Going to have some new additions to the family, soon. The additions being Giant African Land Snails! One of the ladies who runs the local flower shop, her son has some for sale, so I have ordered six of them. They should be arriving on Thursday. Been doing a bit of reading up about them this evening, and, apparently, they are ILLEGAL to keep as pets in the USA.
(They're frightened that they may be released into the wild, and eat all the veggies and stuff.)
They can live as long as five years and grow to around 8 to 10 inches long, with huge lovely marked shells. A fully grown adult snail can weigh as much as One and a half Pounds!!!!
Ken R
Very nice Sandie, but do they eat spiders ?
Sandie Seward
No, Ken, they don't, they are 100% Herbivores.
I was looking in my local pet shop this afternoon, and they had a baby Royal Python for sale. It really was a beautiful creature, but, sadly I'd need to get a heated vivarium set up before I bought it, and the problem is, my little flat is rapidly running out of space. (Too many diecasts).
Ken R
When I was with the UN years ago, half a dozen of us lived in a villa on the outskirts of town and two Austrian guys turned our spare bedroom into a desert oasis with 2 tons of sand and a load of rocks and plants and then proceeded to fill it with various lizards, scorpions, snakes etc. ! It was really impressive and others came from far and wide to wonder at this small creation in a villa !!! One of the Finns kept a small monkey in a cage out the back of us as well, he won it in a card game and we kind of adopted it as a mascot
Happy Daze....................
Sandie Seward
I think the Council would certainly have something to say if I turned my bedroom into an Oaisis!
marieann
I've seen them in reptile houses.
I am such a wimp I walked into the bathroom at 4am on Monday morning and there was a large brown slug on the floor. Naturally I looked at it, looked again, then walked out and closed the door and was up for the rest of the night.
Tony looked for it on Monday but kept saying are you sure you saw it. The trail on the bathmat yesterday morning convinced him. That is why I am sitting here at almost 3am, it's been haunting me. I got up at 2 and Tony got up shortly after walked into the bathroom, saw it, and dealt with it.
I'm sorry but I won't be able to come for my holidays.
Sandie Seward
Well, I spent part of the morning preparing my Snails' new homes. I drove to a nearby Garden Centre, and asked the chappie for a bag of "Lime-Free" Compost.
They only sell it in huge bags, for £5.95, so I said to him that I only needed a reletivly small amount.
"I do have some left in a bag that I've been using for potting seedlings," he replied, and walked over and picked up a bag that was about a qurter full.
"Will this be enough for you?" he asked.
"Please, that'll be about as much as I need for now."
I then went on to tell him why I wanted it, and he was very interested.
"How does 40pence sound?" "O.K?"
"Perfect", I said, and the deal was done. I walked off happily with my purchase, stuck it in the boot, and then drove back to the Pet Shop, where I bought a piece of Cuttlefish. (Helps to build and harden their shells).
After returning home and a quick cup of coffee, I walked to the Florists and they were all ready for me. They are about five months old, so not exactly Babies, and their shells are already formed and hard.
I let one rest on my palm and it started exploring my hand, moving towards my arm.
They enjoy being handled, and are perfectly safe. Interesting creatures!
JoJo
photos please Sandie
Sandie Seward
I'm having camera probs at the moment, Jo-Jo. But they are spitting images of the big one in the photo above, (only much smaller of course.)
Sandie Seward
Snail update: My snails are growing well, and a couple of weeks ago I got hold of another, larger vivarium for them. This is actually an aqarium complete with light fitting and will give my GAL's a lot more space to live.
One of them has become "broody", and I think I could soon be seeing the first batch of eggs.
I'll keep you posted.
Sandie Seward
Snails Update!
Well, it's happened, just as I predicted. When I looked at my little family this morning, lo and behold, there they were, about 200 perfect little eggs, their shells already hardened.
I have removed most of them, and just left "Mum" with a dozen or so to keep warm.
The rest I placed into another, much smaller container, on a nice warm bed of compost, and have placed them in the airing cupboard. It's warm and dark, and except for a daily check on them to spray them with warm water, they will be left to hatch out in their own time.
Not too sure how long this will be, so I am looking forward to rearing my first batch of baby GALS.
Once they are starting to grow, and have formed their shells, my local Reptile shop has said they will take them off me.
I shall keep two and rear them myself, but all the others will have to go, otherwise I would not be able to keep them when they get bigger.
Also, I hate to think just how much a family of over 150 snails would cost me to feed them.
