Feeding 'decaying' foods, organic foods, protein ?

[red]

I Have four questions about feeding snails - wondered what anyone views were -
1. i have read that the achatina achatina like decaying fruit and vegetables- ( I don't mean rotting putrid food creating unwanted disease or Bacteria but more lightly decaying food fruit beginning to ferment?) a lot of animals much prefer fruits as they begin to break down rather that super fresh foods-does anyone find they like foods like this and - odd question= Does anyone use a bokashi tub to semi decay veg and fruit, bokashi tubs are used for composting, you sprinkle on a specially inoculated bran that allows a fungi/ bacteria culture to grow .It is very effective in breaking down matter and doesn't make the veg matter smell, it is more of a fungi smell and I wondered if snails would find this attractive. Many a beetle keeper esp. In japan grow a fungus in sawdust in a bottle called kinshi for stag beetle larvae to eat .bit more complicated that that but that's the idea.
I always think I must remove old fruit and veg from the tank and replace it with a banquet of fresh which we humans think is best but maybe the snails are thinking it's just right !
2. We grow 100% organic fruit and veg! as long as I wash it thoroughly  is it safe for my snails! I was wondering if there are naturally occurring nematodes could exist on the produce?. We don't add any nematodes to our garden. I was concerned about pesticide effects with shop bought foods. Whats best? shop bought-pest free ( good but on the other hand not good!) or my natural foods but pesticide free ie possible bugs etc?
3 . Does anyone feed animal based protein? I read that some snails like protein source, wondered if anyone fed 'safe' sources of meat- for example fish food products ? Just wondering- probably complicating things but I was just curious.
4. should you use a water treatment for snail water - the type that de- chlorinates fish tank water- is it safe for snails or should it be one suitable for reptiles?
Always interesting to get peoples thoughts on things. Cheers.

[etana]

My comments on 2 and 3:

2: Homegrown veg and plants are great, as with them you truly know what chemicals have and have not been used. The less chemicals, the better it is for snails, and fully organic garden products sound very good. The careful, thorough washing & checking with your own eyes should be enough.

3: Yes, there are many conversations on this board about how to do this. People use soaked fish flakes, soaked good quality (as in, no salt, sugar, wheat, or too much fillers) kitty/pup food, boiled egg, unsalted and unseasoned cooked meat, etc. This is because snails will gladly nibble on carcasses if they find any in the wild, especially dead snails are devoured away, but most of us don't want actual carcasses in our tanks. Meat or other animal products are best served max once a week, as far as I know.

[morningcoffee]

Don't ferment food or add anything to it to decay it before you give it to snails. I just give mine fresh food and then as long as it's not growing mould I leave it in the tank for several days. You can do this or just give them veg that's starting to go off every now and then. You really don't need to complicate things by involving fermenting, bokashi etc!
Homegrown food is always going to be better because you know there's no chemicals used or anything. If you're worried about bugs, just wash the food thoroughly before giving it to your snails (which you should always do with food before giving it to snails anyway).
Yes, feeding some kind of animal protein to your snails occasionally is recommended. As etana said, wet fish flakes, boiled egg, raw meat, soaked cat/dog biscuits are all used.
You CAN use a reptile dechlorinater if you want but unless your water is very heavy on chemicals, you probably don't need to. I just use filtered tap water for my snails without anything added.

[cliath]

1. All my snails love to tuck into an occasional rotten apple or mushy carrot. They also enjoy fresh fruit and veg too.

2. Just as etana said homegrown veg is great. My snails prefer my lettuce to shop bought lettuce. And I think a good wash/scrub clean them enough for the snails.

3. Protein is Beneficial to snails, mine get fish food, cat food and boiled egg weekly.

4. Can't help you with this sorry, I just use water from our well.

Hope I helped!

[red]

Thanks so much everyone-really appreciate it - great info, fascinating about the protein,will definately get them some fish foods, you kind of always think of snails as being 100% veggy. Mine have got a whole mini organic pumpkin for tea tonight- Just bough 2 Achatina reticulata albinos. VERY excited to meet my new beauties this coming week!

[Zorst]

For protein I also feed mine cooked meat that's not been seasoned and occasionally will leave them a bit of bone to rasp at an meat scraps off if its form the center of the roast n I know that there has been no seasoning etc on it. The sure seem to enjoy it. I found mine didn't really go for the fish flakes and i tried several different sorts both wet n dry. Hard boiled eggs there happy with as well and occasionally a bit of unseasoned fish if say Ive roasted up a whole salmon etc.

Fruit n veg n wild veg I either grow or collect for my snails occasionally they get organic bought apples and sweet potato doesn't seem to grow well here so they get an organic sweet potato between them once a week, my local organic shop often let me have ones that have gone over slightly for less cost n I just cut the bad bits out. I always really look carefully at all veg and wash it very well.

Zorst

[mangoandlemon]

I was wondering the same thing for number 4.