Benefits of snail in shower?
October 4, 2017 3:55 AM Subscribe
A small snail has moved into our shower room. What are the pros and cons of moving it outside?
My image of snails is they clean things like fish tanks. Is this snail actually doing us a favor and eating mold, or something? Or, is it exposing us to nasty snail pathogens? Is it a neutral presence? Snail experts please let me know.
My image of snails is they clean things like fish tanks. Is this snail actually doing us a favor and eating mold, or something? Or, is it exposing us to nasty snail pathogens? Is it a neutral presence? Snail experts please let me know.
Is this snail actually doing us a favor and eating mold
Probably.
is it exposing us to nasty snail pathogens
I'd be less concerned about the snail itself and more worried about how it got in there. Snails are notoriously slow, and tend to avoid the kinds of wide dry surfaces we like to use for doorways and floors in our houses; if it had come in the same way you do, it would probably have been seen doing that. When we had a slug in our shower recess, it turned out it had got there through a hole we hadn't noticed rotting out in the flooring.
posted by flabdablet at 4:02 AM on October 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Probably.
is it exposing us to nasty snail pathogens
I'd be less concerned about the snail itself and more worried about how it got in there. Snails are notoriously slow, and tend to avoid the kinds of wide dry surfaces we like to use for doorways and floors in our houses; if it had come in the same way you do, it would probably have been seen doing that. When we had a slug in our shower recess, it turned out it had got there through a hole we hadn't noticed rotting out in the flooring.
posted by flabdablet at 4:02 AM on October 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
If this was me, I'd move it outside just because if I didn't, and then I stepped on it or otherwise accidentally killed it, I'd end up with a lot of pointless guilt and shame about that. (And while it was still alive, I'd be worrying about accidentally hurting or killing it.)
That's maybe not a rational way to feel, but it's the feelings I'd have. Risking Big Feelings like that over a snail isn't really worth it to me. So, outside she goes.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:27 AM on October 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
That's maybe not a rational way to feel, but it's the feelings I'd have. Risking Big Feelings like that over a snail isn't really worth it to me. So, outside she goes.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:27 AM on October 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
I'm not sure snails can eat mold. But snails that live in aquaria clean them of algae, which should not be present in your shower; also, those are different kinds of snails.
Your snail almost certainly eats fresh leaves. There's probably not anything to eat for it in your shower, and there may be soap and other chemicals that are likely to be unhealthy for it.
I second the advice to put the snail outside. It'll be way happier out there. There are no pros to having it live inside your shower, and plenty of cons from the snail's point of view.
If you like snails, you might like this book.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:01 AM on October 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Your snail almost certainly eats fresh leaves. There's probably not anything to eat for it in your shower, and there may be soap and other chemicals that are likely to be unhealthy for it.
I second the advice to put the snail outside. It'll be way happier out there. There are no pros to having it live inside your shower, and plenty of cons from the snail's point of view.
If you like snails, you might like this book.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:01 AM on October 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Soap is pretty terrible for critters who depend on mucus. A shower, though wet, is not a great place for a snail to live.
posted by rockindata at 6:11 AM on October 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by rockindata at 6:11 AM on October 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'd probably remove it, for its benefit. In my situation, I would know it came in through an open window, probably foraging on all the nice algae right outside on the exterior sill and wall.
Then again, it's just one snail, it poses a near-zero risk to you, and if you're curious to let it play out, that's fine too. But if you do that, please keep us posted :)
Many/most snails certainly can eat various types of mold and fungus by the way. It's the slugs that go for fresh living leaves more. Sure, a snail might eat fresh lettuce or cucumber if offered, but they in the wild they are more likely to be living of biofilms and detritus, unless they are of the carnivorous sort. And since its in your bathroom, I'd bet it's not a carnivore. More info on the variety of snail diets here,
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:46 AM on October 4, 2017
Then again, it's just one snail, it poses a near-zero risk to you, and if you're curious to let it play out, that's fine too. But if you do that, please keep us posted :)
Many/most snails certainly can eat various types of mold and fungus by the way. It's the slugs that go for fresh living leaves more. Sure, a snail might eat fresh lettuce or cucumber if offered, but they in the wild they are more likely to be living of biofilms and detritus, unless they are of the carnivorous sort. And since its in your bathroom, I'd bet it's not a carnivore. More info on the variety of snail diets here,
posted by SaltySalticid at 8:46 AM on October 4, 2017
Put the snail outside for all the reasons listed above. (Also for the horrible squick factor of stepping on a snail in your bare feet, not to mention guilt and then cleanup.)
