Checking Inside A Snail For Eggs

[etana]

This is a bit of a silly thread because I didn't actually find eggs, but this is how it's basically done. I might make a sticky sometime when I actually catch a pregnant snail. Click the images for big versions.

Me: "So, who's up for getting checked?"


Snail: "Not me!  Put me back!" 

Well, I found another snail who had little say to this, as he appeared to be exhausted after egg laying - he was sleeping on his side with his foot almost entirely behind his mantle. Meet my sweet, very black Nurgling, a lovechild of Halonen and the late Taavetti. First I gently washed his shell, which woke him up, but he was disinterested.

"You might see my foot edge now, but I'm not coming out for another 8 minutes"


Coming out, he discovered a piece of sweet potato that nobody else was sitting on! Yay! This put him in a good, relaxed mood so we could get into business. More in next post, as the forum only allows 3 attachments at a time!

[etana]

All right, so Nurgling was happily eating and I very, very gently turned his shell until I could see his breathing hole. Then I carefully positioned my light (in this case, the smartphone's LED light) to see inside him. With dark shelled fulica, you pretty much have to get the light inside the snail from this angle; with other snails you can have the flashlight in other angles, such as right above the snail, and just look into the hole. Sometimes you also have to wait a while for the snail to actually care to breathe. 

This is when you would see the eggs if he had any. You can try to take slightly different angles to confirm, but usually a pregnant snail is hard to miss. Whoever knows how they can still go inside their shells to sleep, AND breathe too, could tell me!

And that's it!


Me: "Thanks, Nurgling! Good snail!"
Nurgling: "Oh I know. I have a nice foot too. Just look at it. Can I go home now?" 

[Zorst]

Very good, and love the comments with the pic's. Nurgling is a very handsome looking snail.

Zorst

[etana]

Thanks Zorst. I agree that he is, the black main whorl accents his other colours so nicely.

[Zorst]

It sure does.

Zorst

[GrandTouringShell]

I love the look on Nurgling's face in the 1st picture! 

[etana]

The grumpy one? Lol, me too, it's not Nurgling but some other snail that I first wished would cooperate with me for the photos. He wasn't impressed at all and I got a good laugh over his face. Then I saw poor exhausted Nurgling who needed attention anyway, and he's a lovely, friendly snail, so I took him instead.

[jolovessnailies]

Thanks fr that Etana love, it gives me some idea what to look for even if I do get a few dirty looks LOL!! Am I right in thinking that the second to last picture shows snaily's left side? Gorgeous snailies, I love the first piccy, that is a grumpy face if I am not mistaken LOL!!

Hugs
Jo xx

[etana]

Welcome Jo. Yes that's his left side.

Grumpy snails are so lovable, poor dears.

[jolovessnailies]

They are aren't they, when they are in a huff with their humum LOL?!!

Hugs
Jo xx

[etana]

Lol yes, my favourite is when they go to an empty bath tub and make faces like that, so annoyed that I am not there to re-fill the tub whenever they themselves spill and drink it dry first.
Or when they wake up with that face. We have a saying "getting out of bed on the wrong foot" for people who are extremely grumpy in the mornings. I don't know how that would apply to snails.

[jolovessnailies]

Ha ha, yes they are quick to let us know when they want something and I invariably end up topping their swimming bowl up before bedtime. I always use warm water, I hope this is the right thing to do. This morning however clumsy mummy here spilt their water bowl in there and now it is very wet again but only in one place, I will keep an eye on it. Oh yes Etana love, I think getting out of bed on the wrong foot applies to many a snaily in the morning LOL!! The expression we use here is "Getting out of the wrong side of the bed." Thank you for telling us about your snailies' antics, I love to read them.

Hugs
JO xx

[etana]

It's good that the water is warm, I like to keep one bath tub near a heat mat so the bath stays warm and increases the tank's humidity.

Lol I think my fulica are starting to figure out that it's possible to bathe without spilling all the water. The more sophisticated snails in the other tank figured that one out months ago, but only this morning I saw a little fulica go take a bath very carefully, going in sideways.
Gaius was so grumpy yesterday! Truly a teenager, I'd never seen him in such a bad mood after waking up! He's still growth spurting too, one of these days I'll weigh him.

I've been checking snails for eggs, but no score. I want to make a proper version of this thread!

[jolovessnailies]

I always give them warm water Etana but have no idea if they prefer it or whether they find it refreshing to bathe in something slightly cooler. If I have the room I would have more than one bath tub and they could choose for themselves. I really wish mine would figure the same thing out, but I think they are getting better as I am not having to top the bath up every night. Mind you it is always mucky but they love hat don't they LOL?

Oh poor little Gaius, maybe he had a bad dream. It isn't as if we can ask them is it but there are definitely different mood swings with a couple of snailies I have noticed? The trouble is I have rather a lot in there at the moment which is wonderful but it is hard to keep tabs on individuals. I have asked Paul to buy a torch as soon as we have some money and I will inspect every snail I have. Yes, an eggy thread would be great.

Hugs
Jo xx