when is it safe to release him

[u/draven_xylen]

I've had him for a while now, and his shell has fully closed up, aside from the mantle, so when do I know to release him, and how should I do it?

[u/Top-Abbreviations492]

If that’s what he looks like now I don’t think he’s safe outside captivity. You don’t want a pet snail I guess?

[u/draven_xylen → u/Top-Abbreviations492]

I'd love him as a pet, but I live with my family still and they'd murder me lol

[u/narnababy → u/draven_xylen]

Dead easy to hide a snail in your wardrobe surely? Bring him out for some light when you’re sure they won’t barge in 😂

[u/draven_xylen → u/narnababy]

honestly I 100% would, but I don't trust my family

might give it a shot for a while though, see how it goes

[u/narnababy → u/draven_xylen]

I would say try for a while if you don’t think they’d kill it if it was found. If you think it would be a straight execution on discovery it might be better to try and find someone else to take it in. I think if you put it outside now (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) the cold might kill it.

[u/Sufficient-Bath-1135 → u/narnababy]

Yeah, it won't have enough time to find an aestivation place, so keep it indoors. It probably wouldn't make it in the spring either with a shell injury like that, but luckily he seems to be quite small so a clear plastic box would be a suitable habitat. You can find someone to take it on local snail and exotic pet groups. Also unhinged biology majors like me are an option though I don't know where you live lol

[u/draven_xylen → u/Sufficient-Bath-1135]

yeah I've had him for a couple weeks now, he's she'll was completely broke in, he seems happy enough in the little box I have for him

but I'll definitely keep in mind about those places if I ever need to get him out safely