@IngridHbnIngrid Hoeben Ⓥ 🇧🇪 Thank you for sharing this! I have pet giant African landsnails and the way I explain it is the shell is hard, like your fingernails, but it would hurt if someone picked you up by your fingernails too because they're connected to delicate tissue. I'd also add that sometimes touching the shell isn't enough - some of my snails are more cautious than others and retract immediately, whereas with some of the more bold ones you have to (gently!) tap repeatedly. Also they're less likely to go back in if they're eating something they like. It really does show that even creatures as simple as snails have distinct personalities and preferences