During the study periods I came up with a number of observations and deductions.
Egg clutch numbers ranged from….11– 110 (2006) & 42-108 (207)
Eggs laid in the first clutch of a season ranged from….42 - 108
Eggs laid in the second clutch of a season ranged from….29-54
Average first clutch size….79.5
Average second clutch size….39.4
A third clutch was recorded…..41
Most eggs per snail in 2007…165
Least eggs per snail in 2007….70
Average number of eggs per snail in 2007….107
Big snails lay bigger clutches.
In 2007 the earliest clutch date was May 25th.
The latest clutch date was 20/8/2007.
Incubation times ranged from 16-43 days.
Eggs laid late in the season incubated fastest.
Juveniles grow at different rates.
Juveniles within clutches grow at different rates.
Fast growing adults produce juveniles which also grow fast.
Big snails produce the fastest growing juveniles.
Hibernating hatchlings grow faster in following spring than non hibernating ones.
Growth is in spurts not continuous.
Most vigorous growth takes place after a dry spell, or a period of aestevation.
Most growth with big juveniles occurs between May and June.
Most growth for small juveniles (hatchlings) takes place between June and September.
Hatchlings will grow through to end of October.
Juvenile hibernation started hibernating between 14/10/07 – 4/11/07.
Re-emergence from hibernation started 2/4/2008.
Latest re-emergence 22/4/2008.
Pairing occurred between 24/4 – 21/8.
Highest number of pairings by a snail was 9.
Most snails paired 5 times in a season.
Most snails paired with at least 3 others.
Pairing did not always lead to copulation.
Monogamy doesn’t exist in Helix pomatia world!
Adults hibernate from between 13/10 – 25/10 (except one sickly one).
Emergence started at the end of March.
Cultured snails ranged between 3.83cm – 4.46cms.
Snails can travel at least 15 metres in a night.
There is a suspicion of homing instincts.
There is a suggestion of territorial behaviour.
The detect each other by slime trails and eye.
They are sensitive to vibration and shadow and will react to disturbance from ….. metres.
They become accustomed to handling.
The most times a snail was recorded moving was on 67 days.
The shyest snail was recorded on only 11 days.
The oldest snail was at least 10 years old.
Older snails are more visible and confident that young adults and juveniles.
Older snails don’t move much.
Food order preference in order is iceberg lettuce, dandelion leaves, poppy leaves, dried nettles, little gem lettuce.
They like dietary variety.