Painting Snails...

[andrew james]

This is probably the dumbest thing I've posted yet, but I need to ask. I have some large Astrea Snails in my QT tank that I will be moving to my Display in a week or two. My daughter (7) wants to paint the shell of a particularly large snail. So I have some questions,

1. Is this cruel?
2. Is there a paint that will not hurt the snail or the inhabitants of my tank?
3. What about glow in the dark paint?

I swear this is for my daughter and not me...

 

[DSC reef]

For your daughter, sure....lol. I'm tagging along for this, I'm sure there's something out there that will be safe. I don't think it's cruel at all. I'm thinking after painting you would need some kind of reef safe clear coat like they put on the fake decorations for tanks.

 

[Fishmanz]

Yes it is cruel.

It’s like painting your other pets such as a dog or cat. Would you do that to them so they glow in the dark?

People have gone to jail for such acts,as it is considered a form animal cruelty

 

[DSC reef]

Yes it is cruel.

It’s like painting your other pets such as a dog or cat. Would you do that to them so they glow in the dark?

People have gone to jail for such acts,as it is considered a form animal cruelty

Really man? Give me a break. It's a shell, no paint is going on the actual snail. Going to jail, that's comical. Are you that bored fishmanz? So with your logic I guess we should do time for putting a dog in a Halloween costume! Lol.

 

[Fishmanz]

Painting and costumes are completely different. I view all my tank inhabitants as “pets” and care for them as such.

There are plenty of cases if you research where people have been charged for spray painting animals. Yes it’s a snail, BUT it’s still an animal and should be treated with respect.

 

[keddre]

I believe so but here's why. To paint it you would have to take it out of water to paint, no while I know they can be out of water for a while I feel it shouldn't be done on purpose. Secondly, you would have to let the paint dry which would be an even longer time out of water, which is where I'm thinking that if you need to paint to dry then the snail might dry out also, which would kill it. Lastly, it would be near those fumes while your painting which could ruin its health.

How about a nice medium, let her paint a few empty shells, give them a week or so to dry out completely, then buy a small hermit crab and hope it moves into one of the shells

Edit: if you do the hermit crab option, don't paint the inside of the shell and uou will also want to do a lot of research into paint for the shells. You will want to find one that won't leak toxins, won't fall apart and is reef safe.

 

[andrew james]

Yes it is cruel.

It’s like painting your other pets such as a dog or cat. Would you do that to them so they glow in the dark?

People have gone to jail for such acts,as it is considered a form animal cruelty

what if I eat them after they die?

 

[DSC reef]

Using non toxic paint in no way is going to hurt the snail. Painting a dog or cat is seriously being compared here? It's making contact with the skin of the animal. This is too funny. I guess painting my daughter's nails should be reported. Get off your soapboxes.

 

[DSC reef]

what if I eat them after they die?

Lol! You do that too!

 

[Gator1970]

Yes it is cruel.

It’s like painting your other pets such as a dog or cat. Would you do that to them so they glow in the dark?

People have gone to jail for such acts,as it is considered a form animal cruelty

Settle down Francis....

 

[DSC reef]

Painting and costumes are completely different. I view all my tank inhabitants as “pets” and care for them as such.

There are plenty of cases if you research where people have been charged for spray painting animals. Yes it’s a snail, BUT it’s still an animal and should be treated with respect.

Because spray paint is what the OP is talking about. Lol. You know fishmanz, some people think it's cruel we keep our pets in a box with water......the horror!!!!

 

[azbigjohn]

Really man? Give me a break. It's a shell, no paint is going on the actual snail. Going to jail, that's comical. Are you that bored fishmanz? So with your logic I guess we should do time for putting a dog in a Halloween costume! Lol.

I gotta admit, I hate dogs in Halloween costumes! Jail time might be a good thing ;) (yes it was a joke... relax!)

 

[DSC reef]

I gotta admit, I hate dogs in Halloween costumes! Jail time might be a good thing ;) (yes it was a joke... relax!)

Lol! Honestly I agree! There was a little regret afterwards. Lol

 

[RyanCSGO]

reel reef rock is painted, so I'm sure there is something out there that can be used.
But as mentioned above, its likely to be difficult since the shell would need to be dry and the animal out of the water for a length of time.

 

[tdileo]

There are paints that would work. But it would have to dry for a good 24-48 hours before you should put it back in and I wouldn’t risk the snails health that long.

 

[andrew james]

what if I glued a frag to a snails back? - please discuss.


* I should just say right here that this is all a joke. Like most people on this forum I care deeply for all the inhabitants of my tank. I literally spend hours everyday, not to mention thousands of dollars to make their life and their home as nice and as clean as I possibly can. I'm not doing anything to snails, just bored.

 

[Gator1970]

what if I glued a frag to a snails back? - please discuss.

You Monster!!! Ohhhhh....the humanity!

 

[Fishhands]

Do then cover it with superglue. Glue will harden under water while paint cures. Its just a snail. Mine get eaten by hermits. Is that cruel? Crabs don't care even if they eat it all they just want the shell.

 

[DSC reef]

what if I glued a frag to a snails back? - please discuss.

Now your just talking crazy, your already looking at doing time!

 

[keddre]

what if I glued a frag to a snails back? - please discuss.

Just lost me, like glue a coral frag onto it? Minus the glue part, I imagine that happens in nature. I would just be extremely careful so that the glue doesn't jeopardize the snails health. Ie don't get it on the snail or too close to it. Technically, I wouldn't do it, but you get my point