All of us
have heard about ‘cat people’ and ‘dog people’, but not about ‘snail
people’? Sometimes the attractiveness of
the character Spongebob and his pet snail, Gary may have drawn this attraction
towards it. And the trend of keeping snails as pets has come into practice?
Though it’s not my cup of tea, it is up to each of the others to have their
own!
Platymma tweediei
which is from Malaysia is considered as the most uncommon snail even though
it's a bit creepy and large. This specific snail is approximately the size of a
hand.
Further
info: Facebook
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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Irrespective
of your choice on a pet, snails are found interesting.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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Snails are
creatures with shells found on sea, freshwater and land and they are called
mollusks or gastropods.
The only
habitat of these fire snails is the Peninsula of Malaysia.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The
excretion of the snails is called ‘snail slime or snail trail’ is sometimes an
ingredient of cosmetics and the body of the snail (not all the snails are
eaten!) is a good food as well. Jewelry and some other ornamental items are
produced with the use of snail shells.
The area of distribution is quite large compared to the
body size, 100km radius and 1000m above sea level.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The largest
snail recorded so far is called the Giant African Snail, and is found from
Ghana. Some of these have grown approximately up to 30cm!
According to the research, these snails have lost their
usual home in massive numbers, due to the removal of them to sell as pets.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The
movement on rough terrain is helped by their secretion along with the powerful
and well-grown foot which helps them to move along.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The average
speed of these well known slow movers is extremely slow, which reaches about
1mm per second.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The size of
the shell which covers their body is developed according to the snail’s body.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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The snail
can be kept in its optimum health by providing a healthy portion of calcium in
the diet and the environment to see a perfect and strong growth of snail and
its shell.
Eventhough keeping these snails alive in captivity has
so many difficulties, it doesn't discourage the collectors.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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There is a
formation called an operculum which acts as a door, ensuring the safety of the
snail at entering into its shell.
Photo
credits: Maxs Exotic Pet Garden
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Land snails
are commonly found in moist and damp locations which are covered with moss.
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