2006-09-20 08:20:38 · 12 answers · asked by pymtheleveret 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Snails are always rebuilding their shells larger and larger as they themselves grow. If damaged portion is the inner part of the shell, made of the smaller chambers the snail has already outgrown, it has no need to regrow it. If it's the outer portion that the snail is currently inhabiting, it will need to survive long enough to grow a bit, which might be hard without the shell's full protection, but then it will build a new, larger chamber for itself, unless it is already full grown. It stops building its shell at that point, and would be unable to deal with the break.
2006-09-20 08:28:10 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how badly the shell is broken, and
may also depend on the kind of snail. Small
cracks can ordinarily be repaired, severe breakage
is fatal. In the case of a clam shell I saw the shell
was damaged to such an extent that I wondered
how the animal could survive, but it obviously had,
because the damage was partly repaired. Whether a snail could survive comparable damage
I don't know. As another person pointed out, loss
of the old apex of the shell often does no harm at
all, in fact it is normal in some snails to lose that
part of the shell.
2006-09-21 06:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Snail shells are not chambered. Nautilus shells are, but Nautilus are not snails. The interior of a snail shell is a continuous spiraled chamber extending all the way to the apex (the pointed end) of the shell. Shell growth takes place at the thin lip of the shell, around the aperture. It is here that the snail's mantle deposits calcium salts, primarily calcium carbonate, to enlarge the shell. A chip or break in the lip can be quickly filled in by the snail, and normal growth continues. Shell scars from such repairs can frequently be seen on various parts of the shell. A break farther back on the shell, on the spire, out of reach of the mantle, cannot be repaired.
2006-09-20 08:48:16 · answer #3 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shell is a factor of the snail. Its considerable function is to hold the snail at the same time and to guard the snail. Any uncovered factors of the snail may be attacked by predators or maybe different snails and animals. for that reason, to be secure, critically broken snails could desire to be positioned into isolation until they could regrow their shells. If the shell is purely somewhat broken, it may regrow if there is adequate calcium and minerals interior the water column and interior the foodstuff. to function those to the water, put in a mesh bag of oyster shell (bought at farm feed shops), cuttlebones (bought for caged birds), or crushed coral (bought for marine aquariums). Liquid calcium ingredients can be further yet could desire to observe that they are secure to be utilized in freshwater (assuming you have freshwater snails). to function calcium to the foodstuff, attempt feeding ingredients wealthy in calcium like kale. you are able to positioned rinsed off cuttlebone loose interior the tank too for snails to bite on rapidly.
2016-10-17 08:30:48 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you accidentally trodden on one like I did the other day then?!
I just put it under a hedge out of the sunshine & view of the birds.
2006-09-20 08:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by Quasimojo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
havent got a clue but they would look like slugs if they didnt have the shell lol
2006-09-20 08:28:36 · answer #6 · answered by pinkdragon 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
didnt know snails could be rich, so guess all are broke...
2006-09-21 01:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-09-24 03:49:56 · answer #8 · answered by ang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No
2006-09-20 09:41:56 · answer #9 · answered by COLIN E 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends how hard you stepped on him, if it was hard, he's dead! :(
2006-09-20 08:35:58 · answer #10 · answered by Dazza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