Keeping Pet Snails @ Home

Sick of your boring old pet?

Want a new exciting pet?

What about a snail?

Step 1: Housing & Substrate

A good sized tank is a 20 liters (5 gallons). I would suggest having one garden snail per 4 liters (1 gallon).

For the substrate i have used bird grit as it will give the snails calcium. This can be found at your local bulk food store or pet shop. If you choose another substrate it would be a good idea to provide another source of calcium such as a cuttle fish bone or crushed eggshells.

other substrates you can use:
Bark
Aquarium gravel
Peat moss
And soil

Make sure you wash it well first.

Step 2: Decorations

I have added Bark, Rock and pots to replicate a garden.

What ever you use make sure you wash it first.

Step 3: Finding & Choosing Your Specimens

A good time to find snails is early morning or at night. You are most likley to find them in early summer. Choose active and healthy looking snails.

Step 4: Other General Care Tips

~ Mist the cage daily.


~ Provide fresh greens daily.


~ Clean the tank weekly.


~ Move/change the decorations once in a while to allow more places to explore.

Step 5: Thanks for Reading

Please comment and add suggestions so i can improve on my work.

Comments

[lnuhi]

Hello, my daughters snail has lost its shine. Any way of helping it fine it’s shine again??

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Could you send some pics through of what you mean?

[pensyltucky girl]

I found a snail on a car light that was shipped from Texas to Pennsylvania it is white in color and the snail is kind of tan. I don't know if he needs heat or if he lives in water I have been keeping it in a small tank with soil moss a stick and a piece of bark that he hides in sometimes he won't eat for days and stays in his shell is this normal?

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

It wouldn't live in water if it was found outside. Try misting the snail to wake him up. Also, snails do sleep so this is quite normal behavior. They also only usually come out when it rains.

[jacqs22]

My 7 year old wanted to keep a snail as a pet during the school holidays, which turned into 2 snails. We have them in a fish tank (no water, obviously)! and as expected, I have taken over their care! I have been making sure they have everything they need and they seem happy; one of them laid a clutch of eggs after a 24 hour mating session a few weeks ago. One thing i'm not sure of is how long should you let them 'come out and play' everyday? I give them fresh food every day, remove the old food, clean off the poo, spritz them with water etc, but while I'm doing this, they go for a little wander and are always a bit reluctant to go back in! Should I let them out for longer? Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated.

[AnnaE21]

Hey jasqs22! That's great that you're 7 year old has 2 pet snails! You should probably let the snails stay out for about half an hour to let them get some food/fresh air and you should let them explore but don't let them go!

Hope i helped!

[jacqs22]

Thanks AnnaE21! Really appreciate your reply. I had thought only a few of the eggs that were laid had survived, as only saw 2 baby snails in the tank. Until this morning! Overnight lots of baby snails have appeared! I counted 48 while I was changing their food earlier! As a novice to keeping snails, I'm not sure what to do. Should I wait for them to get a bit bigger (to handle them) and then buy another, bigger tank? I don't feel happy letting some of them go as it's getting cold outside, I think i'll wait until they are bigger and it's warmer outside. The ever increasing wonder that it is to keep snails! The babies are so cute!

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Sorry, but to release this many snails into the wild would wreck havoc. I would suggest freezing quite a number and keeping a few to release. Sorry to break this to you.

[CeciliaGraceMay]

How should you make a proper snail house and how many snails should you put in a six gallon bucket? I have about 15 in there. I used natural soil for the base, a layer of leaves, some egg shells for protein, a tomato, some green pepper and water. Is that okay? Any of it dangerous to snails or anything?

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Not that I know of, but the tomato may go moldy if not eaten quickly. I think 15 is too many simply because of the amount of babies they will have. Think about it, one snail can have about 80 eggs in one clutch, both snails that mate will have eggs, meaning 160 eggs per breeding. Multiple this by the 6 clutches each snail will have in a year. In one year, your snails will produce about 3,360 eggs!

[ads4224]

how do you mist the container???

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Using just a cheap spray bottle from the garden store etc.

[JohnV17]

can we use regular potting soil for the enclosure. Also should I find more snails to put in my snails enclosure.

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Yes for number one, maybe for number two. If you are ready to have a lot of baby snails, then yes and no if you just want a few.

[BlueGap]

how do I clean the tank?

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Place the snails in a holding enclosure (a jar will do). Then take everyhting out and wash thoroughly with water (detergent can kill snails). Wipe down the tank, rearrange the accessories and you're done.

[ali_f]

What can I use as an alternative to dirt? It's been raining ALOT latley where I live, and the ground is pretty much just a big, soaked, hard, mass. (.P.S., I'm unable to buy anything at the moment, I have some straw/hay, is that okay to use as the bedding?)

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Yes, temportlarily.

[summerberry228]

Hey i just to know were i should keep the snails:

I have 2 snails in a 18 inches length and 18 inches deep tub with no lid i placed about an 3 inches of compost in the bottom with some garden soil i then placed some leaves in there and a small tray of water in there with some paper in it because they like eating it (apparently.)
(Its not too deep to drowned them).
put some boiled egg shells in too, i don't know if i should keep them in side or out i place a wet towel over the top and some netting to stop the birds eating them. i put 2 of the same species in together hoping they will have baby's i keep straying them with some water from the pond witch has aligi in it.
Please reply ASAP! Thankyou some much

Emily 13. xxxxx

[Saved_By_Bugs2057]

Outside is best, as you don't need to regulate the tempeture etc to the outside world. Just cover their enclosure with netting and place them out of the sunlight. Good Luck