Sugardropsnails
is Established in Lake worth Florida.
If you would like to purchase a snail you have to live in Florida due to shipping laws.
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU if you are planning on owning a common snail that does not need specific care requirements, to read the following.
SIDE NOTE- I am not taking credit for any of this information. It is simply research I obtained from this website and some of my own knowledge - http://petsnails.proboards.com/
EQUIPMENT
Snails can be kept in a variety of tanks and containers. It must be large enough to accomodate them, with good ventilation. The snails need light so an opaque box is out of the question but a translucent/nearly transparent container will be fine from the snails point of view.
The most important thing to remember is that it must be escape-proof. Snails are extremely strong (they can lift 10-50 times their own weight!) for their size and could lift a lid that isn't clipped or weighted down. Wooden or cardboard containers are not suitable, they will rot and in the case of cardboard, the snails will actually eat it.
The enclosure should be misted often so everything is a little damp. But not soaked. So you will need a spray bottle.
ENCLOSURE
Each snail enclosure should contain a couple of hides, substrate, plants, and something for the snail to climb on. Along with a water and calcium dish with an optional food plate. No rocks are hard objects should be allowed in your snails enclosure due to if the snail falls the hard object could cause some serious shell damage.
SUBSTRATE
there are many options for substrate, but here are some snail safe options:
✿LOAM - Loam is a fantastic, crumbly substrate. Your better off buying the already cleaned kind so its free of pests and harmful things. There are types of loams, look for one with a low concentration of sand. It should feel crumbly and light. It retains moisture well but still drains and contains an abundance of natural nutrition for any alkaline-loving plant.
✿HUMUS - Generally "Humus" is often used to mean mature compost or natural compost extracted from a forest or other spontaneous source to improve soil. It tends to contain various organic matter including bits of bark, twigs, leaf matter and soil. It is considered and improver because it contains various nutrients, helps retain moisture and encourages good soil structure. Although it is likely to be mildly acidic.
✿COIR - Good for burrowing and laying eggs. It is relatively clean to work with. It holds moisture well. Easy to re-use. Not acidic. Eco-friendly. Reasonably cheap. Buying dehydrated, compressed blocks means you are guaranteed a sterile, pest-free substrate. Slightly more gritty than peat. Harbours mites and other pests well.
✿PEAT- Good for burrowing and laying eggs. It is relatively clean to work with as it has a rough texture, with some large pieces. It holds moisture well. Easy to re-use. Cheap. Slightly acidic which can cause some scarring of the snail shells (they don't seem to mind). Harbors mites and other pests well. Not eco-friendly because it is a natural resource that is running out. However, most peat sold in garden centres is more eco-friendly and taken from managed areas. All the same, if you get some, aim to re-use it as much as possible. WARNING- avoid Sedge Peat as this contains salt and could injure your snails. Sedge peat is usually reddish-brown rather than Sphagnum peat's light-tan to medium-brown color.
✿POTTING SOIL- Make sure you choose a type with no added pesticide or fertilizers (get organic). Same qualities as peat, slightly dirtier to work with because the particles are smaller and more regular. Cheap.Good for burrowing and laying eggs. Holds moisture well. Eco-friendly. Easy to re-use. Not acidic.Slightly more dirty than peat to work with, harbours mites and other pests well.
✿SPHAGMUM MOSS - A plant that is like a natural sponge that can hold 20 times its own weight in water. Reduces pests, holds moisture extremely well. Not that cheap for what you get. Easy to re-use by rinsing. snails like to burrow under it or tunnel into when used in conjunction with other substrates. It holds water very well, but tends to dry out quicker than peat in a warm tank.
✿VERMICULITE- A natural mineral that holds water well, but doesn't go soggy Snails can burrow in it and lay eggs. It is very clean to work with. It holds moisture well. Easy to wash and re-use. Not acidic. Eco-friendly. Generally sterile, it can breathe and as such is more resistant to mold, fungus and pests.Not ideal for burrowing, snails would prefer a more compost texture. Very expensive.
✿BARK- Reduces pests, holds moisture well. Cheap. Not ideal for burrowing, snails would prefer a more composty texture. Although it can hold water it's hard to strike a balance. The water tends to runs off it and stagnate at the bottom of the tank. Bottom layers becomes slimy. Prone to mold and fungus. Not easy to clean and re-use.Best used as a soil improver, mixed in with something else
FEEDING
✿Calcium-Snails MUST have a plentiful supply of calcium to build and repair their shells. Keep a piece of cuttlefish bone in their tank at all times. Cuttlefish bones are cheap. Keep a washed cuttlefish bone in the tank and you will see them rasping away at it.. Other sources of calcium include: egg shell, calcium supplements from pets shops, oyster shells, natural chalk and baby milk powder. But an absolute favorite calcium source for snails can be bought here - http://sugardropsnails.weebly.com/store/p1/Calcium_mix.html You may find that cuttlefish begins to go soft and slimy. To slow this down I recommend a number of things. Firstly, putting the cuttlefish on a small plastic tray or piece of polystyrene (like the bottom of a foam cup) the cuttlefish bone won't get damp from underneath.
