Hi, my name is Garden Snail, also known as cantareus aspersus. I am often a browny-grey colour and am coated in a nice slimy mucus. When I feel scared, threatened or I just need a rest, I scoot back into the safety of my shell. My shell is usually brown with a lighter swirl pattern on it, and can range from 1cm to 3.5cm high!
I have two pairs of tentacles – one set are my eye stalks, and are all the better to see you with! I can retract my tentacles into my body and my shell.
My big slimy body doesn’t move fast, with my speed maxing out at around 0.05 kilometres per hour, or 50 metres per hour. Despite the fact that I am fairly slow, my speed (or lack of it) allows me to travel to all kinds of cool places. I can go up over sharp objects, up vertical walls and even upside down without falling!
I don’t like summer too much, I need a humid and moist environment to live in otherwise I’m in danger of drying out, though I can retreat into my shell and seal it – I can even stay in there for months at a time! Winter is only a little bit better, I do have a cool feature that stops me from freezing though – I can avoid ice forming in my body due to elements of my blood changing as it gets colder, allowing me to survive temperatures as low as -5 degrees!
I love snacking on the stems and leaves of fruit trees, fruits, vegetables, roses and flowers. I also like to nibble on fungi, algae and rotting organic debris. I usually like to travel or snooze during the day and eat my dinner when it’s dark.
I really don’t get along with birds (I especially dislike chickens), lizards and frogs. They seem to like me though!
If you really aren’t enjoying my company, consider sprinkling coffee grounds around your plants. Though you might love it, I absolutely hate coffee, so this is a natural way to get me away from your garden while also providing nutrients to your garden’s soil. I also hate garlic and chives so if you plant some of them near my favorite foods, it’s likely to deter me from heading that way.
Copper tape or rings also make life hard for me because I can’t cross copper – it gives me an electric shock when I touch it! You can always use the traditional snail removal pellets or sprays, though these are often full of chemicals and other nasty stuff.
Lots of love,
Your friend Garden Snail.
