Garden land snails are so easy to take care of and make great pets. They’re low-maintenance, enjoy being handled (see notes below on safety) and can be really interesting to observe! Although commonly grouped together, snails are actually not insects— they are mollusks and are related to clams, oysters and mussels. They live an average of 5 years but can live to up to 20 years in captivity, so before bringing one home make sure that you’re up for the commitment! The easiest time to find snails is after it it rains in your garden. They are otherwise nocturnal and generally will emerge in certain conditions. Snails enjoy company and we currently have eight of them! Like any other pet, you’ll need a couple of basic things for them— a proper habitat and a constant supply of food. We’ve had our snails for a couple of years now and they’ve really become a part of the family.
Choosing a terrarium
You will need a large glass or plastic terrarium to house your snail(s) and the size will depend on how many you are planning on keeping. At a minimum I recommend a glass tank that is at least 5 gallons for a couple snails, but a 10 gallon tank is a great size if you’d like to add more of them. The general rule is 1 gallon per snail. They do not need a heat source. Make sure that your enclosure has ventilation and a removable, tight fitting lid that locks in place. Our terrarium is made of glass and has a sliding metal screen on top that locks into place. Choosing a good terrarium is important because it’ll make it easier to maintain the temperature and humidity of the habitat.
Creating your snail’s habitat
Add a few inches of pesticide/chemical/fertilizer-free substrate to the bottom. Do NOT use bagged potting soil as it may contain harmful chemicals. Snails like to burrow, so you should also avoid using sand, pebbles or gravel. I recommend using a sterilized soil that is specifically sold for pets for terrariums (like this one). I don’t advise using soil from your garden as it can contain parasites and other things you wouldn’t want in your home— but if you choose to, you can use one of these methods to try to sterilize it before using. We then added a thick layer of sphagnum moss, which helps to maintain a good level of humidity and adds necessary soft padding (the snails also like to nibble at it and bury themselves into it). Peat moss (is not recommended because it is too acidic. Moisten your soil so that it is damp. Snails love to climb. Add sticks, pieces of bark, branches and leaves to your habitat. We no longer use rocks in our habitat because they like to climb the sides of the tank so there is a risk of them falling and breaking their shell. You’ll want to provide places for your snail(s) to crawl as well as a hiding place. We added a little hollowed out log cave and created a nook with a large oak leaf. You can also add real plants or grasses. Make sure you research the plants that you plan to add to make sure that they are not toxic to snails.
Maintaining your snail habitat
Choose a location for your terrarium that is out of direct sunlight. Mist the substrate inside of the terrarium as needed with filtered water inside of a clean spray bottle to maintain humidity. You want everything to be moist, but not soggy. We mist ours daily with a fine mist spray bottle. Snails prefer moisture and will be most active if you maintain an ideal environment for them. Remove any waste and uneaten food regularly and do a thorough cleaning once or twice a month.
Caring for your snails
Garden snails are herbivores and love fresh raw vegetables and fruits (avoid acidic fruits) as well as a calcium source (for their shell) and protein. They need a wide varied diet. A few specific things ours love are: leafy greens, carrots, dandelion leaves, cucumber, apple and flowers. We feed them daily. Always clean food before feeding it to them to remove any traces of things that could be harmful for them. Also add a shallow dish of filtered water for them to drink or play in. We handle our snails often and they are absolutely safe to handle— just as long as you make sure that you and your children always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handing them. Touching any soft of critter can expose you to pathogens, so make sure that your children do not put their hands in their mouth, rub their eyes or handle food before washing their hands well. Safety first!
unknown says
hello, I was wondering if (link hidden) was a safe soil for snails, I am hoping to get a snail but I want to make sure everything I’m buying for them are safe.
Woodlark says
Hi! Yes that looks like it would be fine for the bottom layer. I would still recommend adding a layer of moss on top of the soil substrate.
Sam says
Hi! I couldn’t figure out how to comment without replying to a preexisting thread, but I’m just wondering what to do if I’m hoping to get 3 land snails in a 10 gallon tank and am concerned about them breeding. Is this something I should worry about? How do I locate possible eggs and dispose of them humanely?
Thanks!
Woodlark says
Hey Sam,
Yes, they will mate. All of our snails bury to the bottom of the glass tank and lay their eggs there, right on the bottom glass. I lift the tank up every so often and look underneath to check for eggs. My recommendation is to stick them in the freezer overnight (so they are no longer viable) before disposing of them (or you can even bury them outside at that point if you’d prefer)
— Ashley
Naleigh says
Any tips or recommendations for me to get because I am getting snails very soon! Where do I buy the snails online!? And I can’t find the right moss or soils can you help!
