Habitat issue Best Baby cepaea snail tanks ?

[vallery]

Hi Everyone ,

I was just wondering if anyone had any good Ideas or instructions for the best type of set up for baby tanks for cepaeas and baby P. Isabella's (which I keep together).

vallery

[shaydeesnail]

I've found that where babies are concerned, the smaller the tank the better. I've found small food tubs are best. I just upgrade sizing as they grow.

[vallery]

Thank You shaydee ,

What do you usually put in the tubs for them any plants or earth?

Do you give them a daily mist, feed them everyday?

I know a lot of questions. I have just noticed they have not been developing that fast and not hatching as much. I have been moving the eggs from the adult tank to a baby tank as I always have and any little babies I find. The baby P.Isabella's in the same tank are no problem it is just the cepaeas.

I have had baby cepaea tanks before that worked but this time it just doesn't seem to be going so well. I really would like to improve it.

vallery

[shaydeesnail]

I usually mix some compost with limestone flour, and pack a thin layer down in the bottom, this way they can get calcium from the soil and won't get lost under it. I add a piece of bark and a clump of moss for them to hide in.
So far I haven't had to mist daily but it probably depends on the ventilation, I just mist whenever it needs it
I only hatched Cepaeas once, and I tried keeping them in one of my smaller tanks but they just seemed to climb to the top instead of toward to food then die But I've tried the food tub method with my baby H. pomatia and lots of baby Arianta arbustorum and it appears to be working!
I have some taller circular tubs for them when they have grown over a few months. My H. pomatia have just moved in, over that time I planted pepper and lettuce seeds in there, it looks lovely and provides them with food and a place to climb

[gunshotglitter]

I used to keep my Cepaea hatchlings in a cc 2L tub with some earth and hiding places and all that I thought would be the best for them but I had a very high mortality rate..
So I decided to follow advices from this forum and only gave them a small food tub, with only a moisted tissue at the bottom, a food plate and a piece of cuttle bone and they seem to be doing fine, and growing rather fast.

[vallery]

Thank You shaydeesnail . You mentioned planting pepper and lettuce seeds in your taller circular tubs. Do seeds grow well in them? I have an Ivy in mine which they don't eat I have never tried seeds though. My cepaea babies all slide up to the top all the time so I end up gently brushing them down everyday and giving them a light mist afraid they will dry out because of this habit of going right back up to the top. I give them lettuce and a mixture of powdered cuttlefish bone and egg shell and fish food on top misted. But I always have to put them on it some will stay and eat the others just go right back up to the top.

Thank You pinkunicorn . D you have any problems like mine where they continuously slide up to the top?

[vallery]

Hi shaydee ,
Thank You for the reply on graemepryces post. You gave me an Idea I posted it on there. If it works I will let you know.
vallery

[tsrebel]

I keep my Cepaea-babies with the adult. A lot of them die before reaching 0,5cm, but I think keeping them with the adults is the best. The adults also hang out in the ceiling and do most of their pooping there, but they do climb down to eat. My baby cepaeas mostly eat the adult's poop and seem to get what they need from it. And once they are older, they slime down to get some normal food.
I plan on adding a feeding tray higher up in my snailarium and will let you know how that turns out.

[shaydeesnail]

The pepper seeds usually last a good amount of time, I went away for a few days and the lettuce had all been munched when I got back though! I'll try and take a few pictures of my baby tub and the taller one for you tomorrow if I can

[vallery]

That would be great shaydeesnail thanks,
I noticed yesterday that some more of the eggs have hatched so more little wee ones on the top of the baby tank. Plus there are a few more clutches now in the adult tank one I found laying eggs last night.
vallery

[vallery]

Hi tsrebel ,

It just seems impossible to clean the adult tanks with all the tiny babies in them. I have quite a few babies. Tons of eggs.
vallery

[shaydeesnail]

Hey
It took me a bit longer than expected but I got a photo of where I keep my babies! Baby snails that is




The smaller rectangular tub is the sort of tub I let them hatch in. I usually put the eggs in here with some moss and soil and keep them there until they have grown a little.

The round tubs are for when the snails have grown a bit big for the smaller tubs but are still too small for an adult tank They are about 19cm high so I can add climbing sticks

[vallery]

Hi shaydee ,

Thank You.
Do you put any air holes in the tub, at the top or around the sides at the bottom?

I know I read somewhere that it helps to put holes along the sides near the bottom so that some sort of carbon gass can escape and the snails get better oxygen. Just wish I could remember exactly what it said. I will look for it again.

Thank you for your photos I am going to try your system to see how it works for me.

I obviously missed an egg clutch in my adult banded cepaea tank because there are a ton of little ones climbing the side of the tank. I have a container like your first one and I will see if I can get some of the other size.
vallery