What happens to a snail when you step on its shell?

Update: The best source of calcium is cuttlefish bones. If you don't have cuttlefish bone at home (I would be surprised if you do), you can use eggshells. Bear in mind snails have tiny mouth, so don't forget to grind the eggshells! I hear some people use a pepper mill to grind eggshells. read more

The snail dies. In addition to the snail’s vulnerable body being exposed to air and drying, its’ internal organs have been smashed. If the body was intact and only the shell was broken, the snail would still die because it needs the shell for protection of its’ body to keep it from drying out. read more

If you wish to keep the injured snails read over the comprehensive care guide which will explain its long-term needs. On the other hand if you simply wish to keep the snail until it recovers do the following: I usually spray the snail gently with water (tepid) to properly see what damage has occured. I then remove any bits of shell that have broken free and are sticking out. Very carefully clean the snail and the damaged areas under a very gently flowing tap (tepid) or by using a spray bottle. read more

Best Answer: A snail can repair a certain amount of damage to its shell, and living snails are often found with scars indicating places where they have repaired cracks, chips, and small breaks, and occasionally even fairly large breaks. read more