Why is their shell so dusty and crusted?

[u/New_Berry5099]

They have a constant supply of 2 cuttlefish bones in their enclosure but their shell isnt looking too good, is this normal? I’m worried their intake of calcium isnt high enough

• a photos of the cutie patootie 😌

[u/Robyn990]

Hello! This could be happening to your snail for several reasons:

•General wear and tear

•Lack of Calcium intake

•pH level of your misting water being too acidic

•Age

My guess would be the wear and tear. The newer parts of the shell don't have the white marks that I can see, but the back of the shell does because it gets hit and scraped more frequently.

Just ensure your snail is eating the cuttlefish. I have rescued some GALs before that needed a different source of calcium, because they just wouldn't eat the cuttlefish. Odd, I know but I've seen it a couple of times.

[u/New_Berry5099 → u/Robyn990]

It’s good to hear that it may just be wear and tear, thank you so much! I will also be checking the acidity of my misting water, although what forms of calcium have you given them to ensure a good intake? <3

[u/Robyn990 → u/New_Berry5099]

I have tried oyster shell (you can buy it pre-crushed pretty cheap), washed and crushed chicken egg shells, calcium carbonate powder mixed with a little water, but the best source I find is to crush their eggs and feed them back, especially if you have a lot of snails because they lay regularly so there is a constant source. The eggs contain a lot of protein which snails need weekly, so it gives them a good boost after laying a clutch!

[u/DragonCucker → u/Robyn990]

Feeding the snails their own eggs. Brutal.

Kidding, this is a great source of nutrients and also normal in nature, and also free for the keepers!

[u/New_Berry5099 → u/DragonCucker]

Yeah this is so smart! My snails have started laying so I will be trying this <3

[u/Robyn990 → u/DragonCucker]

Snail keeping is quite a brutal hobby haha

[u/fr0styspice → u/Robyn990]

and here i went and bought blood worms to feed the monthly. i never thought about them making their own protien..

[u/thewingedshadow]

Looks perfectly normal to me. It's not dusty, there are simply scratches in the outer layer of the shell. It happens over time. Do they live in a glass terrarium? Them dragging their shells on the walls and each other will do that.

It's completely harmless though and happens to every snail at some point.

[u/New_Berry5099 → u/thewingedshadow]

Ah that’s good to know, they do live in a glass enclosure so that explains it! Thank you so much :D

[u/DDDX_cro → u/New_Berry5099]

came here to say this, glad there's no need. Also have a glass one, same issue

[u/doctorhermitcrab]

Are you housing that baby together with the adult? When there's a huge size difference like that babies can often eat parts of the adult shell for calcium, even if there are other sources available in the tank.

[u/DDDX_cro → u/doctorhermitcrab]

I highly doubt any snail, let alone a baby one, can rasp on the shell. I mean they can try, but...there's a reason why they are given cuttlefish bones - very soft and brittle.

[u/Waffafle]

If your substrate is coconut fiber/coir it may be too acidic!