oh my gawd - tell me about snails...

[gerbra]

I can't believe what I've just seen. Two snails on the arm of the garden bench. Leaned in to have a look and one had the other's head stretched like an elastic band (had pulled its head all the way into its own shell).
I presume he was eating it. Poked him and he just retreated with other snails head somewhere in there. His neck is streched about 3 cm long...don't think it's coming out of this encounter alive!

Bit shocked, I didn't know they did this?! Anyone else seen this?

Gerbra

Are you sure they are not kissing? ;)

They are mating.

Message withdrawn

Later eggs will peop out of the side of it's neck. How the hell did you think snails shagged?

Ewww, I was joking. Is that how they do it? To be honest, I had never given it much thought (off to look in the garden for snails).

I've never pondered snails' mating arrangements, but I didn't think they shagged with their heads!
Honestly, the one's neck was stretched about 4 times is normal length .... oh ... was that not its neck

Have a look at mating leopard slugs

I have a friend who keeps giant land snails for pets. Whe freezes excess eggs to guarantee they are killed, so she doesn't pollute the neighbourhood with massive snails. When she firs told me she froze the snails eggs, I thought it was so they could be used later - like IVF

Reading this - whyfiles.org/shorties/082snail_dart/ - was certainly an education!

was it like this, gerbra?

dirty snails.

Stand on 'em now. Otherwise all your plants'll be eaten.

I've seen the eggs popping out of their necks.

eeeuuuuwwwww we have 7 giant african land snails that aren't ready to mate yet, but not looking forward to seeing that.

That was exactly it Lynette ! I felt like Hyacinth Bouquet when she goes in to peer at the flower with a smile on her face and then retreats in horror!!!

MadandBad and Primula, I don't think I'm ready for more snail-on-snail action for the mo!

Well I have been educated today, thanks guys .

Gerbra

It looks a bit messy! Do you think they enjoy it??

they are slimy and icky.

there was one on top of our wheelie bin the other day as i rolled it to the curb, and i couldn't bear to pick it off as it was so gooey.

so i left it there.

but the road is across from a sea loch.

so when i went back a seagull was eating the snail.

snail porn!!! ive often seen snails mate - you can see their willy if you give them a gentle tug apart, and they take HOURS!!

Am i alone in thinking snails are actually quite cute??

Lucyellens, me too, that's why I peered at them rather than grabbed them and stamped on them
(slugs though, shudder, another matter altogether...)

just think of them as homeless snails

I just can't Lucyellensmum...especially the big fat orange ones with the frilly skirts and the go-faster stripes... snails, on the other hand, are cuuuuute, even though they do eat my garden

I just can't Lucyellensmum...especially the big fat orange ones with the frilly skirts and the go-faster stripes... snails, on the other hand, are cuuuuute, even though they do eat my garden

In my first animal encyclopedia there was a big colour photo of snails 'pairing'. My sister and I used to dare each other to touch the picture.
The long winter evenings just flew by....