Q&A for How to Snail Farm

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  • Question
    Are permits required to farm snails?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, a permit is not required.
  • Question
    Can I feed my snail escargot?
    Clawthewolf
    Clawthewolf
    Community Answer
    Definitely not. That is called cannibalism, and the snail wouldn't eat it anyway, as snails can only eat vegetables or plants.
  • Question
    Can a newly hatched helix aspersa pass through my chicken wire mesh?
    FoxieJViellaT
    FoxieJViellaT
    Community Answer
    They can, it just depends on how large the holes are for your chicken mesh. They can be the size of your pinkie nail when hatched.
  • Question
    Where can i find snails in the Gauteng area?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Look on shrubs and bushes. try to hunt for them when the sun has gone down a little, as it is cooler. Look inside of heathers and bushes and around bodies of water such as puddles, ponds and lakes. You can also find a local snail breeder in order to pick up some less common species.
  • Question
    How often can I feed my snail?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Once or twice a day is acceptable. It depends on quickly they eat and what you feed them. If they are given a large piece of food-then that should be enough to sustain them for a day, maybe even two. Play it by eye.
  • Question
    What is the name of the snails found in New Zealand?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    They are known as powelliphanta. This is a genus of large air breathing land snails pulmonate gastropods in the family Rhytididae.
  • Question
    If I disinfect the pen against with insecticides, for how long should I wait before stocking such pen snail?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    At least a couple of days, maybe even a week or two. Insecticides can be very harmful to the snails.
  • Question
    Can snails feed on pineapple?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Pineapple might be too acidic for the snails, so stay clear of it. Same thing with tomatoes.
  • Question
    Thanks for this insight. What are the natural predators of snails? Does it also include cats?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Cats are generally pretty curious and might mess with the snails if they are able to get to them. other predators would include: birds, flies, mites, beetles and their larvae, flies, squirrels, rats, mice, weasels, toads, turtles, wild turkeys, and there are more.
  • Question
    What are snail predators and how to prevent it from the snail
    TheGemWolf
    TheGemWolf
    Community Answer
    Beetles, shrews and turtles are some of the creatures that like to snack on snails. It is best to keep the snail in a container with plenty of food if you want to keep it safe.
  • Question
    I have a wild pet snail that came to my garden a few days ago. My garden is dead and my snail loves to hide under the dead vines and leaves, is this normal?
    Loulouishere
    Loulouishere
    Community Answer
    Yes, that is perfectly fine! They enjoy plants dead or alive, and love to explore. They are very curious.
  • Question
    Do snails hatch their eggs by themselves or does someone have to take them to a hatchery?
    Loulouishere
    Loulouishere
    Community Answer
    They will hatch themselves, but you may want to consider taking the eggs out into a new container until they hatch.
  • Question
    Can snails eat salty food?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, they should eat natural foods, nothing salty or processed. Salt will irritate and damage them, it's bad for their health.
  • Question
    Can I roof the top of my snail pen?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes you have to or they will crawl out and escape. But use something with plenty of ventilation holes, like wire mesh, so they can still breathe.
  • Question
    What food do snails eat?
    BREANNA MARTIN
    BREANNA MARTIN
    Community Answer
    Washed fruits, veggies, and leaves. Wash them off as you would before you eat them. When feeding, try giving your snail a heavyweight food dish for two reasons: 1) Easy as ever to clean and 2) a place for your snail to wait if you forget to feed them. Make sure it is weighted and heavy so the snail won't tip it over!
  • Question
    What about farming snails inside? What are the guidelines?
    BREANNA MARTIN
    BREANNA MARTIN
    Community Answer
    Same as outside, but you may need a heating mat to keep the warmth the snails live in naturally, mist so it is humid inside the tank you put them in, and place the tank in a low-light area so they can tell the difference between day and night. They are nocturnal, but you don't want them in direct sunlight or they'll dehydrate.
  • Question
    What type of water do I need to sprinkle on snails?
    FoxieJViellaT
    FoxieJViellaT
    Community Answer
    Non-chlorinated water does the best. Leave water sitting for 24 hours or use spring water out of a store bought bottle.
  • Question
    How do I prevent snail predators from entering my snail farm?
    Cora Pont
    Cora Pont
    Community Answer
    Try putting up fences that will block them from getting in, but at the same time allowing you to get in to care for them, like a mesh enclosure with a door.
  • Question
    Will they eat zucchini?
    Cora Pont
    Cora Pont
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as you dry it out and get rid of all the natural salt in it. They will also eat pumpkins and other veggies.
  • Question
    Is Florida good for snail farming?
    FoxieJViellaT
    FoxieJViellaT
    Community Answer
    As there is a lot of sun, yes. Just make sure the lid for your enclosure is opaque.
  • Question
    How do I replace my snail's soil if there happens to be eggs in it?
    FoxieJViellaT
    FoxieJViellaT
    Community Answer
    Carefully look through to find the eggs and remove them carefully into an incubator (or to your fridge's freezer if you don't want the snails). Then you would do the same cleaning routine you normally do.
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