Giant african land snails

[hjmum]

I am looking after my friends kids snail and I am not sure if it alive or not!

It has been okay but seems to have stopped moving. it has some jelly type stuff coming from its tail end (I think!)

Dont know anything about snails - I have tried to make it move but it doesnt - not sure if it is hibernating or dead.

If you can give me any advise I would be grateful

[herbivore]

are you keeping it properly hydrated? You need to spray it every once in a while with clear water. This may revatalize it :B

[lankeela]

They do 'shut down' if they get cold. Put the tank in the airing cupboard and it will revive! They get a sort of thin film over the opening and this will peel off when they wake up. They will take a while to start eating again.

Mine love cucumber and the outside leaves of round lettuce (they don't like icebergs!). I have got five and they are fascinating. As a Christmas treat they will get corn on the cob. They also like things like peaches and melons.

If they are in a warm environment they need their tank spraying with tepid water. Mine are kept on peat and I spray this each day.

[lankeela]

Try putting in a search and look for a site called snailsonline. It has information on keeping them.

[qapmoc]

From a personal viewpoint I can tell you not to worry too much about it, we have these things everywhere here and when it is dry weather they vanish, they get into hedges, under stones etc... and as IK says they form a dry film over the opening and basically shut down and wait for rain. When it rains for a couple of days the garden is covered with them !
So it is probable that the one you are looking after just needs water, Keep it in a damp/wet environment and it should be OK.

[rd14962]

YUK!! horrible slimey things! If it was in my house I would pour salt on it, however as this would kill it, I wouldn't recommend this course (or coarse) of action.

[lankeela]

Actually they are not slimey. They do leave a film where they have been, but they are quite dry to the touch. They make the most fascinating pets. Your suggestion is quite barbaric and I hope you do not have any children or impressionable youngsters around you that might try such a thing.

[rd14962]

Lankeela, have a play with humour, you may enjoy it!!