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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 13:26:34 GMT
Long time no post on here. I have rescued a BIG snail. But I don't know what it is. He's lost the tip of his shell and has some damage to his skin I will post pics of that in a min. He also has a bit of damage to the lip, but it's nothing major. He's 16cm in shell length. Yep you heard me right. 16cm I think I can safely say he isn't a captive one as he's that big (My Fulicas are only 10cm, biggest so far was 11cm). Only thing is I can't decide if he's a wild Fulica or Marginata. Some pics I look at make me think he's a Fulica, others make me think Marginata!!! And as he's alone I wont be able to tell from eggs. Unless he's hiding some in there from before the trip! If anyone could help I would be very happy. His broken tip, and injured skin. (The white bit) If anyone needs more photos just ask. I've taken quite a few. None of his underneath yet as I want him to stay out for a while (he's very shy which also makes me think he's not captive) but I can tell you the underneath of the shell is white.
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Post by Paul on Sept 13, 2005 13:34:41 GMT
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 13:39:18 GMT
He is? Cool =D That's 3 diff species I have now. I bought some Dimidiata babies the other day and now I have him. Yeeeeeeeeeeee. I can't believe how big he is. Oh, and I say he's probably wild as he was found at the airport in cargo! So he's probably smuggled himself in the poor thing, no wonder he's so shy and has damage. Is the columella the underneath of the lip bit? As I said that bit is white. I never remember the proper names so people don't know what bit I mean normally lol. Oh and thanks for the link, I couldn't find it today yet I saw it the other day lol. Must be going mad!
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Post by Paul on Sept 13, 2005 13:43:30 GMT
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 13:52:12 GMT
Right yep, I did mean that bit lol. It's white. Do you know what might have caused the white bit on the skin there? Also, should I be doing anything to help it heal if it can? And is there anything I can do to help the tip of the shell heal also? I know the lip bit will be ok, but I don't know about the tip.
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Post by anjieburdett on Sept 13, 2005 14:17:59 GMT
OH WOW! Well done for rescuing him - definately a margie!! Poor baby. The margies and tigers i have rescued from Brixton are always covered in cuts like that - they heal very quickly with a good diet and care This is 'Chunk' Mine AND Nats Brixton margie, the cut you can see on his foot healed up really quick - i was quite surprised. Good luck - look after him. Anjie,x. p.s. what ya calling him?...her? hehe.
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 14:23:04 GMT
Heheh thanks It was actually my dad that resuced him. A friend spotted a shell in one of the cargo areas at the airport and my dad went to look, picked it up and found it was alive!! So he put it in a box with some lettuce and brought him home for me He's called BA Glen after where he was found (British Airways airport) and who spotted him lol Glen the friend. Thanks for the reassurance. I was a little worried he might not heal. Will the shell tip heal aswell do you think? All my snails have chunks of cuttlefish in the tanks for their shells, will that and normal food and care be enough? It doesn't look too bad, I can't see him through the break. It's just white shell bits. And thanks to both of you for the ID. I'm so thrilled now lol. From the size dad said it was I thought it might have been a Tiger, but a Margie is fine with me!! Any snails are fine with me lol
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Post by natrat84 on Sept 13, 2005 14:24:59 GMT
Awwww hes gorgeous - Well done. Anjies right, the cut will heal really quickly. Just give him lots of food and cuttlefish he should be fine. He will become less shy in time Nat
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Post by anjieburdett on Sept 13, 2005 14:26:59 GMT
The tip of his shell won't grow back or repair itself or anything. Can you see inside the shell to his internal organs and stuff?
Anjie,x.
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Post by natrat84 on Sept 13, 2005 14:29:06 GMT
Awwwwww BA Glen - so cute! With the shell tip. If you can't see any flesh through the break then its entirely upto you, I wouldn't have thought you 'had to' but if you wanted to you could. I wrote an article somewhere. Think its on the snail society board, about shell repair If you can't find it, give me a shout. Nat
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Post by natrat84 on Sept 13, 2005 14:32:54 GMT
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 14:47:21 GMT
No, that's what I meant by I couldn't see him through it lol Sorry. These things make sense to me in my head but I forget about other people not being as insane as me All I can see is this: It just looks dirty, I can't see any flesh at all, although I might if I looks further down those tiny gaps. Would it be worth giving it a little clean with a damp cotton bud? Cheers for that link too. I'll have a look through that and see.
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Post by sezzy5889 on Sept 13, 2005 15:16:36 GMT
Wow hes massive for a margie mine are brixton rescues but they are 11-12cm shell length, but yeah hes gorgeous :-)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2005 15:23:46 GMT
I think the shell tip has broken off exposing the insides, but they have dried up. This might mean the snail is infertile, as that is where some of the genital organs are (gonad) there is a picture of the snails anatomy on my website: www.freewebs.com/worldofsnails/snaillifestyle.htmkind regards mike
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Post by sezzy5889 on Sept 13, 2005 15:27:11 GMT
I think it may have just missed it
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 15:35:31 GMT
Thanks, thanks and Ooo I see lol. It shouldn't matter too much about being infertile as I doubt I'll find another for him to breed with (Unless there are any going cheap). It wont hurt him if those organs are damaged will it?
I think mine's so big because he's probably from the actual wild and not a captive bred snail (What I mean is, I don't know if the ones at Brixton are bred for selling there instead of being brought in from the wild. With them being smaller shell lengths it sounds like they might be bred for it). He was in with a pallette of imported fruit or something like it, so he probably smuggled himself in when it was all packed!! And it was cargo not baggage or anywhere so he didn't belong to anyone! Poor thing was probably freezing cold too as they have to keep the fruit cold to stay fresh! Poor so and so.
He seems happier now though. I did try getting to come out onto my hand but he wasn't ready yet lol.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2005 15:43:10 GMT
I think it may have just missed it archachatina have a more rounded tip so after the first or so whorl you get to the flesh. achatina have a point and the insides dont go all the way to the top... wow sian its amazing no one noticed such a big snail, especially at an airport.
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Post by section8angel on Sept 13, 2005 15:47:54 GMT
I know! You'd be amazed at some of the other things they miss. *No comment* lol. We all know how bad airports can be anyway. I'm so glad Dad and his friend found it. I don't know if dad would have seen it if Glen hadn't pointed it out. I've told him to go looking for more today hahahahahaha So, will it hurt him if the gonad is damaged? Or will it only mean infertility. That's a great site btw. The pic was very helpful.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2005 15:50:07 GMT
i think it only means infertility. but you could try and patch it up to be on the safe size. nat had an article on it
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Post by sezzy5889 on Sept 13, 2005 15:51:38 GMT
it depends on how long shes had him, if you've had him for a while now and hes been fine then i don't see any reason to do anything about it now
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Post by section8angel on Sept 14, 2005 9:05:27 GMT
I only got him the night before I posted this thread. But I have no idea how long he was at the airport. And yep the link to Nats thread has been posted for me and I now have it in my snail folder on faves!! lol
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