Feeding and Nutrition :: snails

[Lihan]

hey guys! iam new to this forum.

well anyways, i thought i might feed my turtle some snails or grow a colony of snails of my own.

but i live in manhattan and i don't know where i can get my hands on some of these. somebody got an idea? thanks!

[Lihan]

and also, can you guys give me some idea on how to grow some snails? i've read about it and if anyone's done it here, can you give me a tip or two?

[jenaero]

I used to get mine from the pet store for free. Anywhere you find aquatic plants, you're likely to find snails. My pet store gave them away because there were so many that would hitch a ride on the aquatic plants they ordered that they were over run with them. Ask for ramshorn or apple snails. I'm no expert on breeding but I kept mine in a 10 gal tank with my feeder fish, I fed the snails romaine lettuce and before I knew it, I had clutches of eggs all over the place and about a hundred babies.

[Lihan]

cool, I am thinking something like petco would have some?

also, where did you put your ten gallon tank at? i never know you need a 10 gallon for a breeder(other then for the turtles)!

[jenaero]

It was just an empty tank that I had laying around so I filled it with fish and snails. You could try breeding them in the turtle tank but I'd imagine they'd get eaten pretty quick.

[marisa]

I always get snails with the anachris I buy.

[Lihan]

it's hard to imagine my turtle eat through all that shell and flesh. does it make a big mess in the tank?

and do all aquatic snails eat anything i give them? lol, iam a total turtle newbie.

[marisa]

The snails in my turtles' tanks are not very big, and the shells are not rock hard. Sometimes I've just found pieces of shell, and sometimes (not often) I've found a snail with some of the shell bitten off.

For the snails I've kept in a separate tank, I would occasionally put anachris, pieces of romaine or red leaf lettuce in the tank. I also would drop in some broken-up pieces of algae wafers (these will affect water quality if not eaten quickly enough).

[Giddy]

There is tons of info on the web about snail care. Your best bet is a locally owned shop. They will probably have more control to give you what you need. They are also all over ebay.

[Lihan]

cool, thanks guys!

[missibsu]

I just recently found out a bunch of information on snails because I was intersted in the same thing. The snails that hitch rides with plants that people buy are called cornucopia snails...amongst other names. They don't get very big which makes it easier for the turts to eat, and in my opinion is more humane. I don't like to see bits of a half living creature in my tank. Anyway. I had my spare10 gallon sitting here and I filled it up. Because these snails are considered pests, you can't buy them. Like Jen said, they will give them to you for free, just ask. If they don't, go to another pet store. The water temp in my tank is set the same as it would be for the turts. I don't do anything special for them. They don't need a filter, and I throw in a piece of lettuce or some fish food. It may take some time for them to eat the lettuce or other plant material that you throw in because they don't eat live plants...they like the decaying matter. I started with about 8 snails and in a month I have over 100. Every now and then I scoop a few out and throw them in the turtle tank...they never last more than a day. Hope that helps and if you have any questions, just let me know.

[Lihan]

I just recently found out a bunch of information on snails because I was intersted in the same thing. The snails that hitch rides with plants that people buy are called cornucopia snails...amongst other names. They don't get very big which makes it easier for the turts to eat, and in my opinion is more humane. I don't like to see bits of a half living creature in my tank. Anyway. I had my spare10 gallon sitting here and I filled it up. Because these snails are considered pests, you can't buy them. Like Jen said, they will give them to you for free, just ask. If they don't, go to another pet store. The water temp in my tank is set the same as it would be for the turts. I don't do anything special for them. They don't need a filter, and I throw in a piece of lettuce or some fish food. It may take some time for them to eat the lettuce or other plant material that you throw in because they don't eat live plants...they like the decaying matter. I started with about 8 snails and in a month I have over 100. Every now and then I scoop a few out and throw them in the turtle tank...they never last more than a day. Hope that helps and if you have any questions, just let me know.

cool, it sounds really easy. And you get them for free? rad.

[Lihan]

So one day i just go to a pet store(like petco?) and ask

"dude, you got any snails?"

best case: "duh i got snails, u got a bag?"

worst case: " go F--- yourself you little piece of S--- and get the H--- out of here"

see iam really shy about free stuff, and iam a bit nervous. i can maintain the snails and everything. Just don't know how to approach the asking part.

p.s. Q: would they climb out of the tank

[Giddy]

We happened to go into Walmart today and their tanks got over run in about a week with ramshells from a new shipment of plants. The poor girl had no idea what to do. We make a trip in about once a week and they were not there last week. She offered some to me...but I was hesitant because I didn't want to set up another tank...so, I guess you can try Walmart as well.

[missibsu]

make it clear that you want the little pest snails...there are other types such as apple snails and mystery snails, they'll make you pay for those. I brought up the subject just by saying, "last time I was here the guy threw in a few of your pesty snails...do you have a few extra that I can have?" When they gave me 8 it didn't seem like a whole lot, but they really do multiply quick. Let me know how it goes for you.