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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want DS to have 'pet' snails?

31 replies

worriedwinfred · 20/05/2019 18:42

DH brought home a tank from his brothers yesterday with 3 garden snails in.
DS has fallen in love with said tank and snails.
I think they are dirty, Will start to smell and are not a pet.
I'm being told I'm mean but AIBU to set them free and get rid?

OP posts:
Bringmewineandcake · 20/05/2019 18:49

How will they smell? My 6 yr old loves her 2 pet snails and they require absolutely no input from me so for a first pet they are an absolute winner.

ApocalypseNowt · 20/05/2019 18:52

They don't smell and they're the most low maintenance pet you can get!

We have giant African land snails in one tank and usually some garden snails in another Smile

Summerorjustmaybe · 20/05/2019 18:52

My dm kept giant African land snails!
Stunk.

Original poster
worriedwinfred · 20/05/2019 18:53

Are they just snails out of the garden? Do they not carry diseases? I just thought they would start to smell in a tank 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 20/05/2019 18:55

It's a lovely idea as long as they are looked after properly. They don't carry disease.

Illiantium · 20/05/2019 18:55

Feed them on carrot. Once their poo comes put orange you know they are cleaned out and can cook them with some garlic butter.

I'm sure this is just the tip you wanted.

Blazings · 20/05/2019 18:57

Illiantium

I actually thought that you meant cook the carrots in garlic butter, I was like ewwwwww! Grin

Bunnybigears · 20/05/2019 18:59

Seems a bit cruel to the snails who would presumably manage perfectly well in the wild but if you want to keep them wht not just keep them outside? I think it's more rotting food etc that would smell rather than the actual snails if you keep the tank really clean and fresh they shouldn't smell.

Bringmewineandcake · 20/05/2019 20:15

Yeah ours are just 2 that she found in the garden at the end of a particularly wet day. She’s had them for 2 weeks now and they live on cucumber mostly.

KurriKurri · 20/05/2019 20:34

Get a thrush.

EverybodysTalkingAtMe · 20/05/2019 20:38

Why do you think they carry diseases?

Original poster
worriedwinfred · 20/05/2019 20:44

Google says they carry meningitis and all sorts. It's seems I'm out voted as DS has displayed such a caring side and has sat staring at the tank most of the day. I'll just have to keep on top of making sure DH keeps the tank fresh. Thanks all

OP posts:
Original poster
worriedwinfred · 20/05/2019 20:45

Also the orange poo comment is definitely they type of advice I was looking for Grin

OP posts:
thesnapandfartisinfallible · 20/05/2019 20:52

I had about 10 or so in a tank at his age. Fond memories of running outside in the middle of the night to turn the tank upside down because it was raining and if I didn't then it would fill up and they'd drown.

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 20/05/2019 20:53

Awe pet snails are brilliant! Shouldn't smell if the old food is regularly cleaned out.

Just make sure you give them a source of calcium too - cuttlebone, eggshell etc.

To not want DS to have 'pet' snails?
To not want DS to have 'pet' snails?
To not want DS to have 'pet' snails?
MereDintofPandiculation · 20/05/2019 21:07

Google says they carry meningitis and all sorts. That seems to be the African land snails. Parasitic organisms tend to be relatively specific, so only one or two species of snail will be a host.

madamedesevigne · 20/05/2019 21:23

Remember in the ‘80s when you used to get bright yellow and pink snails? They were probably dyed those colours by pesticides you’re not allowed to use now Grin anyway, I used to keep them as pets, we used to swap them at school...

PinkieTuscadero · 20/05/2019 21:26

The giant African snails slightly terrify me

To not want DS to have 'pet' snails?
Bacardi101 · 20/05/2019 21:26

I did this when I was young too! Slightly outing but once took mine shopping without my mum being aware as I stuffed one in my pocket and only bought it out in the middle of the M&S cafe to show the other diners...!

icecreamsundae32 · 20/05/2019 21:38

The giant ones are so creepy! Normal garden snails are fine. Slugs on the other hand make me feel sick!!

Lifecraft · 20/05/2019 21:49

We had pet snails, but they got attacked by the tortoise. It was awful, tried to stop it but it all happened so quickly.

TheoriginalLEM · 20/05/2019 21:55

I love snails bit they can carry lungworm. Not sure if lungworm affects humans though it is dangerous to dogs

Complainingagain · 21/05/2019 04:04

They're not dirty, they don't smell, and of course they don't carry diseases! I spent most of my childhood in the garden making mudpies and tending to my snail/woodlous 'farm'. It's interesting for him and an innocent, harmless hobby.

OneStepSideways · 21/05/2019 06:36

I'd be concerned about rat lungworm (affects snails in the U.K. and can cause a type of meningitis).

I wouldn't let my kids keep pet snails or handle them. And I definitely wouldn't allow a tank of snails indoors!

theorchidwhisperer · 21/05/2019 09:40

Years ago a friend said she was collecting class 3 snails.

My baby brain really couldn't connect and I wondered for ages what class of snails were grade 3. Maybe they were bigger than class 1 & 2 snails. I was really not up to date with classification.......

I realised after the summer holidays, when class 3's snails were returned to the classroom that they aren't actually classified. They were class snails in a tank!

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