Hosted by Cecily and Emily
Photos copyright: Maggie May
Here I was with three African Land Snails in my care until the end of half term. I took them home from school because my two granddaughters have been hankering after pets for a long time.
I think they were thinking more in terms of warm and fluffy though, rather than hard and slimy.
Day one, the girls seemed quite interested for a while but they kept asking when the snails were going to move as they did seem to have very long periods in the plant pots napping.
Although I am rather cruel to the snails in my garden because I chuck them over into the back lane,( giving them the chance to get out of the way of vehicles that go there), these pet snails brought out the protective in me and I lived in dread of something happening to them while they were in my care.
They loved lettuce and pears and cucumber and they had to be sprayed with tepid water everyday.
Eventually I had to pick them up and clean them out before returning them to school. Not as bad as I thought, though I did put on rubber gloves to do it.
I suppose even these creatures are a tie when holidays come, which is the main reason why we can't go fluffy because those kinds of animals seem to be even more dependant pets than snails!
Back to the drawing board!
Any one know of anything that is no trouble, but more interesting than a snail and that is definitely not a rodent?
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We don't do pets round here. Those are an interesting choice for pet.... good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteThis was very cool to read : )
ReplyDeleteEwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....slimy creatures!
ReplyDeleteTropical fish? There are even automated feeders that only need topping up once a week (My sister and her partner have one over in London).
ReplyDeleteOr go all 1970s and have pet rocks!
(Word verification: animizes)
I have them in my tiny lily pool, but I never considered them as pets. It is a kind of coexistence for the fish and snails in the pool.
ReplyDeleteYou have some cool shots! :)
I've never heard of snails as pets before! You are a good grandmother, Maggie May. I'm an animal lover, but I don't know if I could have cared for these creatures:)
ReplyDeleteOver the years my kids had lots of pets. Hamsters are pretty easy to take care of, provided they don't escape their cage and disappear down a heating vent...or run into the family cat (yes, both of those happened to us). But since you don't like rodents, by far the easiest pet to care for were my daughter's turtles.
Fish would be the only thing I can come up with! :) Maybe a small bird?
ReplyDeleteFluffy or not, any pet is a lot of work.
Happy PSF!
Reminds me of the three millipedes we looked after last summer They burrow so deep in the soil I had to keep digging them out to see if they were alive. I'm sure they were thrilled.
ReplyDeleteBut having had a guinea pig till a few years ago, all animals are a pain in the neck when it comes to not being able to be left home alone. My kids are desperate for a dog but we travel about five times a year and it's a pain regarding the animal care.
You could get something that neighbours just need to come in and feed - like something squawky in a cage.
I had lots of fun with snails when I was kid. we had a lot in our back garden...
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such large snails. You are a much better person than I for sure Maggie, I don't think I could bare to touch them let alone give them a bath.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well.....:-) Hugs
Maybe a rabbit? Gold fish?
ReplyDeleteI don't fancy snails as pets..I much prefer them dead and cooked in lots of garlic butter.
ReplyDeleteGive me dogs any time...hard work sometimes but always loyal and such good company.
Sorry... all I can come up with is a pet rock as far as care giving goes these would be the easiest. Not as much fun as the snails. They look very interesting. Never had a pet snail before. Didn't realize they required so much attention. Kinda cool!
ReplyDeleteI guess a pet rat is REALLY out of the question, eh? (ducking!)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has pet snails, they are now huge, they are bigger than my hand, but beware they breed like crazy and you could potentially end up with thousands. The should always be kept seperately.
ReplyDeleteIf only there was!
ReplyDeleteCat's aren't much trouble I guess but there's the vets bills and the cattery for holidays unless you have a good neighbour :)
My eldest is desperate for a dog, I'd settle for a cat but my wife is allergic, so am thinking of a rabbit but I know we'd end up doing all the cleaning out... snails could be the answer!
ReplyDeletea pet snail! I'm totally laughing at that! :) I won't tell you what I do when I see snails.
ReplyDeleteI used to play with snails when I was little. My father nicknamed me after them when he realized I would not leave them alone :-)
ReplyDeleteGruesome! Give me fluffy soft toys anyday...
ReplyDeleteConfess, as snails go, these three look magnificent.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was aged eight our teacher decided we would have a snail race. Strangely it was us girls who collected the snails and fed them in their classtoom home. The race involved the snails all being put down on the start line after a couple of buckets of water had been sloshed across the concrete path. Heehee - the snails went every which way!
That was back in 1973, and I remember it well!
Sending super loving care, hope you're healing well, Mickle and a snoring Zebbycat (well -what did you expect from the lad!)
I'm sorry - but - ew, yuck!
ReplyDeleteFlash 55 - Holiday Preparations
Pleased to read that you put rubber gloves on to handle them. I don't want to try to imagine how slimmy they must feel.
ReplyDeleteEw and double ew.
ReplyDeleteI have four dogs. I am the wrong person to ask. Have a lovely weekend.
I can only suggest cats and dogs, Maggie. There are full grown ones waiting for good homes at animal shelters. They're housebroken and past the puppy stage. You forgot to say how big those snails were.
ReplyDeleteXOX
The snails are FOUR INCHES across. That is not quite as big as a hand : )
ReplyDeleteOur youngest grandson has some of those. I haven't seen them yet, I'm not too keen. :(
ReplyDeleteMy son once kept an ice cube as a pet. It didn't last long, so there were no difficult emotional ties to overcome when it was gone -- and it left the table cleaner than it found it.
ReplyDeleteNow this was a good story! I loved it : ) Very cool!
ReplyDeleteand i bet they had a wonderful time at chateau du nuts in may!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good grandmother you are, Maggie May.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you,
Jackie
Better than slugs I suppose, said he going into his shell! LOL
ReplyDeletePut it this way I don't think I'd start a zoo with them ~ Eddie
too cute. my boys want to make a pet out of every little animal they see...we have a cat we rescued out of a wood pile that is pretty self maintaining...when she is not trying to fight the aligators. smiles.
ReplyDeleteDo they still make Tamagotchi machines? Admittedly not furry but a 'pet' none the less!
ReplyDeleteI like the thought of the girls looking after a different sort of pet. My sis is terrified of anything like this but I've made sure when my niece visits - weather permitting - we handle insects and 'yukky' things like these!
ReplyDeleteAs long as it doesn't bite - then it's easy to wash your hands after handling!
Oh, you are so amazing!! What an extraordinary idea for a pet!! I think I'll stick with the traditional kinds...I'm rather partial to dogs myself ;-) How are you, my dear friend? You are seemingly back in full force...hope you are not over-doing it after your surgery!! Love to see you, of course!!! You are an incredibly strong lady!!! I'm in awe! Love you so very much, Janine XO
ReplyDeleteYou take some charming photos. They are nice snails. Unlike their exhibitionist relations the slugs...
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful.
All I can say is 'eugh'. I don't care if they are African whatevers, they are still snails. Yuk!
ReplyDelete