I understand that snails are born in eggs, but how do they get that massive shell and they aren’t multicolored? Like hermit crabs get different shells as they grow.. right?
In: Planetary Science
The snail slowly grows its shell from the base, as new portions of the shell are formed, the older parts are pushed upward which forms the distinctive spiral shape.
As for what they are made up, its primarily calcium carbonate with some organic proteins to help seal everything together. Land snails get it from the food they eat, aquatic snails in both marine and freshwater can get it from food or from the water if the water is rich in the stuff. Most other shells, particularly in aquatic animals, are also made of calcium carbonate, such as clam shells, barnacles, or coral.
Hermit crabs are scavengers of shells, taking abandoned shells left when a snail dies for itself. The backside of a hermit crab is very soft and flexible, which allows them to pick up a shell and gain a much stronger defense than normal crabs, at the cost of being more vulnerable without it and having to find an upgrade as they grow older and larger.
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