If only four get through two lettuce, one cucumber, and two tomatoes a week, how much food would 200 eat?
(Sounds a bit like a terrible maths question of the type we used to get at school, doesn't it?
Sandie Seward
Snail Update!
The first batch of eggs never hatched, nor did the second, but the third batch so far has produced just ONE baby snail! I have separated her into a small "nursery" container, and she is eating well, and seems happy enough. She is too small to hold yet, and her shell has barely formed, but she is already starting to explore her new home, and eating tiny portions of lettuce leaf!
I am keeping a close eye on the other eggs now, because if one has hatched, then soon there should be others.
I have deceided to keep this first of my babies, and have named her "Alpha".
JoJo
Oh Sweet Sandie,pleased you have been successful at last, mind you I have started on my Daughters garden which hasn't had any work done for years, and I have been collecting a large number of garden snails and pushing them into the park that backs on to her property,some where big boys too
Sandie Seward
JoJo, any chance of sending me about four of them, please? I'll gladly pay for the postage.
Just pop them into a small, light container, make sure they have some air holes, a bit of food, (any greenstuff),and cocoon the container inside bubble wrap, place in a snug fitting cardboard box, and send them to me?
Just don't post them on a Thursday or Friday otherwise they could be stuck in the Sorting Office for the weekend.
JoJo
Yes I can do that for you Sandie but why???
Sandie Seward
I can't seem to find any around here, and i want to start a new colony of ordinary garden snails.
I know this sounds rather strange, but trying to find any snails in our communal garden is difficult.
JoJo
Well send me your address I will see what I can find to post then in, people around you won't be pleased if you start a snail family eating their plants
Sandie Seward
Thanks JoJo, you have a Personal Message waiting for you.
Sandie Seward
Alpha Update.
Can't find the single baby that I had, so, I assume she must have died. I have since cleared out their home, so it's just possible that I mistakenly threw her out with the old foodstuff that was left.
Baby snails can be hard to spot, so it's easily done.
As she was from the second batch of eggs, and they never turned yellow, but stayed white, I was really surprised that even one baby hatched out.
Of course, as the parents mature, so there is far more chance of hatching youngsters out successfully.
JoJo
Oh what a shame Sandie,well hope you have more luck when you get more eggs
Sandie Seward
Thanks JoJo. Yes, it's a pity, but baby snails are very tiny, and easy to miss.
I already have another batch of eggs, and their shells are a healthy yellow colour, which means that these should definitely be fertile.
Keepimg snails is one thing, but breeding them takes time, and just a little bit of luck, also.
I shall be keeping my two Albinos together, in their own tank, and I shall really do all that I can to breed from these.
Sandie Seward
Snail Update! Tonight, the batch of eggs have begun to hatch, and at the time of writing, I have counted at least TEN baby snails.
I am so pleased and excited about this event. I have really succeeded in breeding my own family of Giant African Landsnails!
JoJo
Well done Sandie hope you are succesful this time, I think of you every time I take another snail out of my pots
Sandie Seward
Snail Update. A total of Thirty-Seven Babies now, all healthy and eating well.
Putting a card in my local Newsagents window regarding Re-Homing.
One of my Albino Jades died a couple of weeks ago, which was sad. However, her companion is doing well, and I have already ordered a replacement and partner for her.
Sandie Seward
Snail Update! Two of my babies are off to their new home on Saturday. One of the guys who works at my local Fish and Chip shop is having them for his young son.
Two down, only thirty one to go now!
(The whole family are now consuming SIX lettuces and One whole cucumber per week, besides a special bran mix I have got for them.)
browneyes
Wher do you keep your snails Sandie and what made you start saving them?
Sandie Seward
I have two old glass tanks that were aquariums, and five newer plastic "Small Pet" tanks.
I have always liked most insects, with the exceptions of ants and wasps, and I've always had a soft spot for Snails.
I started off with six GALS, gave two away, and, now, at the last count in total there are over One Hundred GALS, and fourteen Garden Snails.
Snails grow on you.
JoJo
Wow Sandie didn't you do well!!! perhaps a little too well
browneyes
when my grandchildren were little they used to take some of the snails out of my pond home with them,i gave them an old fish tank and they use to put water (of course) in it and pond weed,feed them for the summer and bring back mum ones and all the babies at the end of the summer,they never could understand where all the tiney ones came from
Sandie Seward
One of my original GALS died last week. I checked them all as usual, and one was over on her back, so I reached in and put her upright, but a couple of days later she had died.
