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Post by Zorst on Jun 19, 2017 14:05:00 GMT
I get regular upadates of Marrow and his gang as they are with the Vets assitant, there all about to move house over the next few weeks so will have a bigger room for the tank and an upgrade of tank size again which they will love no doubt. They sure seem happy, and though i do miss them in reality i'd have hard job stopping the Fledgeling Song thrush from constantly trying to get into there tank and pestering them.
The other wild caught snails and Arianta that Etana kindly sent me are now all living wild outside so i do see them from time to time when I go and check out where I released them in pockets of safe wild habitat. There numbers have increased so I'm really glad to see that they are doing well. In this dry weather i take water up to those release areas so that they have damp patches and nice moist places to hide away in, sameas they have nicehabitat piles to hideaway in forwhen the weather is bad or to hot.
Zorst
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Post by etana on Jun 19, 2017 21:04:23 GMT
Marrow's grand-child disapproving me. This fellow is my hugest Margie, he's twice the size of mom-dad Iisakki already and has his fantastically expressive face as you can see LOL.
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Post by etana on Jun 19, 2017 21:20:54 GMT
Zorst thanks for the updates. Do you know if there are any particularly angry Arianta in there now, or maybe eye twirlers? I still tell tales about the legendary gangster Rudolf, what a snail he truly was.
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Post by Zorst on Jun 19, 2017 22:02:42 GMT
Oh yes there were def some eye twirlers and very grumpy Arianta's amoungst those that I released, some still pull those grumpy faces at me when I do find them out in there new wild homes lol.
Basically now apart from a small tank of injured snails whose shells are repaireing we currently don't have any snails. Part of the reason is were having to sell up here and buy a new farm so the plan is to have another snail tank when we've re located becuase anywhere we take on will have to be renovated so keeping them warm and humid would be a nightmare until we've sorted out our living space, its going to be hard enough moveing with all the animals, birds and livestock we do have. I will gather some of the now wild Arianta's though before we move and take them with me so that they can re - populate another area.
Etana I Can't belive the size of Marrow's grand child. Though the size gene is something it looks like Marrow has passed on. I'm really glad to see he's getting on with you so well Etana.
Zorst
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Post by etana on Jun 20, 2017 5:39:10 GMT
Ohh I love it, may the grumpy ones and the twirlers live long and prosper. And the others too of course, but this feels like my dear little snails still live on in those guys.
That's some news about having to sell the farm, sorry to hear it Zorst.
Yeah he is massive and doesn't seem to be interested in stopping his shell growth, it's crazy! I'll have to take pics of him on my hand. He's still far from the size of Gaius but you never know what happens! Odd that Iisakki and Grey Nose remained quite small compared to this guy (whom Iisakki had with Seppo) but they're otherwisely doing well.
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Post by jolovessnailies on Jun 20, 2017 8:48:14 GMT
What a cutie photo, he is just adorable. I haven't heard the stories of Rudolph, I am intrigued, he sounds like quite a little guy. Oh I am so sorry Zorst love but I am sure you will find a lovely new home. Please keep us posted.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by etana on Jun 20, 2017 9:08:57 GMT
Oh, Jo... Rudolf was a wild caught snail who had been severely injured and fully recovered on his own before we found him (my man spotted him when we were out). He looked like his shell had been completely shattered and he grew an extra whorl to keep it intact, and also a huge muscle to move it around. He had old healed scars all over from face to tail, even his underside.
He was right out mean, aggressive, and damn smart. He would sit on food, push other snails into corners holding them down, etc. He was able to shovel dirt with his strange shell and he hated falling more than anyone ever, if someone pulled him down he truly raged! The others had to sit on him in groups to discipline him. He had a massive soft spot for water, no matter what he was doing, even wrestling with someone rolling around in the dirt I could distract him with my mist bottle and he'd always break into a dance. He also bathed every day at the same time. He had some babies, one of whom tried to bite me furiously when he was just a hatchling! I sent the angry baby over to Zorst and now there are many angry snails in Ireland lol.
Eventually someone bit a round hole into his shell exactly where the heart is. Equivalent of a criminal getting murdered by gunshot, a very appropriate way for him to go even though I cried so hard that day. I think the little song I wrote for him is still on the forums somewhere, "Rudolf's Song".
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Post by Zorst on Jun 20, 2017 9:19:37 GMT
Ahh the move is both good and bad but as much as we love here the nightare with the bank that I wont go into on here ( we've never defaulted on a payment and they tried to change the origional agreement on us). Means that this will be a fresh start and no mortgage or bank loan. The value of this place compaired to what we paid for it is a decent increase, enough that we can pay the bank off in full and buy another farm locally outright. Yedah we'd have to do some renovation work but thats pretty much standard for over here.
The fact we wont have a large lump sum going out each month to the bank will make a huge difference to us. So its bitter sweet yes but were all looking forwards to starting over in a new place and haveing the chance to set a place up the way we want it the emphisis being on working with the land and wildlife to form a haven for it free from pestersides etc and being self sufficent.
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Post by Zorst on Jun 20, 2017 9:28:43 GMT
AHH yes Rudolf's angery offspring sure have populated this part of Ireland lol. I get may grumpy snails faces and attempts to bite me when i do find them. I always think of him when I see them some of the offspring of these snails you sent me Etana show both traits the twirly eyes and the grumpy faces lol. They are doing well and are strong snails so its great to see them out living wild here. I will def pic up some of the grumpy twirly eyes one's to move with me, I'ed miss them to much not to gather and take some. Then Rudolfs offspring will have two wild colonies in Ireland to rule with grumpy faces and Twirly eyes lol.
Zorst
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Post by etana on Jun 20, 2017 12:20:43 GMT
Ah yes, for those unfamiliar with the twirling, that's another story! My very first snail ever, Old Grumpy, had a fiery romance with another one of my first ever snails, Big Eyes. One of their many lovechildren would twirl his eye stalks endlessly, and they were super long and thin too! I half unknowingly managed to send a little twirler (his offspring) together with the angry baby (and a few other young snails) to Zorst and they apparently have bred, creating snails with quite a bit of character, and that makes me smile like you wouldn't believe. Seriously though I'm sure the snails benefit from Rudolf's traits, both physical and behavioural, when taking over the land new for them. I'll aways be glad I had him. The twirling is a weird bonus lol.
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Post by jolovessnailies on Jun 21, 2017 9:20:07 GMT
Oh bless him Etana love, but it is a small wonder that he was the way he was, life had been horrid to him until you looked after him. I didn't know snailies could be that aggressive though, under any circumstances, I still have much to learn. I had to chuckle when you said his offspring were the same, snailies with attitude problems. I hope they are not terrorising Ireland's snailies or you too much Zorst hunni. Yes Etana I think I remember reading Ruldolph's song and being very touched by it. You are right, he went in the end like a gangster but left his mark and reputation behind as they do.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by etana on Jun 22, 2017 7:21:31 GMT
Yeah I remember wondering if it was his rough live that made him that way, and Zorst pointed out that he probably survived the hardships because he was a fighter to begin with.
It's true that usually snails are very mellow and gentle, some individuals in the wild are aggressive though, and now not just some but a population, oh man. I wonder if one day biologists will notice LOL.
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Post by jolovessnailies on Jun 22, 2017 10:14:37 GMT
That is one of the many things I love about them Etana hunni, their kindness to each other and their sweet ways. I do hope that doesn't change in time.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by etana on Jun 22, 2017 12:48:41 GMT
Probably not in our lifetime, hun.
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Post by jolovessnailies on Jun 23, 2017 13:33:31 GMT
Let's hope they don't Etana love.
Hugs Jo xx
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