A says
Hi, just wanna reaffirm that you should absolutely NOT bury snail eggs outside if they haven’t been crushed or frozen. It can damage your local ecosystem.
Woodlark says
Yes, exactly! It’s really important. Thank you for expanding on my thoughts.
– Ashley
Kaz says
Is it normal for the snails to keep climbing to the top of the terrarium and hanging upside down from the lid?
Courtney says
I experience the same thing with my own snails. They never seem to go anywhere else in the enclosure despite all the moist creature soil, branches and terracotta pots. They might eat and then slowly make their way back to the top. They never burrow and seem to sleep almost all of the time. Is my terrarium too small? Or is it because my snails are young?
Woodlark says
Hi Courtney,
If they are getting up at night to eat and then settling back at the top they should be fine. Some of our snails like to burrow and others do not. If they’re inactive for long periods of time it’s likely not humid enough in there for them.
– Ashley
Woodlark says
Hi Kaz,
Yes, ours do the same as well on occasion. They sleep this way during the day (either hanging from the top of the lid or attached to the glass sides of the enclosure) and get up to eat/roam at night.
– Ashley
Daniel says
How can I take care of a land snail. And can I give it banana leaf cause am from Nigeria
James says
Probably because they love to move around and are playful
Manolo says
Yes thats what my snails do all the time dont worry its perfectly natrual for them to do that
may says
if i get a baby garden snail how deep should the water dish be?
Eli says
Snails do not need a water dish! The moisture in the tank and hydration from food is enough for them. A deep pool of water will drown a baby as well.
PRESLEY DUKE says
I found a severly injured snail and it wont recover and i built a habitat for is following your instructions, how shallow shoul the watter be?
Denny says
Hi
We bought a terrarium from Amazon and some people on reddit said the metal is toxic to snails. Do you think this terrarium should be fine? (link hidden)
Woodlark says
Hi Denny,
The product page doesn’t seem to have any information on the type metal that it’s made of so I wouldn’t advise it.
Ashley
Chloe Justus says
Hey so does the terrarium have to be warm? My house is pretty cold so I wanted to know if I should place a small heating pad under the tank just in case they needed it! Would you say this is a good idea or no?
Woodlark says
Hi Chloe! How cold would you say that it gets? They like temps around 70℉ and can tolerate a bit higher/lower but I’d say if you think it may be consistently colder than 60℉ then a heating pad under the tank would be helpful.
Ashley
Ann says
I keep finding & keeping small & large garden snails on my cement terrace. I now have 12 of all sizes.
Adorable‼️will the smalls eventually grow to be larges❓
kirti franks says
yes they will grow to be as big as your adult snails
olivia says
hi i just got a milk snail and i have it in a moss terrarium, do i need to declorinate the water with the water conditioner that i use for my fish tank or no?
Woodlark says
Hi Olivia,
I’d recommend using a filtered *or* distilled water instead– depending on which dechlorinator you are using it may have other ingredients that aren’t great for them.
Ashley
olivia says
ok thanks!
Danielle says
Have you had any issues with mold in the tank? I’ve had my snails for about a week and this white stringy mold covered the tank. I used terrarium moss and coconut coir for their soil base. I spray it once a day and take them out to feed. They’re out of sunlight and have a lid that allows air exchange. What am I doing wrong?
Olivia says
Honestly i don’t know, i replace half of my doil every other week and i wipe down the tank walls one a week, i also replace the food every few days. As a last resort you could redo the whole tank or add spring tails if you want. Fo some research before adding spring tails tho. I dont know the requirements.
Woodlark says
Hi Olivia,
I know in general that springtails are perfectly safe to add to the snail enclosure but they do reproduce *very rapidly* so I wouldn’t know how to keep that under control. If I find any resources on this I’ll share them!
Ashley
Woodlark says
Hi Danielle,
I have not. Do you know if it’s pretty humid in your house? We also spray once a day and I also wipe the walls of the tank down every day (or sometimes every other day depending on how active they are). We feed directly in the tank (on a dish) and replace that food daily. How much water are you spraying? you want it to feel moist but not wet and by the next day it should feel a little dry before spraying again.
