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Post by Vida on May 11, 2009 18:10:22 GMT
Hello and thank you before hand. It has been a while since I was last here. I am so busy these days. But my eldest puylaerti, Bambi, who is about 5 years old, feels very light, as if it has lost a lot of weight. Only comes out when held or extremely long bath and has at the edge of the shell with the flesh like a white small bump, going under the flesh.
I know it goes out a bit, as it has moved when I check in the mornings, but I am worried about the losing weight. It feels so light now.
Any ideas?
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Post by AlienSnail on May 11, 2009 18:27:32 GMT
oh that's sad, poor snail. I'm wondering if it could be old age? Does anyone know how long this species lives for?
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Post by Vida on May 14, 2009 18:07:04 GMT
It is now quite retracted inside it's shell. It does come out and nibble a very little bit of sweet potato, but then goes back into the shell. It weighs very little, mostly the shell. It seems to have shrunk. I don't know what to do. It doesn't look bigger than an ordinary big snail (apart from the shell of course).
Is this the normal way they go with old age? Could it be something else? I am open to any suggestions. I am very worried.
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Post by Vida on May 15, 2009 18:25:44 GMT
Honestly, any suggestion welcome. I am at a loss.
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Post by AlienSnail on May 15, 2009 18:52:00 GMT
Aw Vida this really is very sad but I'm afraid that all i can offer is sympathy and not advice. If your snail can't be encouraged to feed even after you have tried everything then it's down to nature taking it's course. Either the snail will get over what's ailing him or he will fade and die. I'm sorry. It's upsetting, I've watched my favourite snails die and it's awful feeling helpless to do anything about it.
I tend to - check for mites, * Check for mantle tears or other injuries, * Bath the snail - perhaps for quite a while in natural bottled water to help it to rid itself of toxins (if there are any, but that's not usually the case with pet snails), * Make sure there's plenty of heat and humidity, * Spray the tank, * Wake the snail and encourage it to eat (but you just can't make them), sweet potato is a favourite, high in vitamins and usually apetising for most snails. * Put them on top of something nutritious in the hope of them absorbing some goodness through the skin (well I can hope)
The thing is you have tried just about everything I can think of, so I'm just really repeating all you've tried!!! (sorry)
It could be worth quarentining your snail, just in case it's something infectious, and that lump you mention is a puzzle, i'm struggling to locate any useful information about this, but it may just be old age, coming to a natural end to it's life.
I am sorry Vida x
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Post by Vida on May 15, 2009 19:03:37 GMT
Thank you in any case for your sympathy. Yes, I have tried all of that. There are no mites and the lump has disappeared. I would guess it is age. But I don't know. It is upsetting. I just hope it is not in pain.
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Post by AlienSnail on May 15, 2009 19:16:56 GMT
Yeah, all I could do was type and repeat what you have already tried, i know it wasn't very helpful Poor snail. I'm not sure that he would be in any pain, no-one can tell. Perhaps all he feels is sleepy and the need to do nothing. I doubt that a snail is aware of the passing time while it is dormant, perhaps also any pain goes away too, as it does for us when we're sleeping. I would hope therefore that (if it doesn't recover)it will fade without suffering
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Post by choco on May 15, 2009 19:17:05 GMT
Have you tried lots of different types of food? Maybe he/she would be happier to eat something that's been cooked to be very soft or mashed.
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Post by Vida on May 15, 2009 20:26:07 GMT
Thanks, will try and see.
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Post by Vida on May 16, 2009 20:10:06 GMT
Bambi has died. I buried it in a beautiful place in the mountains. It will be missed. I am now worried about Betlem, Bambi's partner. They were of the same age.
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Post by AlienSnail on May 16, 2009 21:06:55 GMT
Aw Vida, that's sad hun. Hugs to you xx I hope Betlam is ok x
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Post by Vida on May 17, 2009 17:41:29 GMT
Thanks so much. It was my first snail to die. The first one I ever had. Strange how we can love something so different to us.
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