Approximate Weight/Height Guide
Newborn;; 1 - 1.5kg, 2.5 - 3.5 inches
Pup;; 3 – 5.5kg, 5 - 10 inches
Juvenile;; 11.5 – 15kg, 13 - 17 inches
Adult Female ;; 32 - 39kg, 23 - 27 inches
Adult Male ;; 33 - 45kg, 25 - 30 inches
Height is measured at the shoulder and excludes the shell The information provided below applies specifically to wild Helix rather than the tamed variety, which are the ones available for adoption here. However, many 'domestic' Helix still uphold many instinctive traits.
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Helix are semi-aquatic canine-like creatures that live in coastal regions, usually on or around beaches with rock pools. They have a thick, oily coat which helps to insulate them and to repel water, and they possess sharp retractable claws which are used to help them navigate the slippery seaweed-covered tidal pools in which they hunt and nest. They carry a large ammonite-like shell over their rumps which are often brightly coloured and serve as a form of protection for newborns and juveniles. They are also known as the 'Crested Helix' due to the thick ruff of fur that runs along the neck of fully grown individuals.
While most wild Helix exhibit strictly natural pelt colours, ones that have become domesticated over the years have been selectively bred to produce pups whom have a variety of exotic colours and markings. In turn as some pet Helix have been turned loose and allowed to turn feral and interbreed with wild Helix, these new colours and markings have gradually spread. In recent years, Helix whom possess markings and colours similar to those found in domestic dog breeds have become very popular.
Hunting and Diet
Primarily piscivorous, Helix will feed mainly on any fish, crustaceans and shellfish that they fish from tidal pools. However they will also prey upon any seabirds, seals and the carrion of beached marine mammals (dolphins, etc) that they happen across. They possess powerful jaws to crack open shells and a rough sandpapery tongue to scrape the meat from cartilage and bone.
Young Helix pups will consume large quantities of calcium in the form of shell and bone to help harden their shells. Helix are particularly fond of very fatty, oily fish, and in particular they are very fond of mackerel, sardines and eel.
They hunt by wading into rock pools where they then dip their heads beneath the water. Amazingly they able to hold their breath underwater for up to six minutes at a time. A special membrane covering their eyes and nostrils also protect them from the corrosive salt water as they hunt. Once they have found and caught their prey, Helix will retrieve them from the waters to kill and then eat. Helix must be cautious when hunting, as their shell is so heavy that it can potentially drown the animal if they venture too far out in deep waters. As such, hunting activities are usually reserved during low-tide.
Despite this, Helix are somewhat adaptable, as shown with domestic individuals, who may safely consume small quantities of fruit and vegetables. As a rule of thumb, if it's safe for a fox to eat, then it's generally safe for a Helix.
Domestic Helix are particularly fond of dairy (for the calcium intake), honey and eggs.
Diseases, Disorders and Ailments
Both wild and domestic Helix varieties can suffer from a number of diseases. Whilst a majority of these disorders are harmless, causing only aesthetic and mild hormonal changes, others can be problematic. Below is a list of all the current-known conditions.
Brittle Shell Disease (BSD) - this is common in captive Helix as a direct result of not being supplemented with enough calcium as a pup, causing the shell to become so brittle and cracked that chunks of it may crumble away. Though less common, it can also occur in adult animals if calcium is dropped from their diet altogether. In the wild this ailment can prove fatal to young animals, who rely on their shells for protection. As the shell can not grow back the damage caused is irreversible, however with proper care and a calcium-rich diet from then on, an affected Helix can usually live a happy life.
Dwarfism - Previously known as 'Eternal Pup Syndrome'. For some unknown reason some Helix will not grow to be any larger than a juvenile, and as such may aesthetically resemble one. Affected Helix are otherwise considered to be perfectly healthy and may possibly breed, though only with other Helix whom are effected with Dwarfism. Dwarfism can even be predicted at birth due to the fact that the affected pup is usually much smaller than most. This condition is not usually hereditary.
Vitiligo - This is a condition in which the pigment is lost from certain areas of the skin and fur, causing whitish patches. There is no clear cause of this condition. It tends to be relatively harmless, though in several cases Helix with Vitiligo have developed allergies to certain foods and chemicals. It only effects Helix with darker coat colours, and it never effects the shell. Vitiligo can be hereditary.
Physical Mutations - Every now and again a Helix with some significant physical attributes will pop up. These defects can range from floppy ears and different fur textures to albinism and the appearance of enlarged fangs. Mutations usually have a 50-50 chance to be inherited by offspring, though may not appear to be as significant in the offspring as it is in the parent.
Showing and Competitions
Ever since their domestication, the owners and breeders of these critters have wondered what use the Helix could be. Because of the bulk of their shell they were considered to be useless as any sort of working animal, and considering their size, loud vocalisations and behaviour, they didn't make particularly good pets, either. So instead, many people choose to breed and show their Helix.
There are a variety of different shows, each with their own set rules and regulations. Each Helix that is adopted has an assigned number of skills called 'Stat Points' which can be improved upon either through competing in shows and competitions, communal events or through breeding. More info on this section is to come.