Ashley
Woodlark says
We actually do not use rocks ourselves anymore because of this concern– thank you for reminding me that I need to add that revision in!
Ashley
Lydia says
I’ve never seen a snail fall off of anything, as they stick on SO WELL. Why would they fall? (Not trolling, just curious!)
Tori says
I’ve always wondered the exact same thing! It’s recommend on all the articles and videos I’ve looked at but never noticed situations of my snail falling….except for one time very recently! Gary had sealed himself at the top corner of the tank for a few days during winter because the humidity was low. Anyways, I moved his tank to spray it down and in the process of moving the tank he lost suction and fell! I was panicking because I thought he died since just part of his foot was sticking out and was not moving. Luckily it was just because he was being inactive from lack of humidity and eventually came out. All of the other times he has hung from the top of the tank he would secures himself with a much larger grip area to support him properly. Yet just this one time he didn’t secure his foot enough and it happened.
James says
I have 2 snails, 1 is roughly 4-5 months, his name is Sheldon and we rescued him from our bathroom window, I think he was loving the steam in there but I figured he wouldn’t survive like that so he has a nice home now, the other one is still a baby roughly 3 months, we also resucued him from our bathroom window ( I have a feeling Sheldon communicated to the other snails that my home is safe and warm).
Pertaining to your question, snails do indeed have a super adhesive foot and will hold on to most things confidently and almost indefinitely, however, Sheldon is big on hanging off the walls and roof and there have been more than a few times I’ve witnessed him being a daredevil little so-n-so ruducing the size of his foot to see how small of a suction cup he can hold on with and sure as daylight he has come completely unstuck and dropped to the enlclosure floor, I have it lined with moss so it’s nice and soft for landing on. I guess what I am saying is that although these lil guys/gals/whatever genders are super sticky, they will at some point take a fall.
Olivia says
Hello,
I’m getting snails this week and I don’t know if i can afford coconut soil. Is it fine if i just use regular potting soil that i heat up to get rid of the chemicals? Also can i use random moss i find outside for my snails enclosure? Thanks in advanced.
– Olivia
Woodlark says
Hi Olivia,
I do not recommend using coconut coir as a substrate. You can use outdoor soil but only if it does *not* contain any fertilizers or any type of additives. You’ll want to sterilize outdoor soil by baking it in your oven at around 200 degrees F for 30 minutes to an hour. I would also sterilize the moss the same way since it will have a ton of things living on it (you’ll then rehydrate it before putting it inside of the enclosure). Good luck!
Ashley
Nettle says
Few questions.
1. How exactly would one rehydrate moss? Like what supplies do you need, what is the process, how long will this take.
2. I plan to COMPLETELY redo my snail terrarium. Do you advise putting in some of their old soil in there with the new soil? I heard you really shouldn’t change their soil- but i have a BUNCH of bugs/worms (not harmful ones, but I still don’t want them) in my dirt. And I’m not fully comfortable on the idea of putting in some of the old soil.
3. Do you have a specific mix of soil/have a specific soil you have and really like at the moment? If so, where could I find this? How much soil do i need to have in order for them to feel comfortable burrowing. (In inches) Would bits of mulch be a good idea? (I want to try to add as much texture as I can.)
4. Where would you suggest purchasing sticks, plants, or soil?
4. I’m planning on working out a drainage system with rocks and mesh at the very bottom of the tank- since I have a literal puddle of water in the bottom of my tank- which i’ve just shoved moss in for now to avoid snails drowning.
Woodlark says
Hi there, see numbered answers below to your questions.
1. Moss can be easily rehydrated by doing a quick soak in water for maybe 5 minutes in a container before wringing out any excess water.
2. If there are bugs in the current soil that are concerning to you then you should be fine changing it out. Make sure that whatever new soil you are adding in has been sterilized prior.
3. I use the type that is sold specifically for creatures in terrariums. You can purchase it at any local pet shop that sells supplies for reptiles and other creatures. I’d add at least a couple inches of soil. If you keep the underlayers moist (but not wet) you will find that they like to burrow often. You can add sticks and leaves, just be careful not to add anything with sharp edges.
4. Anything that you purchase specifically sold for use with pets (reptiles, critters, etc) would be a safe option as they will already be sanitized and ready to use.
5. What’s the reason for the puddle of water at the bottom of the tank? Possibly may need to cut back on misting or adding moisture and give it a little time to dry out. Since you had mentioned the issue of unwanted bugs in the soil I’m thinking that the excess moisture is likely the culprit.
