Shells changing colour

[bertnagnes]

Hi everyone, I usually house my GALS on peat. When I cleaned them out this week, I put some hay in with them, on top of the peat. I could swear that their shells have gone lighter since I did this. Does this happen? Is it my imagination? or could something be wrong? Thanks

[feebix]

I didn`t think peat was a suitable substrate but I`m sure someone else will know about that... Hay.... why hay? It`s moss you want ! lol As far as the shells lightening, they do tend to get a bit scratched and also get quite white in places so I`m sure it`s nothing to worry about....

[Amber]

I use an organic peat that seems to suit moss and put a layer of moss on top of it. I have been advised to give small amounts of hay as a treat. Have tried it with all of mine but none of them will go near it. Wouldnt suggest using it as a substrate though. Some of my snails lighten and darken, not necessarily to do with substrate, generally more because they are growing, but im sure some things can effect their shell colour.... normally staining though which makes them look darker....... hmm interesting.

[Dusk]

I give mine hay and/or meadow hay and most of them like it, a few don't... but it goes mouldy fairly quickly if they don't eat it all, so I wouldn't use it as substrate either.

[crossless]

I use peat. Peat and soil are only suitable for snails only when there's no fertilizer in it. Otherwise it will be dangerous to snails, because they need to eat some peat. I don' like soil much there's sand in it, it scratches tank it can scratch snails shell and sand it's really hard to get all out from tank when you need to change it. I like more of soils structure but I buy peat 'cos there's no sand in it and soil is in really small packages and hard to find that no fertilizered one.

My snails shell color changes depending what they are eating I'm trying now avoid green color it's really hard this time of year find any colorfull vegetables if I have to give some green I add some other color in too.