Snakes, Snails, or Puppy Dog Tails?

 

Well, lately snails have been the subject of Ben's fascination. We were at Mom and Dad's on a really rainy day, and the porch wall was covered with snails of all sizes. As always, Ben wanted to pick the snails up, and when it was time to get into the car, he couldn't bear to leave his slimy new friends behind. Someone (it wasn't me, was it?) came up with the idea of making a snail house, and before I knew it, we were cutting holes in the lid of an ice cream bucket to take the snails home--i.e., to my house.

I knew I was in over my head and that some research was required, so we left the bucket of snails on the porch and logged onto the internet. Ben and I found a short, well-illustrated article about keeping snails, and I was excited to learn that snails make GREAT pets. All we would need was a glass container, a lid that would let in some air, and plenty of leaves, grass and dirt. We had everything readily available except the glass container, but a quick call to Mom and Dad solved that problem.

Jason picked up the huge glass jar from Mom and Dad on the way home from work, I hammered some holes into the metal lid, and Ben's 20+ snails had a new home. Every time we go outside to check on them I'm holding my breath and crossing my fingers that they're still alive (do any of you remember Ben's first "pet" snail, Lucky?), but so far so good.