snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106 
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Post by snailed on Aug 30, 2014 1:07:24 GMT
I have 6 garden snails, and have been giving them egg shells for calcium, but am afraid that they are not getting enough. I thought about getting some cuttlebone, but they are so small I don't know if they would eat it. I saw there is calcium powder, is this ok to give them? Does anyone have any other options for small garden snails, and if so, some links to buy some product would be great!
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Post by etana on Aug 30, 2014 3:28:29 GMT
My quite small Cepaea and Arianta snails have all learned to use cuttlebone, it lasts them a long time when they rasp at it with their little radulas. It's soft and thus very easy to cut into small pieces with a large knife, if it seems silly to put the whole big thing in the tank.  |
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Post by malacophile on Aug 30, 2014 4:17:40 GMT
I use calcium powder, but only because 13 giant snails tear through cuttlebone too fast. I've used both calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, and they appear to need less of the calcium citrate. This is likely because of its higher bioavailability (better uptake and utilization) than calcium carbonate. I also notice less of it coming out in their poo compared to the carbonate form, even when they eat a lot of this. This tells me they're absorbing more of it.
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Post by snailboat on Aug 30, 2014 4:26:00 GMT
Garden snails love cuttlebone, in my experience :-)
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Post by muddydragon on Aug 30, 2014 7:13:46 GMT
i use both and they seem to enjoy both, as i like to give them to option. You can make calcium powder into blocks by mixing with water and then leting it dry so they can help themselves to it or much easier is just putting a cuttlefish bone in softside up.
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snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106
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Post by snailed on Aug 30, 2014 11:58:36 GMT
Thanks for all the help! I have had these snails for about a week now, a very stressful week! Evertime I didn't see one for a day or so, I thought for sure they were dead! But, I think they are doing good!
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Post by etana on Aug 30, 2014 15:58:09 GMT
Aww lol, reminds me of when I caught my first snail from the wild... He ate himself very, very full and then fell asleep outside his shell, lying on his side even though night was coming. I didn't know that it wasn't really an alarm sign, he was just super hungry (I found him on pavement), so I woke up many times durig the first night just to check he was breathing! Snails are quite resilient though. Hopefully soon you'll find them as relaxing to have as theur reputation is.  |
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snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106
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Post by snailed on Aug 30, 2014 22:43:23 GMT
It is getting easier everyday! Sometimes I set my alarm for around 3 am so I can see them in action...they tend not to come out of hiding til after 10 at night. I think my favorite part so far has been decorating and finding decorations for their tank. And trying out new foods. It feels great when you see them going to town on a tomato or carrot, although the favorite seems to be strawberries...which also attracts the most fruit flies!
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snailed
Achatina achatina
Posts: 106
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Post by snailed on Sept 5, 2014 1:41:38 GMT
Happy to report, my snails love the cuttlebone!!
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