Good luck!
– Ashley
Lydia says
I’m curious as to why the soil from where we found the snail wouldn’t be okay as is. What dangers are lurking and why can’t the snail avoid them naturally? It makes sense to me why you don’t want potting soil or fertilizers, but it confuses me that we need to alter their natural habitat so much just because we are putting it in a terrarium. Btw, I’m not trying be argumentative or question your judgement at all. I hope I don’t come across that way. I really just want to understand.
Woodlark says
It’s just personal preference. Without sanitizing theres just a risk of introducing parasites or fungus into your home via the soil (i.e. fungus gnats or mites are common– things that aren’t a concern in the wild but could be a concern in an enclosed space without predators or food supply)
– Ashley
Andy says
Hi! I want to get a snail, so i asked a pet shop what soil is best and near me. they said that compost will do. Is it safe?
Woodlark says
Hi Andy,
Technically compost would be safe to use and I’d recommend sterilizing it beforehand and treating it the same way as if you were using outdoor soil since you are bringing it inside of your house. I’m not sure if it the compost would attract bugs indoors since it contains a lot of organic matter– my gut feeling is that it would but I’m not sure. If you do try it out I’d love to hear back on how it works out! Good luck.
– Ashley
Andy says
Hello Ashley! Thank you so much for letting me know! So should I just heat the soil up to kill bacteria, maybe?
Woodlark says
Hi Andy!
Yep! I would spread it in an even layer on a baking pan and heat it in your oven on a low setting (170-200 degrees F) for about half an hour. It may help to also cover it with tin foil as it is baking.
– Ashley
Emilia says
Hey sorry to jump on your thread but I wasn’t sure how else to comment.
My daughter is scared of snails and so we want to get a pet snail to help her over come her fear (she has agreed to this) however I don’t want to commit 2-5 years of my life to this.
Can I re release the snail after 2 months or will that cause it to die in the wild.
Sorry if this is a stupid question I’ve only ever worked with wildlife and cats.
Emilia
Eli says
No you’re good!
It’s also not a stupid question at all, don’t worry 🙂
I will say, the snail probably will die in the wild. If you’re just wanting to foster it for a bit I would recommend finding someone who’s willing to take it in so it doesn’t have a super high risk of death.
However, it is your choice ^^
Landon says
Hello! I was going to buy the soil mentioned in the “Creating your snails habitat” section and I was wondering how many packs I should buy for a ten gallon aquarium tank. This is my first snail and I’m not sure how much I need! Can someone help please? Thanks in advance
Woodlark says
Hi Landon!
You should be good with one bag– it will be enough to create a layer underneath the moss.
– Ashley
Landon says
Thanks for the help! 🙂
Woodlark says
You’re so welcome! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any additional help!
– Ashley
Brittany says
Hello my daughter who’s a creature lover found and kept the cutest garden snail. I want to get a terrarium for her. In my Amazon cart is the soil mentioned in this article and coco coir but I see that you don’t recommend that. Why? And sorghum moss instead? Also for food a small dish of fresh veggies and fruit is fine, I don’t need special snail food? Do they need cuttlefish/bone or calcium sticks? How do I prevent bugs? I shouldn’t have any using these products right? Sorry lol and thank you I just want to do this right.
Xandrina Rosales says
Hi! Can i use cocopeat for my terrarium bedding? Thats the only one we have here that is safe in my country hehe
Woodlark says
Hi Xandrina,
I do not recommend using coconut coir as a substrate.
– Ashley
Leigh Lake says
Hi there! I recently purchased a bag of terrarium moss that consists of a variety of mosses. Mountain moss, reindeer moss, pillow moss, spanish moss, sheet moss, and sphagnum moss. Are most mosses generally safe for snails? For some reason my pet store didn’t have a bag that contained only sphagnum.
Woodlark says
Hi! I’m not familiar enough with a couple of those to know for sure but in general, you don’t want to use a moss that is highly acidic such as peat moss. Good luck!
– Ashley
Molly says
Hello, lovely article!
I have a couple of questions, first is it safe to use coconut soil as the bottom layer? (The type that comes in blocks that you rehydrate). And second, is this enclosure safe for snails? (link hidden)
Thank you,
Molly
Woodlark says
Hi Molly! I do not recommend using coconut coir as a substrate. Snails will often sleep on the top underside of the enclosure so I’d personally opt for a container with a different type of lid.
