Water Quality Temperature  Maintenance  Food  Supplements Reproduction Snails in the Mail

 

The following snail care information pertains to FRESHWATER AQUATIC red rams horn snails (any kind of small rams horn snails) and apple snails NOT terrestrial snails (the kind you find in your backyard).

Water Quality
In general, rams horn snails cannot tolerate salt. If you use cuttlefish bone as a supplement, do so in small quantities as cuttlefish contain salt. All snails prefer hard, mineral rich water to acidic water. The minerals in the water will help strengthen their shell, while acidic water will do just the opposite. An airstone or any constant source of oxygen from a filter is also needed.

Temperature
Snails like their water in the mid 70s. Currently my tank's water will not fall below 74. Some folks say cool water lengthens their lives while warm temps encourages rapid growth.

Maintenance
Snails are probably one of the hardiest pets you can keep. Follow all the rules for fishkeeping which are: moderate feeding, minor weekly water changes, adequate filtration and constant supply of oxygen. Rather than use a gravel vacuum to change the water use a container to scoop out water. A gravel vacuum may crush or suck up babies.

Food
They will eat any fish food, zucchini, lettuce, cooked cabbage and carrots. Make sure they get enough fish food to supplement their diet with protein. I highly recommend algae or spirulina sinking pellets or wafers, hermit crab food, or fish vacation food blocks. Red snails will help prevent algae growth in your aquarium so do not scrub all the tank's walls. The rams horns will consume the rotting leaves and roots of your aquatic plants. However the snails will not kill your plants if you provide alternative foods.

Supplements
I have rehabilitated a snail with a severely pitted and semi-transparent shell using a combination of liquid coral calcium, fish vacation food (embedded in calcium sulfate), and a small amount of cuttlefish bone. As in all good things, moderation is necessary.
Pics of "Opal" a dark blue snail with a white shell which results in almost a baby blue color. To the left is a pic of Opal holding and eating a boiled slice of carrot. Opal with her head fully extended taking a walk.

Reproduction (Or Snail Wars: Attack of the Clones)
Snail math is as follows: 1+1=100.
The one adult snail may lay champagne colored eggs (transparent little circles stuck
together) either on a plant or on the glass...the babies are literally
the size of "o" and take 3-4 weeks to hatch depending on the conditions.
They take a while to grow to the point where you can
actually pick them up...it is suggested that to move small babies by
baiting them on soft lettuce and then move the lettuce. Rams horns are hermaphroditic (unlike applesnails which are male or female).


Snails in the Mail and Unpacking Snails
Should you need to adopt out snails, try to find new homes within your state. Do not feed your snails the night before packing and shipping. If they eliminate waste during transit this will cause a spike in ammonia levels. In the morning get 2 moist paper towels (not WET otherwise they will remain active and respirate) paper towel and gently place a reasonable number of snails on the towel. Carefully fold the towel into a pouch. Place the pouch into a zip lock back. Get an aquarium air pump and tubing. Insert the air tube in the sandwich bag after pressing out the air from the bag (DO NOT CRUSH THE SNAILS). Zip lock the bag just enough so that the airline tubing can be inserted. Plug in the air pump. Once the zip lock bag is has enough fresh air, place it in an insulated box (foam peanuts are fine). The box should be an official USPS Priority Mail container. Carefully tape the package and tape the typed address label. You should never ship your snails in freezing or hot weather.

When you receive your new friends please float their bag in your aquarium for 30 minutes so they can get used to the temperature..

Remember that snails have an ability to become dormant that is they
kinda seem dead or some will stay in their shell and * float * but give
them some time and before you know it they'll be zooming around ! When
my 1st generation arrive I was concerned that they were all dead
but they were just sleeping.

 

LOW COST INDOOR POND FILLED WITH SNAILS + 2 ROSIE REDHEAD MINNOWS (AKA feeder fish)

I used lowcost plants which have sustained extensive snail damage, but oddly enough they are thriving very well. There is a daylight bulb and I supplement the plants occasionally with a [Plant Care Fizz Tabs 8 tabs (made by Jungle)]. I provide a small amount of boiled vegetation to the snails and use a plastic clip to secure it to the bottom. The 2 minnows mate often and spawn frequently. I've observed the female fanning freshwater onto the eggs and witnessed her knocking away snails which wander too close to her nest.