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Post by mangoandlemon on Sept 18, 2015 14:42:53 GMT
Awww!
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 18, 2015 20:37:13 GMT
Oh bless them both, I take it she isn't too bothered if her lipstick is a bit smudged LOL!! I love the way he gets a tiny bulge when his lady is near him. Everything crossed for babies and if they are anything like Mauno, they will be the best. what a beautiful piccy of him love.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Zorst on Sept 18, 2015 21:06:06 GMT
Great photo's Etana and I really hope that they get themselves sorted out n lay you some batches of eggs soon. I can't wait to see there offspring when they do finally hatch some for you. So glad Mauno finally has himself a friend.
Zorst
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Post by snailcrazy on Sept 18, 2015 21:24:25 GMT
Aww they really are stunning snails. I would certainly give one or two a home.
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Post by etana on Sept 19, 2015 9:51:59 GMT
If all goes to plan I will advertise them next summer. Again if all goes to plan, I can put a couple little ones aside for you Snailcrazy as I also will for Zorst. I'll give this info in advance: Balteata are very easy snails to keep. Only a notch more requirements than fulica as long as I can tell, which is that they need a little more heating and will suffer more quickly if there is cold. They make it up by being gorgeous and really funny characters though. Also, landsnails.org says this too, Mauno deals with major change by digging a hole and sealing himself in his shell (when usually snails just sleep a lot or are hyperactive for a while after a big change). He last did this when I moved him from one tank to another. Every time he's done this, I've happened upon him when doing normal maintenance/egg checks, put him back in the ground to continue resting, and he's come out within the next six hours or so, so it's not really been a problem, just a curious thing. Back to the tank here - it's so funny how Mauno gets into trouble trying to look good! It's a huge strain on his muscles keeping the shell in the perfect position (shell tip over tail tip) when snailing down a wall or a decoration! I saw Lady next to Mauno on the wall, her shell hanging down lazily and covered in soil and calcium stains, Mauno in contrast looking totally perfect - and Mauno got tired (or nervous?), the shell position was wrong for a second, and he quickly straightened it and RAN to his favourite hide. He sure deserves the nickname "Dolce Gabbana" whereas I can't really give Lady any high fashion nicknames, she does have the shell and foot for it for sure, but she's so careless, just like you say Jo, her lipstick may be smudged It also seems she's figuring out where she fits in the hierarchy and is attempting to get to the top, which she can do in theory as she's as big as Mauno and a bit of a different character. I checked on her yesterday and found she'd been sitting over the sleep burrow of Seppo, one of my young Marginata, who is very easy to startle and who runs away from any weird situations. I dug up Seppo too as he inevitably had woken up, and gave sweet pepper in front of his face so he'd get a positive experience out of it. He happily took a bite, but then Lady touched him and he ran like the wind to the very top of the tank! Lady followed him and started kissing and patting him with her eye. Seppo made grumpy faces at her, and then retracted and didn't come out for the rest of the day. Lady sat next to him for the rest of the day too, looking disappointed and deep in thought (funnily enough Mauno too sat for hours making a philosophical face in his own favourite place). I really wish I could read their minds.
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Post by snailcrazy on Sept 19, 2015 12:51:50 GMT
Lol, would be interesting to know what they are thinking. I love the funny faces they make. My retics are the best. They can really screw their faces up.
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Post by etana on Sept 19, 2015 13:16:51 GMT
Haha yeah, and the Marginata face of disapproval is hilarious, it really looks like " >: ( " Tiger snails do a really funny "this is not comfortable" face too, with the center of the face very, very slowly going more and more inwards, when the happy face has the center outwards lol.
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Post by Zorst on Sept 19, 2015 17:24:30 GMT
Yep I sure know that face Etana and he pulls it so well lol. He did from day one which always made him stand out amoungst all the others. Marrow is still up to adventures and ways and still sits in the water bathe when he's grumpy with that very same look on his face, UMM wonder where that look came from and got passed on to lol!
Sounds like Mauno n Lady are great to watch.
Zorst
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Post by etana on Sept 19, 2015 17:42:54 GMT
Hahahaha ohh man, the mental image of a huge snail bathing with his face all that way. I really must catch a photo of the awesome Margie grumpiness, the first time I saw it I was all "Ohh, sorry... but you look hilarious!... but I'm sorry and I didn't mean to shock you! But YOU ARE FUNNY!!". Ahhh, the mix of emotions! Found another huge test egg. Mauno is so getting ready for love. I re-did their tank and put in some new soil and lots of yummy food, here's hoping there will be more than just tiny bulges and eye twirling tonight!
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 19, 2015 19:48:42 GMT
I agree Snailcrazy love, I would love to know what they are thinking and more importantly what they think of us (perhaps not LOL). I to would love to watch Mauno and his lady Etana love, they sound really entertaining and I am sure they will get around to certain things. Maybe she is playing hard to get at the moment and pretending she doesn't care LOL!!
Please do keep us posted.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by etana on Sept 20, 2015 5:09:15 GMT
Lol yes I've seen snails play hard to get before. Maybe it's to check how eager they are about each other. The little big Rudolf was great at this at the time when he had a tank full of admirers, he'd figure out really funny ways to ignore them, yet at the end of a day like that he usually was found sleeping pressed against someone's shell.
Yesterday Lady did pat and stroke Mauno as he was polishing his shell particularly enthusiastically. I'm still not witnessing more than that but I look inside their breathing holes every day.
I sometimes wonder if snails are planning on ways to train their pet humans to serve them properly, lol.
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Post by etana on Sept 20, 2015 6:01:31 GMT
Oh my, wouldn't you look at this... It was Lady who approached Mauno now, she's actually kissing and touching him, and she even had a bulge when she was getting near. Mauno looks very, very tired though so I don't think they'll be making love now. Lady's bulge disappeared quite quickly anyway once she got to touching him. Maybe she was turned off by his sleepiness. *peeks into the tank* Aw, she's now slowly turning away. Shame, but hey, they're getting closer.
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Post by Zorst on Sept 20, 2015 15:45:35 GMT
Ahh I bet they have been up to all sorts when the pet humans are asleep lol. And yep they sure have to train there pet humans as well.
Zorst
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Post by etana on Sept 20, 2015 16:28:42 GMT
Well something had certainly happened in the tank, as the cuttlefish bone was in the bath tub, 10 cm away from where I'd put it. I do hope I don't miss their actual, serious courting and mating, but I know there are many dark and long hours in the night and it's quite likely I won't see it. The other day I had Halonen and a bunch of her kids sitting in a line, all making really grumpy faces at the tank doors. I threw them a carrot, and Halonen fell asleep but all the others started eating. They also make faces if they want to go into the bath but something's wrong, like it's full of items bulldozed into the tub, or there's not enough water. What can I do but prepare a good bath for them, hahaha... I'm so owned by them.
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Post by jolovessnailies on Sept 20, 2015 16:40:27 GMT
Oh bless her, is she being the tart LOL? Indeed I am sure they are always discussing ways of keeping us in line and getting us to know exactly what they want and when LOL!! I hope you get to see the actual courtship too Etana love.
Hugs JO x
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