Do you have a thermometer? Temperature is usually the first thing to check if GALS are having problems

[weezywyke]

Thanks Dusk - Temp is 22c and I spray them with room temperature water twice a day (as advised) but may be I'm not spraying enough - I only spray a little as I do not want to hurt them

[Dusk]

If they're achatina fulica then that's probably plenty - they don't like it quite as damp as some other species. The conditions sound fine

It could just be that they're young and sleeping a lot - I don't think it's anything to worry about as long as they're out and about in their own time.

[danikat]

I found mine buried themselves a lot more when they were young, pretty much only waking up to eat.

It might be an instinctive thing, young snails are going to be food for almost everything in the wild so they're safer buried, whereas bigger ones are a bit safer.

[weezywyke]

Thanks for your advice. Over the weekend they have been a bit more active and seem to be eating well when they do come out. They are also now eating the cuttle fish. I will put it down to the fact that they are babies and keep an eye on them. Once again thanks for the advice.