– Ashley
Saida says
Hello! Thank you for the information. Was wondering what are you giving for calcium and protein? There is snail food on amazon but not sure if its safe( thank you
Eli T says
Cuttlebone works!
Woodlark says
Hi Saida,
Cuttlebone for calcium. The cuttlebone can be whole or you can break it into smaller pieces (make sure there are no sharp edges). Replace when it starts to discolor or when it gets eaten down. Protein is really tricky so I don’t like to give specific recommendations but in general they need an animal-based protein source about every other week.
– Ashley
Emylie Ogle says
Hi, we took our preschool class outside and found garden snails and decided to keep them as a class pet since we have an old tank. It was a sudden thing so we do not have a proper source of calcium yet so I was wondering if we could use cheese until we get a proper calcium source?
Samantha Roberts says
Hi, i have 6 baby GALS and 2 rescues on their way, but i cannot for the life of me find anywhere how to clean sticks/logs from outdoors to be 100% sure on how to get rid of anything harmful just in case but try to keep the beneficial bacteria or is that not necessary?
Woodlark says
Hi Samantha,
You can bake them at a low temp to sterilize them– around 200 degrees F for 30 minutes to an hour.
– Ashley
Samantha Roberts says
Thank you so much!!
Mel R. says
Do you know if reptile/aquarium woods are safe, such as driftwood, mopani, cholla, etc? Or what about the type of bird perches made from wood?
Woodlark says
Hi Mel,
In general reptile/aquarium woods sold specifically for use in creature habitats should be safe! Many of the aquarium woods are known to release tannins (when placed in water) which can change the pH but that wouldn’t apply in this situation. I’d make sure that the pieces you choose are relatively smooth and don’t have any sharp edges and such. I’m not familiar with the type of wood that is used for bird perches so I can’t recommend them. You can use the cuttlebone that is sold for birds as a calcium source for your snails, though!
– Ashley
Trinity says
Hi, Ashley! I was wondering if I could use outdoor materials such as twigs and leaves from outside to create sheds or furniture or something to create a fairy inspired snail enclosure. Is there a way you know to clean them off to get rid of unwanted parasites? And is there specific wood or leaves garden snails can’t have?
Woodlark says
Hi Trinity,
You can use nature items from outdoors but you’ll want to clean and de-bug them first. Rinse everything, let dry completely, then bake in your oven on a low setting (170-200 degrees F) for about half an hour. You had mentioned creating furniture which sounds fun! The snails enjoy hiding inside of enclosed cave-like structures. Make sure that your finished creations do not have any sharp edges or any spots that may cause them to injure their shell if they should fall directly onto it from the top of the enclosure. Any natural leaf litter should be fine– clean the same way as you would the other nature items as outlined at the beginning. Good luck!
– Ashley
Mary says
Hello! I have 8 pet land snails and I just bought a new XL terrarium for them. Sadly, I’m afraid it isn’t big enough still. Do you have any recommendations for terrariums that would work well for 8 snail? Thank you so much, have a wonderful day!
Woodlark says
Hi Mary,
What are the dimensions of the terrarium that you purchased? I don’t have a specific one to recommend but you should definitely be able to find pretty large terrariums with a top screen that are made for large reptiles.
– Ashley
Mary says
Hello again, the dimensions are 14.25 x 9.29 x 2.95 inches
Woodlark says
Hi Mary,
I do agree that the size feels like it would be a bit small for 8 snails. I would look up glass enclosures made for larger reptiles. Good luck finding something!
– Ashley
Annabel says
Hi I was wondering if you could add a link for a good terrarium?
Tasha says
Hi! I personally like to just keep my snails in clip storage boxes, but if you want a nice display tank, I would suggest exo terra as a good brand!
Courtney says
Hi there, I’ve got two tiny garden snails and I’m wondering if they’ll ever get bigger? Their enclosure is quite small (18 x 12 x 14.5 centimetres), so I wondered if that played a part in things. Can they reach maturity and still be baby sized? I also wanted to ask about the Creature Soil. If I ever see mould on it, do I need to throw it all away? If mould has appeared and bake everything at 200°C for a few hours, will it be fine or will it make things worse.
Woodlark says
Hi Courtney,
If they’re tiny they’re likely babies and will get bigger. It can take a while. Land snails generally will live for a few years in captivity. Regarding the mold, baking at 200F for around half an hour should be sufficient to sterilize the soil (I’d still dispose of any visibly moldy areas first), but I personally would just replace the soil. If mold growing is a persistent problem then you have too much moisture in your enclosure. Good luck!
