It is not surprising to visit a house and find that the family has dogs or cats. These animals are considered part of the family, they are given names, some even clothes, and, when they die, they are even mourned, in view of the emotional bond that was created with them.
Less common is to go to a house and find that the pets are others, such as iguanas, snakes, spiders, Vietnamese pigs, etc. In fact, as strange as it may seem, those who are attracted to marine life have decided not only to have fish, but also to have baby snails.
This is a totally different pet option, but it can double as a companion animal. It is true that they are not social animals and they are not very entertaining either. However, taking care of them can be a good distraction and the best thing is that it will not take you long to do it.
The snail is a small animal, family of the mollusks and always drags its house with it. Its way of walking, the shape of its shell or its colors is the object of fascination for many. Would you like to have snails as pets? If you are reading this article, the answer is probably yes.
But, since they are not very common pets, how can you take care of them? What are your needs? In what environment do they function best? What do they eat? How is your reproduction? It is valid that you ask yourself all these questions. But don’t let the parrot go away!
In this article you will find out everything you need to have snails as pets and to ensure that you enjoy their silent company for a long time. Surely, when they visit your house, your snail terrarium will be the topic of conversation. Therefore, pay close attention to what you have to do in relation to their care.
Instructions for keeping pet snails
If a snail receives the necessary care, it can live between 3 and 15 years. Therefore, before deciding to have them at home, it is important that you ask yourself if you are willing to make the commitment to take care of them during that time. If you are sure to take the step, the next thing will be to follow these instructions:
- Decide what kind of snail you prefer. The ideal would be to choose a snail that is from the area, of those that you can find in the gardens or in places near your home and that is small or medium in size, since they cause fewer problems. Also, if over time, you get bored of having them, you can leave them free in a garden area, which is suitable, so that they can continue living. On the other hand, you should choose more than one snail as a pet, because they are animals that need company and even tend to sleep next to each other.
- Choose a house that is right for them. Actually, they can be adapted to any type of container, as long as it has the appropriate conditions, such as light, humidity and holes that allow oxygen and ventilation to enter. You can choose between a plastic container, a small tank or a glass fish tank, as long as it has a lid with holes. It is not recommended that you use wooden or cardboard houses because, as they need moisture, they would end up rotting.
- Buy substrate. It must be sterilized before you can use it as soil. Avoid small stones and sand. Instead, you can place a wide tree branch for them to climb on. Snails love to be buried to keep their bodies cool. So the substrate must be free of chemicals and must also retain moisture well. You can use coco coir or peat moss, both of which are readily available at garden stores. They are ideal for them, since their pH is slightly acidic, which prevents fungi from proliferating. Before buying it, ask if it is not fertilized.
- Create a moist environment. For them to live, your house must be between 17 and 30 degrees. Therefore, you should spray your container to cause this type of moisture. However, you must be careful not to overdo it, as they could slip and even drown. Therefore, the ideal is that you apply the water with a sprayer two or three times a day and no more than that.
These are just some basic recommendations. But, considering that it is an exotic pet, what other things do you need for its care?
What do you need to have pet snails?
Keep in mind that snails are very dirty animals. Therefore, you will need to clean the container where you have them every day, to maintain their hygiene. This includes a complete house wash with boiled water and mild soap. But don’t worry, it’s a quick task. While you’re at it, it’s best to move your snails to another safe place.
On the other hand, the snails also need to be cleaned once or twice a month, to avoid developing pests. For this, you will only have to moisten your finger with water or use a moist ear stick and carefully pass it over its shell and body.
It is very important that you keep in mind that you cannot use any product to clean your little pet, not even mild soap. You will only need water and that’s it! Of course, do it very delicately so as not to hurt them.
In relation to their diet, you will need to give them fruits, vegetables and vegetables. Among his favorite foods are lettuce leaves, apples, tomatoes, carrots, among others. You should wash them before giving them to them.
It is also recommended that you provide them with a source of calcium, as this will help them stay resistant, especially in the case of their shell. Also, keep in mind that their poop tends to be the color of what they eat. Therefore, it is not surprising that their stools are orange, green and even black.
Now, what other tips should you keep in mind so that you have happy snails as pets? We’ll see right now.
Tips for keeping pet snails
Most people, when they go to grab the snails, do so from their frame or shell. But, this is a mistake. By doing so, you could end up separating them from her and killing them, which you do not want to happen.
The correct way to handle them is by wetting your hands and trying to get them to climb on it. You can help them by placing food or putting your finger in their path. In case you do not succeed or they are very small, you can place a piece of moistened stick on them and they will climb on their own.
Since your snails will need to glide across all surfaces in your home, don’t place sharp or very hard objects on them, as they could damage them. The best thing is that you integrate objects that are made of plastic so that they are not in danger.
Also, make sure that your drinker is shallow on its surface, so that your pet drinks water calmly and prevents it from drowning in it.
Give them the necessary food for about two or three days, no more than that, otherwise fungus will begin to appear and this could make them sick. You must supplement their diet with calcium. To do this, you can use a calcium block for turtles. Leave it at your free disposal. They will know how much it is time to take their intake of salts.
As an extra contribution, you can use chick feed or stale bread. To offer them, use a container to prevent the food from coming into contact with the substrate.
Regarding the water, spray your snails so that they come out of the shell. Usually they drink from the drops that remain on the walls of the container. However, it doesn’t hurt to give them a small, low bowl for them to drink from.
When you spray his house, try not to wet his food. Remember that water is essential for snails. Exposing them to a situation of prolonged drought can end their lives.
If you have two or more snails together, you will soon have baby snails. Most snails are hermaphrodites, which mean they have both male and female reproductive organs.
After they lay a large number of eggs, they will be ready to breed in 6 weeks. Also, you must take into account that snails are capable of lying between 30 and 140 eggs at a time. Which means that you will have about 480 snails in the year?
Mating between snails is possible, but very painful for both. Therefore, it is not always recommended. For mating to occur, two snails must fight aggressively for attention and this can end up doing a lot of damage to them.
In the end, the snail that has been chased will end up giving in and will receive, involuntarily, a kind of dart full of sperm. This is equivalent to having a thumb-sized needle in your stomach. Do not try to remove it because you could damage it even more.
If you want to prevent this painful situation, you will have to be very aware. You may even see a snail with its male genitalia sticking out. These are similar to a long white stick and will be near the shell.
Take him to a different house until he has gone through the mating process, which could take as little as a couple of hours or a full day. Then you can place them next to the others again.
As you may have realized, raising snails is not as complicated as you might think. Of course, it is true that you have to clean your house daily, but this task will not take much time and will be worth the effort.
