To replace the school pet?

[Sofabitch]

I think dd has killed the African land snail she has for summer ! She left some food into go mouldy which has been less than a week but inthink it must be the warm moist conditions. and the snail looks mouldy. (White fluff) I've had a google and it doesn't look good :( so should I replace it. Or just hope for the best.

Snails do like to be washed. They are meant to be kept moist.

Give it some fresh soil and some fresh lettuce and keep an eye on it.

We have African land snails at nursery, loads 6 of them argh!! They often go into hibernation, and they can do it the drop of a hat. We turn them over gently, break the seal that covers the open bit, and squirt in a bit of water then put them in a tray that is well moistened, they usually reappear at this point. We then give them a load of cucumber and some formula powder which is good for their shells and then are up and pottering around in no time. Don't throw it out as if it is just hibernating, it will reappear, and your not allowed to release them into the wild. Also if it is dead, we can supply you with another adult. As previously stated WE HAVE 6.

I have also managed to repair on of our snails shells when we noticed it was cracked and about an inch of it was completely dislodged.

OMG I just googled these beasts. They are truly revolting.

Where on Earth do you get them from?

Africa!!!!!!! Lol

My kids have hinted that they would like land snails. I have pointed out to them that we have lots of land-living snails in the garden and it would be cruel to lock them up in a tank. They're buying it so far...

Totally agree with Loopyloops. Just Googled them...yuck!

long life the snail :)

Yeah, how about you read up on and check how to care for a creature entrusted to you over the summer? Food left unchanged for nearly a week? Nice.
But hey, it's just a snail, right...?

Hope Gary is feeling better!! I had one in my surgery a few years ago, with a strange thing hanging from it's mouth. (I'm a vet, in case you hadn't guessed ) I managed to track down a veterinary snail expert (yes, they exist!) he was lovely, but told me it was almost certainly a prolapsed crop and snail was on its way out But the moral of the story is, you could get a vet to look at him if you are worried. And (if they are as good as me ) they could also track down snail-vet and get some expert advice for you.

But I agree bathing him is a good start. They are pretty hardy, so I bet Gary will live to see a new school term

Entrusted to dd. Who is nearly 11 so hardly incapable ( or so I thought) of changing the food once a day.

Keep them WARM. Ours died horribly easily in a cold snap :(

Shoutyhamster, I didn't want to say, but the snail I treated was advised to be PTS by the expert vet. Next question...how to PTS a snail! His advice was to put it in the freezer! Hypothermia apparently quite a peaceful way to go for snails, far less traumatic than injection. Unfortunately I was paranoid that he wouldn't be..you know.. dead, so stayed in the freezer for months before I felt sure enough to send him off

Perhaps your dd's learned a bit of a lesson in animal (or arthropod!) care, then. Glad the snail is on the mend - they're hardy critters (but do appreciate a bit of TLC :)).

It's alive then?! I was going to suggest selling it to your local French restaurant, pocketing the cash and replacing it with some ones sourced from your garden. You could have said the big snail died in childbirth:o

@ Baffledandbewildered!

I had to google to satisfy my curiosity. The things you learn from MN.

I had to dissect one many years ago at university. Was the single most disgusting thing I have ever done. My DP has them as pets at his school, I have begged him to never bring them home I really do not like snails at all.