This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
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Snails can be great pets. They are especially great for school projects, teaching children how to care for living things, or to see if a child is ready to have a pet. Snails are also quite easy to feed, although there are some variations among different snail species. Whether you'll be caring for land snails, freshwater snails, or both, you can provide a delicious diet that will nourish your pet snails.
Method 1Method 1 of 2:Feeding Land Snails
- 1Select a wide fruit, vegetables, seeds, and grains that are safe for snails. Land snails enjoy eating a wide variety of foods, mainly fresh produce. In a pinch, land snails also like to eat tortoise food that has been soaked in water; However, the bulk of your snail's diet should come for fruits and veggies, as well some seeds and cooked grains. Do not feed your land snail salty foods, citrus foods, or onion- these repel the snail and it will lose its diet.XResearch source The following foods are safe for snails:
- Fruits: apples, apricot, grapes, kiwi, mango, melon, nectarine, raspberry, strawberry.
- Veggies: cucumber, mushroom, lettuce, broccoli, green beans, peas, sprouts, sweet corn, turnip, watercress.XResearch source
- Seeds: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and hemp seeds.
- Cooked grains: oats.
- It will be easier for your snail to eat hard vegetables if you boil them beforehand. Just make sure they're not hot when you give them to your snail.
- 2Chop or shred produce into pieces smaller than a dime. Use a vegetable shredder or kitchen knife to chop all produce before you feed it to your snails. Snails are sensitive to chemicals and pesticides, so be sure you use organic produce, and to wash it well before feeding it to your snail. XResearch sourceAdvertisement
- 3Start by providing 0.25 cups (59 ml) of food each day. There is not a hard and fast rule about how much food a land snail should eat, and you'll have to figure out how much food your snail needs over time. If your snail is consuming all of the food you're providing, you can offer more. Remove any food that isn't consumed within 24 hours to prevent mold or anything that might harm your snail(s).XResearch source
- 4Avoid processed foods, and foods that are hard for snails to digest. Don't give your snail snack foods, or foods that contain sugar or salt. Snails also have trouble digesting rice, millet, pasta, crackers, and bread because they cause bloating.
- 5Most definitely never feed your snail anything with salt. It is the most dangerous thing for them because it burns their body of moisture and it will die.
- 6Fill a water dish with spring water. You do not need to provide snails with water to drink, but you do need to make sure their environment is humid enough. Place a shallow dish filled with spring water for your snail to bathe in. Replace the water every 1-2 days.XResearch source
- Never use tap water or faucet water, since these water sources may contain chlorine that's harmful to snails.
- If you don't have access to filtered water, you can leave tap water out in the sun for 48 hours to remove chemicals.
- 7Spray your snails with spring water every 1-2 days. You can also help your snail to stay hydrated by misting them with water. Fill a spray bottle with spring or filtered water, and mist your snail and their habitat.XResearch source
- If you live in a very dry climate, try misting your snail 1-2 times per day.
- 8Keep a calcium source in the tank at all times. Snails need a lot of calcium in order to keep their shells healthy. A great option is a cuttlebone because you can simply break off pieces and place them in the tank for your snail to nibble on. Other calcium sources should be crushed and added to your snail's food.XResearch source Other calcium sources include:
- Shells from dead snails
- Calcium powder
- Powdered oyster shells
- Natural chalk
- Natural limestone
- Bone meal
- Wood ash
- Powdered Egg Shells
Method 2Method 2 of 2:Feeding Freshwater Snails
- 1House freshwater snails with fish. Freshwater snails are omnivores, and they typically subsist off of the algae and food debris in a fish aquarium. Include aquatic plants for your snails to graze on as well.
- Check with your vet or a clerk at your local pet store to find out which types of fish live best alongside your species of freshwater snails.
- 2Provide algae disks. If you don't have fish in the same aquarium as your snails, you can purchase small algae discs. Follow the instructions on the packaging, and provide the right number of disks for the number of snails in your tank.
- Algae discs are readily available online or at most pet stores.
- 3Offer blanched vegetables that have been shredded into very small pieces. In addition to algae, freshwater snails enjoy a diet of blanched vegetables. Blanching involves dipping veggies into boiling water for 2 minutes before dunking them in ice water. Freshwater snails especially like to eat shelled peas, carrots, cucumber, zucchini and iceberg lettuce. Allow the blanched vegetables to cool completely, then add them to your aquarium.XResearch source
- Chop or shred add vegetables into pieces smaller than a time.
- Begin by adding a small amount of blanched veggies each morning, and gauge how quickly your snails can finish them.
- Add a bit more or less until you notice that all of the food is being eaten in 12 hours or less.
- Remove uneaten produce after 24 hours.
- 4Provide an additional calcium source for your freshwater snails. Just like land snails, freshwater snails require calcium to keep their shells healthy and strong. Provide a calcium source that your snails can nibble on, as a supplement to your snails' diet.XResearch source Some sources of calcium for freshwater snails include:
- Shells from dead snails
- Oyster shells
- Natural limestone (be aware that this may raise your pH levels)
- 5Get advice about your snail's diet from a clerk, expert, or vet. How much, how often, and what you feed your snails will vary based on their species, the number of snails in your tank, and what other aquatic life shares the aquarium with your snails. The best course of action is to speak to someone at the place where you purchased the snails, or consult a vet.XResearch source
- You may still need to do a bit of trial and error to figure out exactly what your snails like.
- If your snails are leaving a lot of food behind, try providing a little bit less food, or experimenting with different food choices.
- A good starting place is to feed aquatic snails as much food as they can consume in about 3 minutes, twice daily.
- Some snail species may need additional food sources, such as fish food or bottom feeder tablets.
- Never give a snail acidic or moldy food
- Don't give your snail eggshells if they are not powdery or pasty
- Dont give baby snails as much calcium since their shells are smaller and need less calcium.
- Never give a snail food that is dirty and always wash food first
- If the food has poop or has been touched by a cockroach throw it out and dont feed it to your snail.
- If your snail is picky with calcium try crushing eggshells into powder and instead of water add watermelon juice for a tastier sent and taste and then spread the paste across its food so it has to eat it.
- If your snail won't eat its calcium try adding mushed banana to the calcium and then add shredded cabbage to it so your snail will like the foods smell and taste.
About This Article
If you are unsure how to feed your snail, give it a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and seeds, such as apples, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Before you feed your snail, chop the food into small pieces. Aim to feed your snail 1/4 cup of food per day, and be sure to remove any uneaten food within 24 hours. In addition to food, provide your snail with a shallow dish of water to bathe in and pieces of cuttlebone to keep its calcium levels high, which helps the snail keep its shell healthy. To learn how to feed a fresh water snail, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "When I got my garden snails, I had no idea how to feed them. I practiced for ten minutes or so feeding wild snails. They were not eating the food I gave them. I was feeding them grass which I thought they ate. I was stressing. My snails were going to die of starvation. I read this article and it has helped me. I have only had my snails for 2 hours! I already love wikiHow. Now I will have healthy little snails!"..." more