Snails

[lainiej]

I think snails are brilliant. Last year we had lots of them on our patio - I used to bring them inside and put them on my arms to let them crawl along them, but this year they're very few and far between.
Twice in the last few weeks I've accidently stood on one in the dark and it absolutley mortifies me.
Am I a very sad person or do other ABers like snails too?
Elaine x

[CheekyChops]

No, you are sad. Letting one crawl along your arms - yuk! And how long would that take anyway, they are not exactly fast, are they?

[warpig3]

I like snails.







But only in garlic butter.

[lindapinda]

Lol Warpig !!...How's you?..Sorry Elaine,I never used to have anything against snails,until I got into gardening...now..I'm carrying on the usual battle trying to save my lovely plants from being on their menus!!.

[warpig3]

Hi lindapinda I am fine, how are things back home, is everyone smiling and happy with our new first and deputy first ministers etc or is it as I suspect that everyone is just getting on with their lives regardless!

[lindapinda]

As you thought..we are trundling on!!..Mind you,there was a minor skirmish last week,when there was an important arguement up there,about more statues needed!! Lol..important things first eh!

[warpig3]

PMSL, glad to see things haven't changed. I don't get the NI news over here and therefore miss out on all the important stuff like the statues, sod the rate increases and the water charges, as long as we have more statues!

[lankeela]

Why not get yourself some Giant African Land Snails? They make brilliant pets, eating mostly cucumber and lettuce (round, not iceberg!). They are very soothing to watch slithering up the side of their tank.

[lainiej]

Hi lankeela. That sounds a good idea even I should see them before I stand on them !!

[shaneystar2]

They are not very few and far between in my garden and you are welcome to come along and gather up as many as you like ....horrible slimy rotten B's that eat my lettuces and decimate anything else they can lay their slimy paws on.As for letting them crawl up your arm .....Yuk ...I know ..live and let live ....but not at the expense of my lettuces and other plants that have cost me time and money.
Why not eat them if you like them so much !
http://www.heliciculture.co.uk/marketing.asp?s ection=technical

[lainiej]

guess I'm in the minority then !!! couldnt possibly eat a snail - cant even eat beef, lamb, veal, duck or venison, cos they're too pretty, tho I'm not a veggie.

[Bookworm9]

Hi Elaine.
Like Shaneystar2 said they are a parasite. If you like them that much you are very welcome to come and help yourself to my lot. I foster hedgehogs and there are even too many for them to keep down although they are doing their little best lol.
As for letting them crawl up your arm....OMG I just can't imagine anything more gross, I would spend the next fortnight in the shower - sorry.

[sherlockian]

Snails are a parasite? Because they eat things that we try to grow in our gardens? Humans aren't exactly saints in this regard.... but I have an old Victorian walled garden - the walls are like blocks of flats to all the snail families in the area!
The best ways I've found to deter them are copper strips (which they won't cross), or vaseline which they don't like to cross either, barriers of eggshells, holly leaves, ashes or coffee grounds, or buy cheap lettuces or melons and leave them out as decoys and move them in the morning well away from all your precious seedlings!
Elaine - I agree, my heart sinks when you hear that crunch, all life is sacred and everything on the planet has a right to live as best it can. I try not to go into the garden after twilight, or only with a torch if I do to weave my way around them!

[shaneystar2]

I've just looked back at this and it reminded me of something . I have a dog and being a dog he does a poop in the garden ...he has his own little patch ....nowhere near the lettuces I hasten to add !
I always shovel it up straight away and dispose of it but on the odd occasion where it may have been left overnight I have seen snail slime on it the next morning ......and then you let these creatures crawl up your arm !! They could have been slithering over any sort of unmentionable thing ...eeeeuw !

[lainiej]

sherlockian thank you. We are obviously odd in that we respect other forms of life.
I am a pet carer and as part of my job I walk dogs. I also have my own dog, cats and rabbits. I am well aware of the perils of dog faeces and the effect it can have on humans.
When I said I let snails crawl up my arms, I was invariably slightly under the influence of alcohol but I'm glad I did and I always had a good wash afterwards. They are really interesting creatures - oh yes they are - and are deserving of a place in the world. Having pretty plants is not the only priority.
Anyway I think I've caused enough of a furore and I would like to put this post to bed. I LOVE SNAILS !!

[pastafreak]

Just had to make a comment tho I am rather late to say the least! I don't 'love' snails yet I agree they are fascinating creatures I discovered this when My daughter was small and kept a terrarium in our bathroom. The first time I saw newly hatched babies I was hooked! So tiny and almost transparent. Later my daughter kept several Land snails---get yourself one!!! I have never stepped on one as I am VERY careful...I would feel the same as you.