Cowrie snails

So bear with me, I have been advised to buy some bigger shells for my new cowrie tiger snail, I'm told that he needs these because he doesn't grown his own, so the question is, "how do bigger shells become bigger shells" if a snail cannot grow a bigger shell ?

 

I've never heard of snails changing shells??? That sounds well interesting. Hermit crabs yea steal shells from snails, but no idea on this.

 

Somebody's playing you for a fool, Ken. You are correct- bigger shells come from the snails that grew them. NO snail changes it's shell.

 

I believe someone meant hermits.

 

No hermits, my Lfs advised me to buy the shells, they told me that it would grow pretty quickly, the shells are highly sought after and costs go up all the time, there was however a opportunity of selling my old shells through them.

I believe a gallon of gasoline might put these buggers straight !

Thanks guys.

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If cowries changed their shells, none of them would look like cowries...LOL Don't look at the bridges they may offer you!

 

i do think its a GREAT snail though

 

Agree with Mr Bill and Greg. Snails don't change shells, they just add to the existing shell they have. Eventually, they reach their maximum size. I have had two cowries for five years and they're not much bigger than when I got them. My Turbo snail, on the other hand, is 2.5+ inches across -- more than twice the size he was when I bought him.