– Ashley
Courtney says
Thanks very much! It was a small amount on one of the twigs in the enclosure, so it’s possible I sprayed the stick too much recently. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for them to get bigger? Their size doesn’t really matter to me, but I wanted to be prepared in case they eventually have babies of their own. Is size relative to maturity?
Woodlark says
Hi Courtney,
It really depends on the particular species but if I remember correctly for a common garden snail it takes around a year for them to reach sexual maturity. Mature size would be dependent on species of snail and even so, in my experience there is still a varying range. Snails are nocturnal so if you’re able to take a peek at them from time to time you’ll see if they’re mating or not. They generally lay eggs at the bottom of the enclosure buried in the soil, so an easy way to check for them every so often is to just lift the terrarium and take a look at the underside.
– Ashley
Tehya says
Hi I was wondering if this is a good size for two snails I have (link removed)
Woodlark says
Hi Tehya,
I took a look at the link and from the photos it looks a bit small, but if you know how many gallons it is I may be able to better advise. Thanks
– Ashley
Melissa says
Hi, so i’ve got myself a snail habitat recently. Got it from what looks to be a reputable website that knows a fair bit about various species of arachnids and isopods, and also a bit about snails. I brought this kit that comes complete with 5-6 snails and sphagnum moss substrate. Their tank is a Eco Tech Plastic Aquarium/Terrarium Medium (23x15x13cm) and their adult length will apparently be 30mm. Is this tank the right size or not? I’ve seen a pic of the tank with 6 snails it actually came with, and to me it looks much too cramped? What would actually be the correct sized tank for the garden snails? For added context, i’m in Australia.
Melissa says
I have read in different places that it should be either 1 gallon per snail, or 5 gallons per 1 snail.
Woodlark says
Hi Melissa,
How many gallons is the tank? I’d recommend *at least* a 10 gallon tank for 2-3 snails. They need a decent amount of space to wander around comfortably.
– Ashley
Lucy says
What should you do if you don’t have a tank
Eli says
Get one
Eli says
Hi,
Will any brand of cuttlebone work for a calcium source? Also, what about protein? Are mealworms okay? Are fish flakes okay? I’ve watched a few videos but just wanted to get a second opinion.
Also, is coconut fiber okay for the substrate?
Anything else I need to know about snails?
Woodlark says
Hi Eli,
Yes, any cuttlebone like the ones sold for birds are fine. I feed ours mushroom for protein, or you can also use a reputable pre-made protein mix that is specifically for snails. I do not recommend feeding fish flakes or using coconut coir as a substrate.
– Ashley
Cat says
Hello,
I just saves two snails from my mother’s garden. I was hoping to get your opinion on where to get moss for their enclosure. I’m also considering putting small live plants in, would that be a good idea?
Woodlark says
Hi Cat,
Live plants would be wonderful, just make sure that whatever you choose to add is not toxic for snails. I know there are several. You should be able to do a search online to find that information. Good luck!
– Ashley
Mariah says
Hello ive recently rescued 3 snails and have been looking for a bigger terrium is this one okay ?
Woodlark says
Mariah,
Hi, that type of terrarium is generally ok but the specific one that you linked was really tiny. I would just get something larger, at least a gallon per snail.
– Ashley
dee says
hello! i was wondering if i could use sticks and leaves that i found in my backyard in the terrarium. or is that not safe?
Woodlark says
Hi Dee,
Yes that should be fine- I would sterilize them prior to doing so. Good luck!
– Ashley
Mia says
So I am getting my first snail and I want to get 2-3 so that they don’t get lonely.
Do you recommend any type of tank, if so, where can I find it. I was thinking about a 5 gallon tank.
I haven’t really handled snails, and i was wondering if there’s a way to hold them, or an amount of time to.
And I just want to make sure, because I will be feeding them lettuce, carrots, peppers, and cucumbers, just wanted to know if it had all the nutrients or if it was unhealthy or deadly.
I am overall kinda nervous because I don’t want to make a mistake that will cost them their lives.
My house temperature is around 70, so I don’t think I’ll need a heating pad, because those are expensive. And I apologize if this is too much, i’m just trying to figure it all out.
Do you have any other tips?
