FINGER ON YOUR LIPS

 ADVENTUROUS PETS

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

01/V/2024

 

The other day I got a shock when I saw one of our Apple Snails in our water lily tub had taken a leap of faith. It must have climbed up to the ledge of the bathtub and then lost its grip or balance to fall down about two and a half feet to the floor.

With a cracked shell, chances of its survival were unsure. There was no way to know except to pick it up and put it back in the pool. Its ‘flesh’ appeared fresh, though the shell was cracked and the shell surface had gone dry. How long back ‘Humpty-Dumpty’ had taken the fall was unknown.

This gave me a little time to look at the ‘crustacean’ in detail. These guys have a diaphragm-like feature at the ‘mouth’ of their opening through which they move their body out to feed, swim and mate. It is a dark brown/black coloured membrane which seals off that opening after they retract inside their shell.

This is basically a safety feature and a defence mechanism of a snail to withdraw itself into its abode and close its ‘doors’. It makes it feel safe inside and slips out only when there is a need to feed or it feels the lurking danger has passed.

I tickled that black diaphragm a little, even tried to give it a gentle pull just to see if it was alive. That didn’t help, as they tend to freeze all movements in such situations. I did not want to put too much force. If I applied too much, it could get unshelled and subsequently die.

My eleventh sense told me that these guys may redevelop or regrow their shells which must be getting damaged due to various reasons in nature. One had to give it a fair chance to get back to its original ‘home’ and live its full life.

There are a few issues with the tub and the solar fountain which throws up water to about two feet high. That was introduced to circulate and aerate the water for oxygenation required for the fish. It runs when the sun is up and shuts once the evening shadows fall on it. In the morning, it automatically starts gushing water on receiving daylight. The ‘water plume’ reaches its zenith when all the photoelectric cells get exposed to direct sunlight.

Due to water rising in the hot desert air, there is evaporation. Though a natural green protection of water plants covers the surface to provide shade and cooling effect for the fish. But water does evaporate.

Once the fountain water falls back and hits leaves, small droplets shoot off over the sides of the tub. Strong afternoon winds divert the ‘water plume’ to fall out of the tub, thus loss of water. Besides, honey bees in large swarms and a few birds come for a drink. By evening, the water level decreases from anywhere between two to five inches, which is substantial.

Then one is caught between the devil and the deep sea. If the tub is topped up till the brim, chances are that water overflows. Some adventurous fish try to explore new territories and swim off the tub. They are found ‘stiff’ on the floor in the morning. The Apple Snail was also a victim of such a misadventure.

Water levels have to be maintained meticulously. If you don’t, then the level falls, exposing water lily pots inside to direct sunlight and dry up. Their leaves wilt and go crisp. It also affects other floating plants which get stuck on water lily leaves. If you fill it to the brim, chances of losing fish and snails increase.

With experience, before closing the terrace garden in the evening, after having fed the fish and cleaned the various water lily tubs from dead leaves and algae, water is topped up, leaving a little space from the rim of the containers. Fish are safe but one cannot control the escapades of our snails. Apple snails crawl to a dry place to lay their eggs and in the bargain topple over the side.

Luckily, it was such a happy moment when I found Humpty-Dumpty feeding and moving in the tub the next morning. Its shell, though still damaged, will get repaired subsequently. I breathed a sigh of relief.

One cannot be present 24x7 to supervise each fish and snail. One has to accept a few casualties with a pinch of salt. How can you control their natural instinct to be adventurous? I wonder!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS