saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Dec 26, 2011 15:01:42 GMT
How much calcium (Mg) does a snail (helix aspersa) need per serving?
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Post by ness on Dec 27, 2011 20:01:54 GMT
Oooh now THERE's a question! I honestly don't know, not sure if anyone has ever measured this. Really it very much depends upon how much calcium is in the soil and in the plants they eat. in the wild they are likely to absorb some through their skin if they crawl over limestone, but in most cases they will get their calcium needs from wild plants. Plants grown in wild soil will vary in the amount of calcium they contain but in many cases it is likely to be of a higher calcium content than the intensively grown vegetables we buy in Supermarkets.
If you buy organically grown produce it is likely to have the best calcium and mineral content, and some food tends to be richer than others. For example if your snails regularly eat organically grown kale grown in calcium and mineral-rich soil your snails might not need much in the way of supplimentation.
The best scenario for calcium supplimentation is when a snail regulates it's own intake by helping itself to cuttle-bone/limestone blocks (not lime) or similar, which captive-bred snails will do. If you have a fussy snail, or one that either ignors the calcium source or doesn't appear to be absorbing the calcium properly then one of the best things you can try are fish flakes, as in goldfish food. They contain a healthy balance of calcium, protein and plant matter.
It's not always a good idea to force calcium into your snail by powdering loads of it on top of food (a light dusting should be fine) as they can actually have too much if it's not properly balanced with other food.
My advice is to say don't worry too much about ratios and measures, just provide a suitable source of calcium as a side-dish and see if the snail takes any or not.
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Dec 29, 2011 14:04:49 GMT
Well I usually feed my snails fresh storebought romaine lettuce and baby carrots, and I usually put about one whole eggshell(powdered) into their soil.
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Post by SojMad on Jan 3, 2012 7:24:58 GMT
Well I usually feed my snails fresh storebought romaine lettuce and baby carrots, and I usually put about one whole eggshell(powdered) into their soil. I would say that it is probably not enough calcium for snails.  None of those two foods contains a lot of calcium, and carrots actually contains a bit more phosphorus than calcium, and too much phosphorus will cause calcium deficiency. Try to feed more different kinds of foods, and also food that contains much calcium, like kale, nettle, cabbage, dandelion leaf and so on. Also rocket salad and spinach contains a lot of calcium, but at least spinach contains a lot of oxalic acid too, which interferes with calcium absorption (thankyou coyote, now I hope people understand what I mean  . Egg shells isn't the best calcium source either, as far as I know. Both powdered oyster shells and cuttlefish bones are better alternatives. |
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Jan 3, 2012 22:56:31 GMT
Oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption, is how I would say it. I don't offer spinach to my snails.
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Post by SojMad on Jan 3, 2012 23:22:32 GMT
Oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption, is how I would say it. I don't offer spinach to my snails. Thanks, now I've changed it to "absorption". ^^ No, I don't use to offer it to my snails either, but I don't think it is any danger to give it on rare occasions. |
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Jan 4, 2012 0:25:08 GMT
I'm thinking of feeding them cabbage. Can I feed it to them raw or do I have to cook it?  |
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Post by SojMad on Jan 4, 2012 2:06:22 GMT
I'm thinking of feeding them cabbage. Can I feed it to them raw or do I have to cook it? I always feed all vegetables and fruit raw. |
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Post by ness on Jan 4, 2012 20:32:35 GMT
Yes - raw is best They've eaten raw food throughout their evolution and is what their bodies are best suited to. |
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Jan 8, 2012 13:49:40 GMT
I'll try that, thanks ... |
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Jan 13, 2012 2:46:40 GMT
It seems that they enjoy the cabbage ..... BTW,what kind of vitamins/nutrients does cabbage contain? |
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Jan 18, 2012 6:59:09 GMT
Here is some nutrition information for cabbage.
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Jan 21, 2012 19:28:48 GMT
Thanks coyote.. that helped alot |
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latebloomer
Achatina immaculata
The Snail Botherer
Posts: 251
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Post by latebloomer on Jan 24, 2012 11:59:29 GMT
My snails love sweetheart cabbage, the darker outer leaves, they prefer it to romaine lettuce. They wont touch savoy though!
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Jan 25, 2012 0:04:18 GMT
My snails love sweetheart cabbage, the darker outer leaves, they prefer it to romaine lettuce. They wont touch savoy though! huh... thats interesting.  |
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twimper
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 29
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Post by twimper on Jan 28, 2012 17:19:05 GMT
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saki114
Achatina immaculata
Posts: 327
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Post by saki114 on Feb 3, 2012 22:34:40 GMT
thanks twimper. |
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twimper
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 29
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Post by twimper on Feb 5, 2012 0:13:55 GMT
no problem ^_^ glad I could help. that web has lots of useful info on.
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None of those two foods contains a lot of calcium, and carrots actually contains a bit more phosphorus than calcium, and too much phosphorus will cause calcium deficiency. Try to feed more different kinds of foods, and also food that contains much calcium, like kale, nettle, cabbage, dandelion leaf and so on. 
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