How to Feed a Land Snail

Co-authored by Joe Perez

Last Updated: December 8, 2024 Approved

Snails can be fun pets and are really easy to look after. Simply feed the snail a variety of organic fruit and vegetables and give it a shallow dish of water to keep it hydrated. Avoid giving the snail processed foods and starchy foods as this can harm its digestive system. Enjoy watching the snail grow as you continue to feed it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing Healthy Foods for Your Snail

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1
Source a variety of fruit and vegetables to feed your snail. Raw produce is the best food option for snails, as it contains the most nutrients and is easy to digest. Apple, aubergine, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, and lettuce are cheap and easy options; however, any fruit and vegetables are fine.^{[1]
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- Give the snail a variety of fruit and vegetables to ensure that it gets a wide range of nutrients.
- Feed the snail organic produce, as snails are sensitive to pesticides.
2
Peel the food into thin strips or cut it into 1 centimetre (0.39 in) cubes. This makes it easier for the snail to eat. Use a food peeler to shave thin strips off the fruit or vegetables. If the food can’t be peeled, use a sharp knife to cut it into thin slices or small cubes.^{[2]
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- Don’t worry about removing thin skins from fruit or vegetable such as carrots. Thick-skinned produce, such as bananas and pumpkins should be peeled to make it easier for the snail to eat the flesh.
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3
Replenish the snail's food supply when it runs out. The snails will stop eating once it has had enough. When you notice that the snail has eaten all of its food, simply give it some more fruit and vegetables.^{[3]
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- Over time, you will get used to how much the snail eats and will be able to plan accordingly.
Most fruit and vegetables have a relatively short shelf life when they are kept out of the fridge. Replace the fresh produce regularly to stop it from going bad.^{[4]
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5
Place a shallow, plastic dish of water by the snail's food. The snail will drink the water and also bathe in it to keep its shell hydrated. Place no more than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) of water in the dish help prevent the snail from drowning in the water. Do not use a dish of any material you aren't able to bend. A snail can fall on this and damage their shells.
- Make sure the dish is secure and will not spill.
6
Leave a cuttlefish bone with the snail's food to increase its calcium intake. In order to build and repair its shell, snails need calcium. The snail will absorb the calcium through its foot when it sits on top of the cuttlefish. Place the cuttlefish bone beside its food to help encourage them to sit on it.^{[5]
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- Purchase a cuttlefish bone from a pet shop.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Avoiding Dangerous Foods

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1
Stay away from salty foods. Your snail only needs a very small amount of salt in its diet, which is naturally found in fruit and vegetables. Foods with a high salt content will dehydrate the snail and make it unwell.
- Avoid packaged food, as this tends to have a high salt content.
Snails are unable to digest any food that has a lot of starch. These foods cause the snail to experience bloating and internal blockages. This can make the snail sick and can be fatal.
3
Limit the amount of acidic food that you feed the snail. Provide the snail with a variety of food options. Avoid only feeding the snail acidic fruit such as tomatoes, oranges, and tangerines, as these can be harmful if they aren’t supplemented with other foods.
- As long as the snail has less-acidic food options, it is fine to feed it acidic foods as well.
4
Avoid fruit and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides. Snails are really sensitive to the pesticides that are sprayed on fruit. Avoid any fruit and vegetables that aren’t organically grown.
- Look for “organic” and “spray-free” signs when you are doing your fruit and vegetable shopping.

Community Q&A

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My snail is a picky eater and it does not come out of its shell a lot, only if I take it out of the tank. What should I do?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

Keep in mind that most snails are nocturnal creatures and are most active at night, leave out a variety of foods and check in the next day to see what's being eaten.

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What is the amount of food I should feed my snail?

Tigerclaw476

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It depends on what type of snail you have. If you have a land snail, you should give it 3 pieces of algae, fungi, lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots.

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How do I give my snails water?

Community Answer

Get a clean spray bottle and fill with water not tap water (because of chlorine) and dampen the jar or tank.

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Take extra caution not to feed your snails any fruits or vegetables that have been treated with pesticides, as these are typically poisonous.

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When a snail is hungry, it will scrape its little tongue on surfaces to search for food. If a snail is licking you (it should feel like a tickle), then it's hungry.
Don't give your snails tap water as it can contain chlorine that may harm them.
You can use crushed up eggshells as another calcium source.

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