Thanks,
Mia
Eli says
Hi!! Handling your snails is okay, but be sure to wash your hands before an after. Five gallons is great for 2-3 snails. All of these foods are healthy for snails, however there are a few more things you should be adding- try also a couple of strawberry tops once per week, as well as placing a single cuttlebone in accessible place for your snails. This will provide calcium that they need. (Any old bird cuttlebone will work) For protein, I usually give my snails some freeze dried bloodworms, which is also what I feed my fish. You can also use normal fish flakes for snails, just make sure they don’t have salt or cocoa in them. You also will need a spray bottle to spritz the tank with water every day to keep everything moist. You will need a small like 2-3 watt heat pad for the side, as moisture creates coolness. These are pretty cheap at the pet store. For the substrate, you can use dehydrated coconut fibers and just rehydrate them according to the instructions on the packaging. Substrate should be 6 inches deep because snails like to burrow. Do not place heating pad on the bottom, place it on the back or the side, and above the substrate. You can use branches, logs, moss, and other plants for decoration, as well as to help them feel more at home. I would research what type of plants you can use. Also, worms are great to put in the substrate. If you have a desk lamp on the space you will be placing your tank, you can use that to simulate a day/night cycle for your critters. I also keep a few roly-polies, and other insects have made homes in my tank. I hope this helps, friend! Good luck!!
Katja says
Hello!
About to get some snails and working on getting all the parts for their habitat. I read somewhere about using earthworms in the soil to help keep things clean. What’s your thoughts on that? Thanks!
Eli says
Worms are great for your snail terrarium! Just let them burrow around and everything should be good. If you want to catch some worms, just go out during or directly after the rain and go digging in your garden. They also crawl onto the sidewalk after the rain, you can rescue some also. Hope this helps!
Devin Baker says
Good Evening,
I have a 50 gallon aquarium and wld like to turn it into a snail habitat. Wld it be possible to kinda of “block” half to do water snails and land snails?
I appreciate your blog as I have learned so much!
Thank you!
Woodlark says
Hi Devin,
I’ve heard of something similar (it’s called a paludarium) which is an aquarium incorporates both land and water elements. I’m not sure if that’s what you’re looking for (or if it would work for the land snails) but maybe searching for information on those would be a good place to start. Good luck!
– Ashley
Devin Baker says
Thank you!
Tasha says
I think that safely gluing a measured glass pane would be a good idea! just make sure that it is waterproof
Ash says
I have 3 land snails that are 10cm long. I have a container that is approximately 13 gallons is this anouth room for them?
Woodlark says
Hi Ash,
You can actually go with a smaller container for only 3 snails unless you are planning to add more in the near future
– Ashley
Rachel says
Hello! My daughter has fallen in love with snails and I am planning on giving her pet snails for her birthday. She will be 6. Anyway, my question is, in setting up the terrarium for them, would a garden “fairy house” work? I was concerned about the surface of it not being ok for them to crawl on. I’ve seen some in pet stores and was wondering if they were appropriate for snails. The employees at the pet store are not knowledgeable about snail care. Thank you!! This site has been MOST helpful in getting their future home set up. Thank you for providing such a thorough resource.
Eli T says
Like, plastic decorations? If it has glitter or anything sharp on the surface, I wouldn’t recommend it because snails have very soft bodies. I made my five year old sister a “fairy garden” out of repurposed cardboard and moss, but I’m not sure if that’s the option you’d like to go with. I think I may have also seen people use aquarium foam.
Woodlark says
Hi Rachel,
If you’re referring to the accessories sold in pet stores for fish or reptiles, most of those would not be suitable. Snails love to climb to the top of terrariums so I do not recommend placing anything hard on the bottom that they could break their shell on if they were to fall onto it. To add to Eli’s response above– if you’d like to add something with a hard surface (if it is smooth) you can cover it in moss as long as you add enough of it and it is securely attached. Good luck!
– Ashley
Rachel says
No, definitely not glitter! That’s a good idea to make one myself though! We have a little house that has been in our garden outside for a couple years. It doesn’t have glitter or sharp edges, but does have some color, which I assume has been sealed as it hasn’t faded in the time it’s been outside. I just wondered if those types of things were ok. Thanks for getting back to me.
Woodlark says
Hi Rachel,
I personally would not just because it isn’t something that was made for use in a terrarium with live creatures and if you aren’t sure what it was painted or sealed with. Snails absorb things through their foot (body) so just to be safe I don’t like to put anything in there that could potentially be toxic– also the fall risk that I had mentioned in my previous comment. Good luck! 🙂
– Ashley
Tasha says
I have two snails in a tw0-gallon tank, I am wanting to get a couple more and I’m looking at a nine-gallon. Is that big enough for 5 snails?
