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Hey, it me!

I wanted to make a quick note on handling snails, and some basic safety tips. Lesgoo

How do I pick up a snail?

If your snail is sliming or resting on a surface like concrete, glass, plastic etc they can sort of "suction" onto it. If they are suctioned, Do Not try to tug on their shells to pick them up. This can weaken or damage their mantle, the muscle that keeps them attached to their shell, and can lead to you literally pulling their organs out of their shells.

A method I use often is to spray water on the surrounding glass or plastic, then slide them over to and off an edge onto my hand. You can also use something like a plastic spoon (smooth please, no rough edges!) or a paintbrush (well washed, damp, and never used for paint or anything else beforehand) to sort of slide beneath them and break the suction. You can even use something like a credit card.

Of course, you can also just allow them to crawl directly onto your hand by putting it in front of them lol which leads me to:

How can I hold a snail safely?

Always wash your hands first!! Snails are like frogs, in that they absorb things through their skin. Lotions, soaps, dirt, chemicals, skin oils etc etc are all to be avoided. Wash your hands, then rinse off the soap really, really well.

Don't dry those hands! Snails prefer a nice damp surface to hang out on, because the warmth of your hand is pleasant but can cause the moisture in their bodies to evaporate faster. This is especially crucial in very small snail species or babies. Keep a spray bottle nearby and mist your hand occasionally.

Your snail may bubble up a little when you first pick them up, and even make a squeaking or hissing noise. This is normal and okay, they're just not used to being held. Give them time and they'll realise you're not a predator. If they do continue bubbling without stopping, you may have something they don't like still on your hands. Give them another wash and start again.

How do I keep myself safe when holding a snail?

Snails don't bite, so they can't injure you that way, (ETA because some people have mentioned it; Snails cannot bite, but they can rasp. It's the equivalent of being licked by a tiny tiny cat, that's the structure of their mouthparts! It should never break the skin) but hygiene is really important. Snails are gross little guys who live in dirt and eat mold and such. Do not ever place your snails on your face, or share food with them or anything of the sort, and make sure you wash your hands really really well after handling your snails.

Snails can have little parasites which are generally asymptomatic for them, but can be really dangerous for mammals. Keep utensils and such that you use for snails and their food separate from your human food utensils, and also from utensils and tools used for other pets.

I hope this was helpful! Stay healthy <3