Breaking the cuttlefish bone up into a few pieces and supplying what they need obviously prolongs the life of your cuttlefish because it's not all left in a humid tank. It is important to leave enough in the tank for them at all times and if the pieces are smaller, enough for all of them to get close enough to eat them. A few babies in a tank would take months to consume a full cuttlefish bone so using a full one is unnecessary.
Swapping the pieces every few days and rinsing and drying the old ones helps a lot. Over time the bones will become very brittle but they will last a lot longer. Having said all the above, don't be stingy with calcium. The points above are just tips to prevent it being wasted.
Snails can also absorb calcium through their foot and you may witness your snails sitting on pieces of cuttlefish.
Too much calcium can result in internal stones that can be harmful.
✿FOODS- Theres many benefits of these foods besides the snail not going hungry, for example they are an amazing protein source . If your snails would like an amazing protein source and a treat, check out this protein source that snails love. it can be bought here- http://sugardropsnails.weebly.com/store/p2/Protien_Mix.html
FRUITS-Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Blackberry, Butternut Squash, Dragon Fruit, Grapes, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Nectarines, Orange, Papaya/Paw-paw, Prickly pear, Peach, Pear, Physalis, Plum, Raspberry, Satsuma, Sharon fruit, Strawberry, Tomato
VEGGIES- Aubergine, Bean Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Courgette, Cucumber, Green beans, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Mushroom, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Spinach, Sprouts, Swede, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Turnip, Watercress, Dandelion leaves, Common Plantain.
OTHER- sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats,( Oats and other seeds need to be soaked first. Seeds are best served crushed or ground.) eggs, brown bread, milk powder.
IMPORTANT NOTE
This is not all there is to know about snail care! This only covers the basics. If you would like a guide on everything for snail care click this link-
http://petsnails.proboards.com/thread/416/new-snails-start
ALSO, feel free to ask questions and post pictures on this website about snail care, please read the rules-
http://petsnails.proboards.com/
If you would like to purchase a snail you have to live in Florida due to shipping laws.
I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU if you are planning on owning a common snail that does not need specific care requirements, to read the following.
SIDE NOTE- I am not taking credit for any of this information. It is simply research I obtained from this website and some of my own knowledge - http://petsnails.proboards.com/
EQUIPMENT
Snails can be kept in a variety of tanks and containers. It must be large enough to accomodate them, with good ventilation. The snails need light so an opaque box is out of the question but a translucent/nearly transparent container will be fine from the snails point of view.
The most important thing to remember is that it must be escape-proof. Snails are extremely strong (they can lift 10-50 times their own weight!) for their size and could lift a lid that isn't clipped or weighted down. Wooden or cardboard containers are not suitable, they will rot and in the case of cardboard, the snails will actually eat it.
The enclosure should be misted often so everything is a little damp. But not soaked. So you will need a spray bottle.
ENCLOSURE
Each snail enclosure should contain a couple of hides, substrate, plants, and something for the snail to climb on. Along with a water and calcium dish with an optional food plate. No rocks are hard objects should be allowed in your snails enclosure due to if the snail falls the hard object could cause some serious shell damage.
SUBSTRATE
there are many options for substrate, but here are some snail safe options:
✿LOAM - Loam is a fantastic, crumbly substrate. Your better off buying the already cleaned kind so its free of pests and harmful things. There are types of loams, look for one with a low concentration of sand. It should feel crumbly and light. It retains moisture well but still drains and contains an abundance of natural nutrition for any alkaline-loving plant.
✿HUMUS - Generally "Humus" is often used to mean mature compost or natural compost extracted from a forest or other spontaneous source to improve soil. It tends to contain various organic matter including bits of bark, twigs, leaf matter and soil. It is considered and improver because it contains various nutrients, helps retain moisture and encourages good soil structure. Although it is likely to be mildly acidic.
✿COIR - Good for burrowing and laying eggs. It is relatively clean to work with. It holds moisture well. Easy to re-use. Not acidic. Eco-friendly. Reasonably cheap. Buying dehydrated, compressed blocks means you are guaranteed a sterile, pest-free substrate. Slightly more gritty than peat. Harbours mites and other pests well.
