Method 1: building houses
1. Choose a container where snails live. It is not dangerous for snails to live in a humid environment. The easiest way to meet their needs is to build a home for them in a glass or plastic container. The container you choose should be well ventilated to prevent escape. Be big enough for snails to live comfortably, carry easily and clean easily. When you choose a container, you should consider these factors: snails need enough space to crawl. Containers as large as small or medium-sized fish tanks are usually suitable. If you have more than one snail, or if you have a big African snail, consider preparing a bigger container.
Snails can lift 10-50 times their own weight. This means that the container you choose must have a lid that can be firmly fixed, not just a light press.
Snails need good ventilation. Don't choose airtight containers. If you use plastic food containers for storing water, poke enough holes in the top.
Snails need sunshine. Do not use opaque containers. Find a transparent plastic or glass container.
Snails can eat cardboard. Don't choose containers made of materials that are easily chewed by snails.
2. Coat the culture medium on the container. It is very important to rebuild the natural environment that snails adapt to and keep them healthy and happy. Ensure that the culture medium is nontoxic and pesticide-free; Digging from your yard is not feasible, because it may contain substances harmful to snails. There are several different media to choose from: loam. This is a loose substrate, which is full of water and can effectively drain water. If you want to plant some plants in a container, please make sure that the loam you choose is conducive to the growth of the plants you cultivate.
Humus. Compost, also referred to as compost, is a nutrient-rich medium that can provide nutrition for snails and plants.
Peat. Snails like to live in peat, but peat is also a substrate that is easy to breed pests. If you are worried about pests in the container, don't consider using it.
Potted soil. This is a low-cost choice and an ideal snail hole. Be sure to choose the one marked with no pesticides.
Coconut shell. This is a cheap culture medium and a common choice for snail containers. It can effectively moisturize, but it is easy to harbor mites.
3. Add a function to the container. Snails like to crawl, explore and hide, so provide them with something interesting to crawl and make them happy. Avoid hard ceramics and heavy stones, because snails easily slip on these things and damage their shells. The following options are recommended: sticks and branches. Durable wooden sticks can be bought in pet shops and are often used by turtles, snakes and amphibians in aquariums.
Cork bark. This is a soft material with a hollow area, which conveniently provides an excellent hiding place for snails.
Plants. Choose plants that can adapt well to the living environment of snails. You can also choose plastic plants, which will make it easier to keep clean.
4. Create a suitable climate. Besides well-ventilated containers and plenty of water, snails need a warm and humid climate. Their optimum temperature is 21-23 c (70-74 f), but a little higher or lower temperature is ok. The medium at the bottom of the container must always be moist. If you are worried that snails may be too cold in the room, consider buying a small heating pad. It should only cover about 2/3 of the bottom of the container, so that if it is too hot, the snail can move.
Spray clean water every day to keep the substrate moist (and snails). Use pure water or distilled water to ensure that snails are in a healthy state.
Method 2: Provide calcium and food.
1, providing calcium for snails. Snails need a lot of calcium to keep their shells strong and healthy. You should always provide a source of calcium in the container. Cuttlefish bones can be bought in pet shops, but you can also use egg shells. Snails will actively move on the calcium source and gradually absorb calcium into the body.
2. Provide snail food. Snails eat a wide variety of things, many of which may be daily food in your refrigerator or storage room. Put some food in the snail's container every day. You can use a small food tray to separate the food from the culture medium. If there is food on the plate after a few days, take it away, because the rotten food in the container will lead to the growth of mold and attract insects to multiply. When you are feeding snails, remember the following suggestions: You can buy snail mixed food or turtle food to feed your snails. Fresh food contains more nutrients and is healthier, but you should be prepared to have dry food at hand in case of emergency.
Feed snails with fruits and vegetables. Snails can eat almost any kind of agricultural products. If they don't like something, they won't eat it at all, so keep trying different fruits and vegetables until you find a combination that your snail likes. Try berries, pumpkins, lettuce, cabbage, apples, pears, broccoli, beans, cucumbers, kale and various other types of fruits and vegetables.
Feed snails with small amounts of ground seeds. Soaked oats are also acceptable. Snails can also be fed a small amount of milk powder, raw meat and broken dog bones.
Avoid dangerous food that is not suitable for snails. Starchy foods such as rice, millet and pasta can cause snails to die of edema. Avoid salty food. Remember the last point, don't feed snails with pesticides or other chemicals.
3. Provide a water tray. This is not mandatory, because snails can get the water they need from the culture medium, but they occasionally like to drink water and take a bath. Choose a shallow tray so that snails can climb out easily. If you use a plate with too deep water, the snail may drown.
Method 3: Clean containers and snails.
1. Change the medium frequently. Once a week should be enough, but if it gets dirty during this time, replace it immediately. If it is found that the culture medium is completely soaked, or it seems to harbor mites, it should also be replaced immediately.
2. Clean the container every few weeks. Wash the container with hot water and disinfectant, and then rinse it with clear water, carefully removing any traces of chemicals. It is important to clean the container regularly, so that mold will not grow in the container and cause harm to snails. When you are cleaning the container, put the snail in a safe plastic container with a lid; Make sure it has enough ventilation holes at the top.
At the same time clean the decorations, food and water dishes in the container. If some decorations have deteriorated over time, replace them.
3. Bathe the snail. That's a good idea. Bathing snails every once in a while can effectively prevent pests and diseases. Put the snail in a shallow dish with warm water, and then carefully pour more water into the snail. Gently clean the shell with a soft toothbrush; Don't scrub hard, or you may damage it. Do not use soap. Never use cleaning liquid to clean snails or their shells. These are extremely harmful and may lead to the death of snails.
On the shell, you can rub a little sesame oil to add some luster.
Tip: Don't leave your snails unattended for a long time, because they are not as slow as you think.
Remember to clean containers, snails and any decorations regularly.
If you find unusual black bubbles, don't dump your container first. Maybe it's eggshells.
Snails can be allowed to walk within 5- 10 cm outside their homes. Beware of other pets snooping. You don't want snails to be swallowed by your cat or dog.
When breeding them, keep snails in a private space, and usually the mother snails will return to the same place to lay eggs there.
Always wash your hands before touching snails.
Warn your baby that snail shells are fragile, and try not to hug them or hug them very, very carefully. Remember, they can also be accidentally killed by adult snails.
Snails will die from salty food.
Without calcium source, your snail will start eating its own shell to get calcium.