Painting Snails...

[H@rry]

At the risk of going to the big house, I'll have to admit as kids we'd find snails in the flower bed and put salt on them and watch them dissolve. I guess I'm really an evil person!

 

[Ben Henwood]

You can go to any pet store and buy painted shells for hermit crabs. I know that a hermits shell is not "permanent"...but I don't see the difference. Its the shell. I would go ahead and paint it. You are NOT going to hurt the snail, and "going to jail" is the funnest thing I've heard in a while.

I do agree that painting empty shells for hermits is a pretty equivalent alternative. But if you want to paint the snails because you dont want anymore hermits in your tank....PAINT AWAY, I'm sure your daughter will love it.

 

[Tobbe]

http://www.dejongmarinelife.nl/inverts/shrimp-crab-lobster/hermit-crab-assorted-painted/4

 

[Victoria M]

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.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest.

 

[Wh00pS32]

http://www.dejongmarinelife.nl/inverts/shrimp-crab-lobster/hermit-crab-assorted-painted/4

My LFS has been selling these, he got them from TMC which is the largest reef wholesaler in the UK.
Some of them looked exactly like these as well.

It's a good way to get young kids interested in the tank.

 

[jonnythekid]

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

How do i get your account deleted?

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Here's one I prepared earlier!:)

 

[BigMack]

I once tried to paint a parakeet to look like a canary. It didn't turn out well. I'm pretty sure it was NOT the paint that did him in... it was the sanding between coats.

 

[Ali350z]

I would be scared of some element in the paint leaching off into the water after a while. I heard reef ready rock has this issue also. I wouldn't chance it. Instead why don't you get your daughter a hermit crab with a painted shell? Just a suggestion...i hope I don't go to jail for this

 

[Jdoddy]

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.

Snails are invertibrates and therefor arent covered by the animal welfare act 2006 which means that you CANNOT go to jail for painting a snails shell.

In my opinion its okay as long as its non toxic paint and you have an animal safe spray to cover the shell after so they dont eat it just in case.

I have giant african land snails and i have marked mine with acrylic paint pens for vetirinary purposes as mine are rescues.

Honestly its no different to putting hair dye on your dog. In fact breeding certain genes through in dogs in which cause health problems (take a pug for example they have respiratory issues due to the breeding process) this cpuld be classed as animal cruelty as youre breeding them knowing that they will have those problems and not preventing them. Therefore by your logic, breeding dogs for certain genes, dying a dogs coat or fur (show purposes) or even dressing a dog up would be classed as animal cruelty.

I have an animal care diploma level 2 and i am currently working on my level 3. I know what i'm on about.