Snail stuff!!!!

[Blotch]

Ok - so i finally got off my butt and moved my snails into a setup like Lisas. Within 2 days - I have 2 pairs that are currently mating as I'm writing this thread. I tell you - the setup that lisa decribes is PERFECT for breeding these guys. I've given them no special light, just lettuce , dirt and potting mix. They are in my bedroom and are going for it! Not sure how long they have already been at it - but i've been out of bed for atleast half hour and they've been going for it since i've been up.

So it looks like My blueys ARE gonna get alot more snail feeds!!!

[Funda]

Post some pictures of your set up if you can blotch!


f.C

[shingleback aus]

awsome take some pics!!

[Blotch]

ok I just took the 3 real quick ones. ! is the setup, the other 2 are the mating pairs.

Here's the setup.


Here is a pair. They have actually just split up.


And the other pair that are still going for it!


Sorry the pics aren't good! Any Q's - just ask!

Luke

[Funda]

Luke is that just a huge plastic storage box thingy ?

f.C

[Blotch]

sure is!

I tell you - I tried to do exactly what Lisa did (with the lid) and that plastic is freakin' hard to cut. I tried with a box cutter - no chance, I tried with a sharp bread knife - no chance, I tried with 2 different saws - a little better, but then I tried with this machine of a handyman knife that has blade with numerous hardcore teeth on it and it finally got the job done. Then soldering the aluminium fly wire to the lid burned my thumbs up cuz it wouldn't stick unless I pressed it in.

Either way - It was all worth it!

BTW - I used a 50lt tub ($10) Aluminium fly wire ($2,50) and potting mix I had around the house. so it cost me less than $15 to set up and within 2 days of doing so - I've had 2 breedings. well worth the money for LOTS of free bluey food!

[Funda]

A job well done!!

f.C

[Leigh]

Luke, you know you need adult supervision with sharp or hot tools
all joking aside, fair play mate, your blueys will approve in the end.

[Blotch]

Leigh,

When I was Setting it all up, all i could think about was you - ewww that sounds creepy.

What i mean by that is i was thinking how you would react seeing the snails going for it. seeing as you love feeding snails - I was chuckling to myself.

Which reminds me - last night I saw a couple more snails mating. Hopefully i have tonns of babies!

[rachel]

haha awesome setup blotch, think im gonna have to try but with a modified version, since i dont have the tools...will let y'all know how it goes!

blotch, ur blueys will thankyou for it!

[Leigh]

Hahahah,I'm glad you added the second sentence up there mate. One way would of been to get a fork hot over a gas ring and melt holes in the top and/or sides, that would let in air and keep a lot of the humidity in at the same time, what you've done looks very good and practical, you'll be amazed how much grub they get through, have you put earth worms in the soil at the bottom?add some dried leaves too. You'll have the best potting compost around.

[Blotch]

I haven't added worms cuz i can't find any - and to be honest - I'm sick of digging around the backyard trying to find some.

I need to wait for a big rain so they all come out to die - then whack them in. I figure it's ok to have them how I do for a while - considering when i find them outside they are in massive piles of their own poo.

[Lisa]

Nice work!

The biggest wait is between them shagging and then laying eggs, so be patient! They're one of them animals that can hold onto their eggs until they feel like laying them. That can be anywhere from 10 days to a year. I kept mine warmish and moist and they laid within about 3-4 weeks of special cuddles.

Conor lasted all of 3 minutes trying to cut the plastic with a hacksaw. Went down to Bunnings, came back with a cheap jigsaw and the job was done in under a minute. Also, you can get different tips for the soldering iron. Try one that's shaped more like a flathead screwdriver than just a point, it holds the flyscreen into the melted plastic without having to burn yourself (but get in right close anyway because the burning plastic fumes are divine )

Good luck! Oh, and one last tip, keep the soil in the pots moist and every few days or so give it a turn over and maybe a little top up. And even though they crap alot, they seem to like a clean setup so yeah get some worms or wipe the sides down with the paper towel at least once a week.

They grow unbelievably fast. These are some of my bigger ones taken yesterday so they're only just 2 months old.

[Blotch]

they look so clean and white in colour as opposed to the dsrk greyish ones I have.


Have you noticed that at all?

[Lisa]

they look so clean and white in colour as opposed to the dsrk greyish ones I have.


Have you noticed that at all?

You mean their meaty bits? Yeah it's because they're eating clean food and not walking all over dirt and mud and grass and leaves and stuff like they do in the wild. It's like how their poo is more green, too, and not black like the wild ones. If you get bored with green, chuck in some tomatoes for some nice red effects, and oats or cereal makes em go white (plus they then blend in nicely with the plastic and it doesn't look as dirty ).

It's a shame they're 'just snails'. They're quite fun to watch when they come out in the evening, and they appear to be quite social too, and like to have a rumble with eachother.

[Zach]

We need to put Lisa's thread somewhere permament!

[Blotch]

sticky it

[Herptiles.net]

Yeah, it's an awesome "how-to" guide I second for a sticky.

Snails are seriously cool. They're my second-favourite mollusc (after octopus), hahaha...

[Leigh]

Dont sticky it,LOCK it or it'll get ruined with all the tagged on chat,ones like this should be put up top for reference only, like BRUMATION 101.

[Blotch]

Or - take all the Info - add it to the care sheet - and link directly to the caresheet from the forum.