✿PEAT- Good for burrowing and laying eggs. It is relatively clean to work with as it has a rough texture, with some large pieces. It holds moisture well. Easy to re-use. Cheap. Slightly acidic which can cause some scarring of the snail shells (they don't seem to mind). Harbors mites and other pests well. Not eco-friendly because it is a natural resource that is running out. However, most peat sold in garden centres is more eco-friendly and taken from managed areas. All the same, if you get some, aim to re-use it as much as possible. WARNING- avoid Sedge Peat as this contains salt and could injure your snails. Sedge peat is usually reddish-brown rather than Sphagnum peat's light-tan to medium-brown color.
✿POTTING SOIL- Make sure you choose a type with no added pesticide or fertilizers (get organic). Same qualities as peat, slightly dirtier to work with because the particles are smaller and more regular. Cheap.Good for burrowing and laying eggs. Holds moisture well. Eco-friendly. Easy to re-use. Not acidic.Slightly more dirty than peat to work with, harbours mites and other pests well.
✿SPHAGMUM MOSS - A plant that is like a natural sponge that can hold 20 times its own weight in water. Reduces pests, holds moisture extremely well. Not that cheap for what you get. Easy to re-use by rinsing. snails like to burrow under it or tunnel into when used in conjunction with other substrates. It holds water very well, but tends to dry out quicker than peat in a warm tank.
✿VERMICULITE- A natural mineral that holds water well, but doesn't go soggy Snails can burrow in it and lay eggs. It is very clean to work with. It holds moisture well. Easy to wash and re-use. Not acidic. Eco-friendly. Generally sterile, it can breathe and as such is more resistant to mold, fungus and pests.Not ideal for burrowing, snails would prefer a more compost texture. Very expensive.
✿BARK- Reduces pests, holds moisture well. Cheap. Not ideal for burrowing, snails would prefer a more composty texture. Although it can hold water it's hard to strike a balance. The water tends to runs off it and stagnate at the bottom of the tank. Bottom layers becomes slimy. Prone to mold and fungus. Not easy to clean and re-use.Best used as a soil improver, mixed in with something else
FEEDING
✿Calcium-Snails MUST have a plentiful supply of calcium to build and repair their shells. Keep a piece of cuttlefish bone in their tank at all times. Cuttlefish bones are cheap. Keep a washed cuttlefish bone in the tank and you will see them rasping away at it.. Other sources of calcium include: egg shell, calcium supplements from pets shops, oyster shells, natural chalk and baby milk powder. But an absolute favorite calcium source for snails can be bought here - http://sugardropsnails.weebly.com/store/p1/Calcium_mix.html You may find that cuttlefish begins to go soft and slimy. To slow this down I recommend a number of things. Firstly, putting the cuttlefish on a small plastic tray or piece of polystyrene (like the bottom of a foam cup) the cuttlefish bone won't get damp from underneath.
Breaking the cuttlefish bone up into a few pieces and supplying what they need obviously prolongs the life of your cuttlefish because it's not all left in a humid tank. It is important to leave enough in the tank for them at all times and if the pieces are smaller, enough for all of them to get close enough to eat them. A few babies in a tank would take months to consume a full cuttlefish bone so using a full one is unnecessary.
Swapping the pieces every few days and rinsing and drying the old ones helps a lot. Over time the bones will become very brittle but they will last a lot longer. Having said all the above, don't be stingy with calcium. The points above are just tips to prevent it being wasted.
Snails can also absorb calcium through their foot and you may witness your snails sitting on pieces of cuttlefish.
Too much calcium can result in internal stones that can be harmful.
✿FOODS- Theres many benefits of these foods besides the snail not going hungry, for example they are an amazing protein source . If your snails would like an amazing protein source and a treat, check out this protein source that snails love. it can be bought here- http://sugardropsnails.weebly.com/store/p2/Protien_Mix.html
FRUITS-Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Blackberry, Butternut Squash, Dragon Fruit, Grapes, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Nectarines, Orange, Papaya/Paw-paw, Prickly pear, Peach, Pear, Physalis, Plum, Raspberry, Satsuma, Sharon fruit, Strawberry, Tomato
VEGGIES- Aubergine, Bean Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Courgette, Cucumber, Green beans, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Mushroom, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Spinach, Sprouts, Swede, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Turnip, Watercress, Dandelion leaves, Common Plantain.
OTHER- sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats,( Oats and other seeds need to be soaked first. Seeds are best served crushed or ground.) eggs, brown bread, milk powder.
IMPORTANT NOTE
This is not all there is to know about snail care! This only covers the basics. If you would like a guide on everything for snail care click this link-
http://petsnails.proboards.com/thread/416/new-snails-start
ALSO, feel free to ask questions and post pictures on this website about snail care, please read the rules-
http://petsnails.proboards.com/