Community and Hierarchy
Helix are very social within their own species, forming colonies of 3 - 12 individuals in the wild, though colonies of up to 80 animals have been recorded in extremely rare instances. Multiple colonies may also co-exist on a single beach giving the illusion of a larger community.
Colonies are strictly matriarchal, led by a single female who is often the eldest and the most knowledgeable female. The rest of a colony is made up of other subordinate females as well as pups and juveniles of both sexes. Mature males are driven from the colony once they reach sexual maturity. From there the males wander between colonies, living on the side-lines until the breeding season. Males, particularly young ones, may form loose bachelor groups where they may form bonds, spar and inevitably establish a dominance hierarchy amongst themselves. The most dominant males on any territory are known as the 'Beach Masters'. These males have the most respect, are generally the most aggressive and have more breeding rights. Nevertheless, if a Matriarch dislikes a particular male who has approached her colony, she will drive him off, regardless of his status.
Unlike with the males, a Matriarch is very rarely, if not never, challenged for her role of leadership, and she will uphold this rank until her death. Once she has died, her eldest daughter will assume the rank. If the Matriarch's daughter is not present in the colony, or if she does not have one, then a new female will be selected. Otherwise, the colony will disband and members will seek out a new community.
Vocalisations
What does the Helix say? Actually, quite a lot! They're a noisy bunch, as anyone who's been within half a mile of a colony can tell you! Vocalisations are varied within the species, depending on the age, sex and breeding condition, and are not unlike that of the Red Fox. Helix will squeak, grunt, growl, bark, yap and on rare occasions they'll even emit a long, sharp 'scream' which can be heard up to a mile away!
Breeding and rearing of Offspring
In the wild, the breeding season occurs from April - August as to allow any pups born the best chance of survival before the winter arrives, a time in which food is generally very scarce and aggression is highest. In captivity Helix may breed all-year round.
Helix are not usually a monogamous species, with both males and females generally taking multiple mates over the course of a breeding season. During this season, males will work hard to guard prime nesting spots, usually in and around sea-caves and sheltered rock pools. Females tend to favour the strongest most dominant males, called 'Beach Masters', and in particular, the ones with dark, plain-coloured shells that resemble ordinary rocks. The reason behind this is largely unknown but it is speculated that if the shell colouring is inherited by the offspring then it can help to protect them by camouflaging them as rocks and debris. Males will fight violently to gain the attention of females, and may even kill the pups of rival males.
After a gestation period of approximately 9 weeks the female will give birth to either a single pup or twins, although a single litter containing triplets was once recorded. These pups are born helpless, blind and deaf with a very soft oversized shell. Within 24 hours the shell hardens, allowing the pup to retreat inside of it as a defensive measure whilst it's mother is not around. She will leave her offspring inside the nest as to not draw attention to it, returning only to nurse her young on her calcium-rich, high-fat milk. Whilst the first litter is growing it isn't uncommon for the female to already be pregnant with a second lot of pups, meaning a female can have up to two or even three litters per season. As mortality rates can be quite high, more pups may increase the chances of survival. Newborns are capable of fully withdrawing themselves within their shells, which serves as both a form of protection and camouflage against predators and scavengers, such as seagulls.
Pups grow steadily and are weaned by the time they are 5 weeks old. By this point they're steadily learning to walk, have all their milk teeth and have a penchant for mischief! Calcium and protein-rich foods form a big part of their diet, aiding growth and development, particularly with their shells. Any Helix who does not get enough calcium as pups may develop an illness known as 'Brittle Shell Disease' (BSD), which leads to weakened, cracked or even broken shells. Food is fed to young pups via regurgitation.
At 6 months old pups are known as Juveniles and at this point have almost entirely left the nursery nest. Juveniles are disproportioned compared to adults, with large ears, huge heavy shells and big paws. They have enormous appetites which can only be sated by the adult females of the colony, who all assist in feeding the group's youngsters. The adult females also teach the juveniles the art of the hunt, showing them how, when and where to catch the best prey.
At a year of age Juveniles are now more or less fully independent. With new pups to care for the Juveniles are often disregarded by their mothers, though they continue to stick around, begging for food scraps and cautiously playing with their younger siblings. It is common for the mothers to chase their previous offspring away however, as if they do not recognise them as their own, though this seems largely untrue as occasionally a mother may socialise with her chased young via grooming and contact. This puts most juvenile males at risk of attack from mature males, who may view them as a potential future threat. Young females are not treated with nearly the same hostility, and are in fact often welcomed into new colonies of unrelated females, where they may or may not choose to stay.
Adolescence and sexual maturity for females is reached at three years, whilst males will not be able to breed for another year or two. Helix at this age are closer to being fully grown, and by now they have established themselves either in a bachelor group (males) or a new colony (females). Once established into a colony it is relatively common for a young female to have had at least two or three litters before they are fully grown.
Helix are considered fully mature at five years, and by this point have their permanent adult teeth, colours and have finished growing. Their shells will continue to slowly grow throughout their lives, gaining a few centimetres a year.
The expected lifespan for a wild Helix is somewhere between 20 - 28 years, sometimes less for males due to injury. Captive Helix on the other hand can be expected to live anywhere between 30 - 40 years, provided they are healthy.
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