Snails?

[jade71301]

This is the first time I had a snail and want to know do they shed their shell? Cause mine looks like his shell is peeling off. Is that normal.

Thanks

 

[Toam]

um, no... they keep their shells for life, so it shouldn't be "peeling off" If your referring to your apple snail, I have a few, and I've noticed occaisionally it appears as though one of their shells is flaking off a bit. My advice it to keep an eye on it, but don't stress too much yet.

 

[jade71301]

My snail is an apple snail. The only reason I noticed he might be getting a new shell, is because he used to be a brownish green, and now his front part near his head is a now turning brown. Here is a picture, this might help.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/Jade71301/IM000068.jpg

 

[itstrickytorock]

To me that looks like new growth on his shell. The greenish coating before could have been from poor tank conditions, or possibly algae. If you'd like you could possibly try gently rubbing his shell with a soft cloth or a toothbrush to see if the green comes off. So, he sort of is getting a new shell, but it's really just fresh shell growing from his old (at least that's what I can get from the picture).

 

[bigredspecial]

There is nothing wrong with him; that is just new growth, which is a different color due to different diet and/or water conditions; perfectly normal.

 

[Timbo]

Don't worry. Whatever is in the tank is incorporated into the shell. If you move it into another enviorenment it will be different. You should have no problems...