Woodlark says
Hi Tasha,
Yes! A nine gallon tank would be a good size for five snails and will give you extra space if you’d like to add a few more.
– Ashley
Rachel says
HELP! My snails are arriving a week early! TODAY! I have been to several garden stores and all their soil, top soil includes, has peat in it. I just found one that has no peat but is a “mushroom compound/Forrest blend”. Is that something safe to use? The other thing I have I got from a pet store and is it a “coconut husk blend” of substrate for reptiles & frogs. Will either of these work? I remember reading that coconut is not recommended? The other option is going into my back yard and digging up soil. Thanks!!
Woodlark says
Hi Rachel,
I would not use either of these or the coconut coir. If you can not find a graded top soil without any additives you can sanitize soil from your garden by baking it in your oven prior to adding it to your terrarium. Good luck!
– Ashley
Elyssa says
I am curious about coconut coir substrate. All the articles I’m finding online state that this is the best for my snail terrarium. We originally bought creature soil at the pet store but read this is also not a good substrate for a snail enclosure. What is the best soil to use?
Woodlark says
Hi,
I do not recommend coconut coir. The most ideal option would be a graded top soil without any additives or you can sanitize soil from your garden by baking it in your oven prior to adding it to your terrarium. Good luck!
Ashley
Fen says
Hi! I’ve been looking for soil for my snail terrarium and was wondering if a ‘coir-peat brick’ would be safe for the snails. I’m aware that peat moss can be dangerous but I wasn’t sure if that was the same with the dirt. Thanks!
Woodlark says
Hi Fen,
That’s coconut coir which I do not recommend using. You can use a graded top soil or a soil made for terrariums.
– Ashley
Tiffany says
Hi! You recommended the Zoo Med Creatures soil, however it has peat moss listed in the ingredients. You mentioned to stay away from peat moss, so would you still recommend it?
I’ve been thinking about getting the Exo Terra Plantation Soil which is a coconut fiber substrate – is that the same as coconut coir? I’m wondering if you don’t recommend the plantation soil then.
Woodlark says
Hi,
The most ideal option would be a graded top soil without any additives or you can sanitize soil from your garden by baking it in your oven prior to adding it to your terrarium. Coconut fiber is usually the same as coconut coir so I would not recommend using that. Good luck!
Ashley
v says
Hi, I buy at the grocery store , Richards 100% Peanut Powder. No salt, no sugar. The consistancy of the powder is fine. My snail enjoys it.
Protein for them. You can use for your shakes or smoothies. The powder goes along way.V
Johanna Smyth says
Hello,
I’m interested in having a snail as a pet, really for my grandchildren to share as well but a friend has one and it’s always got these tiny flies around/on it, like fruit flies which is off putting. Is this normal?
Woodlark says
Hi Johnna,
Yes that is a common issue. It helps if you regularly change out the substrate and clean out any uneaten food quickly. You can also add isopods and spring tails to your enclosure or carnivorous plants
– Ashley
penguin love says
Hi, can to male snails mate or is it like a boy girl thing. Also i wouldent be able to find snails in my(cement) backyard i heard you can get them on amazon but do you have recomendations for where to get them, mayby Petsmart
Woodlark says
Snails have both male and female sexual organs and can both lay and fertilize eggs so if you place multiple snails inside of an enclosure you can expect them to mate. I don’t usually advise purchasing them so I don’t have any resources. Sorry about that!
– Ashley
morgan says
Where does one buy snails?
Jenny says
I ordered mine from various sellers on eBay.
Katie says
Hello! How do you keep your sphagnum moss from getting moldy?/How often do you change it? After a couple of days, mine starts to develop a fuzzy white mold. I’m using only distilled water and spray twice a day for reference.
Jenny says
Does anyone know if it’s safe to prevent the snails from burrowing if I’d like to avoid egg laying? I currently have about an inch and a half of substrate, a thin layer of pebble and snail moss on top.
cameron says
hi, i was wondering what kind of fruit can they not have ! is it safe for them to have strawberries and that sort of fruits. also is it safe to keep like snails u find out in ur yard that are wild. !!
Isabella Peñuelas says
Hi can I get a snail from my yard, and will a plastic habitat work?