Over the coming months, as the snail grows, the shell will grow with it. Part of the snail's body, called the mantle, makes new soft shell material and this is added to the edge of the shell - this soft edge is called the lip.

What happens if a snail loses its shell?

Snails are born with their shells in place but at first, the shell is soft and unformed. ... The snail excretes the new shell material around the opening of its shell causing it to grow in a spiral, widening with the snail's increasing body mass. If this shell becomes significantly broken then the snail will probably die.

How long does it take for snail shells to grow?

It usually takes two to four weeks for the eggs to hatch and for the baby snails to emerge, shells and all. The shell of a baby snail, often referred to as a protoconch or “earliest shell,” is colorless and very soft.