African Land Snail - Sick?

[rhondafletcher68]

Hello. My sons African Land Snail keeps burying itself for days at a time and is not eating. We recently changed his tank to a bigger one and knew he would take a few days to adjust so were prepared not to see him for a few days. After about 10 days, of being buried in the same spot, we began to get a little concerned.

He has a heat mat, so we tried turning this off in case he was too warm. No luck.

We turned the heat mat back on and gave him a bath in case he was too cold. He ventured out for a while but then just retracted again.

We have been spraying him and watering the tank every day so I know that's not the problem.

He has now been buried for a week without eating. I've just taken him out and put him on some damp paper and he has come out. I've offered some cucumber but not much interest and he now seems to be retracting back into his shell.

Are these extended periods of sleep and no food normal? My son is getting very worried. Should we take him to the vet?

Thanks.

Hi. He has now perked right up and is eating the cucumber. I know as soon as we put him back he will retract again. Is he just lazy or is it his tank he's unhappy with?

Sounds like aestivation. How is the humidity and temp in the tank? Did you move the tank to a different location when you changed him over? Is it too sunny where he is now, or is the ambient temperature in the room too low.

He might be hibernating. Mine did this every winter except the very first year that we had them. I phoned the vet, who didn't have a clue about them at all. They came out of hibernation around April time

I cant tell what the humidity or temp or as we don't have a clock on the tank. He is now in an all glass tank with a heat mat. I must say, he is chomping away on the cucumber now and is antennas are at right angles to his body so he looks fine!

The tank is in the same place and not in direct sunlight. As I said, he does have a heat mat. Maybe I should put a blanket over the top of the tank to try and retain some heat? He's in my sons bedroom which isn't that cold. The heating is on twice a day.

It's only a few quid for a thermometer/hygrometer. If he starts coming out and about more regularly, it's probably just him adjusting to the new environment.