Then look into how it got in, because that's not good. I lived in a crappy rental for a while that routinely had slugs in the bathroom. They came in through a rotting hole underneath the clawfoot tub. Hopefully it came in some other way, but check around for rot.
posted by purple_bird at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Then look into how it got in, because that's not good. I lived in a crappy rental for a while that routinely had slugs in the bathroom. They came in through a rotting hole underneath the clawfoot tub. Hopefully it came in some other way, but check around for rot.
posted by purple_bird at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
The stuff that's growing in your bathroom is probably mold (a fungus) or pink slime bacteria.
Difference between algae and fungi.
I do not know whether your snail will eat fungus, but it probably can't eat the black mildew growing in your bathroom caulk and grout because that black organism is too mixed in with the caulk or grout, and I'm pretty sure nothing eats caulk or grout.
posted by amtho at 9:20 AM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Difference between algae and fungi.
I do not know whether your snail will eat fungus, but it probably can't eat the black mildew growing in your bathroom caulk and grout because that black organism is too mixed in with the caulk or grout, and I'm pretty sure nothing eats caulk or grout.
posted by amtho at 9:20 AM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I had a fish tank snail once, and it was super happy, so it committed parthenogenesis and laid like a billion eggs. Ok, a thousand.
posted by aniola at 9:43 AM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 9:43 AM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty sure nothing eats caulk or grout
Mildew does.
posted by flabdablet at 11:46 AM on October 4, 2017
Mildew does.
posted by flabdablet at 11:46 AM on October 4, 2017
When we had a slug in our shower recess, it turned out it had got there through a hole we hadn't noticed rotting out in the flooring.
This happened to us too. We were already remodeling and had known that there was some "minor" leak near the toilet that we asked the contractor to address once the major part of the project was done. We ended up having to pull up all the subflooring and replace the floor joists (ever wonder how remodeling budgets get so out of hand - well that's one way for sure). And that's how we learned about all of the slugs and snails under the bathroom (we're on a raised foundation). The good news is we likely reduced the local rat and possum population by removing their food source.
Take your little visitor outside and then have a plumber or handyman come by and check out your fixtures and grout.
posted by vignettist at 1:35 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
This happened to us too. We were already remodeling and had known that there was some "minor" leak near the toilet that we asked the contractor to address once the major part of the project was done. We ended up having to pull up all the subflooring and replace the floor joists (ever wonder how remodeling budgets get so out of hand - well that's one way for sure). And that's how we learned about all of the slugs and snails under the bathroom (we're on a raised foundation). The good news is we likely reduced the local rat and possum population by removing their food source.
Take your little visitor outside and then have a plumber or handyman come by and check out your fixtures and grout.
posted by vignettist at 1:35 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Your snail pal could easily get hurt inside your bathroom (chemicals, drowning, falling, squishing) and there is nothing for him to eat in there! Plus, snails are social creatures and he will probably get lonely. Please convey him to a leafy area outdoors! <3
posted by windykites at 2:13 PM on October 4, 2017
posted by windykites at 2:13 PM on October 4, 2017
Response by poster: Thank you snail afficionados of Ask Metafilter! This place is a rental and I'm pretty sure small snail came in through the gaps between window panes, which ideally wouldn't be there, but: eh.
I think small snail got out on its own but during my shower I will look for snail and release it outside as necessary.
posted by sacchan at 3:35 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think small snail got out on its own but during my shower I will look for snail and release it outside as necessary.
posted by sacchan at 3:35 PM on October 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is the snail actively moving around, or is it in estivation mode? If the former, please do move snail friend outside. If the latter, GENTLY peel snail friend off the surface they have estivated themselves on to. Then move snail friend outside.
Thank you for being kind to snail friend.
posted by Hermione Granger at 4:46 PM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thank you for being kind to snail friend.
posted by Hermione Granger at 4:46 PM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Snail friend update: did not find snail despite thorough search. It's very possible it moved itself outside or my husband moved it outside instead of getting ideas about snail cohabitation.
posted by sacchan at 4:50 PM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sacchan at 4:50 PM on October 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
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Con: Snailey McSnailerson will probably starve to death in there.
Summary: Please find a nice, pesticide-free place with some nice snail-friendly leaves and give your guy a chance.
posted by amtho at 4:01 AM on October 4, 2017 [15 favorites]