Hi. I just acquired 3 Snails from my backyard ... sorry 4 ;)

[Butterflyna]

I found the first one outside. My landlord is moving stuff around for winter and I was scared he/she would get crushed so I brought him inside. I checked on google and a site there told me what I would need ... 

• A plastic container with holes in the top for breathing.
• Grass, leafy vegetation, clovers.
• Cuttlefish for Calcium for their shells.
• water sprayer.
• Food: lettuce, carrots, even cat food!

I am just new at this and want to find out more about cleaning their habitat, their sex, what kind they are, etc. It did say that two are better than one so I went looking and didn't have to look long before I found another one. I found the third one this morning.
I am fasinated by them and so glad I found a site where I can become educated about them. Thank you for being here!

[etana]

Welcome to the forum!

We can ID your snails if you post some close-up pics of them. The files must be hosted elsewhere and then linked to.

Sounds like things are starting well over there.  

If you have continued Googling or searching this forum you probably have found out more of the info you wanted, but just to be sure as there is some misinformation around:
- Cleaning: can be done by "spot cleaning" most of the time. Remove the poops that bug you (if someone is in the middle of eating one, don't take that one) and food that stinks or grows hair. Wipe snail trails off tank walls with a wet cloth. Do not change all of the substrate at once if you can help it, snails need to eat it to get back the gut bacteria that they lose when pooping.
- Sex: Most land snails are hermaphrodites. You will likely see some nice courting behaviour that involves what looks like dance moves, or passionate kissing. Or both. They both will get each other pregnant if they're the same size! You will have to egg hunt if you don't want mini baby snails, but I agree that snails are better off with a friend or a few.

Happy snailing, and don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any! 

[Butterflyna]

Thank you for the welcome and info. I will try to get close-up pics of them each. It's sorta ironic ... the first person who liked my post is "Slowly". I named my first two snails Slowy and Pokey lol. I still don't have a name for the third one yet? Maybe some members can help me out with that?? Thanks so much for replying

[slowly]

Oct 18, 2016 13:18:17 GMT Butterflyna said:

Thank you for the welcome and info. I will try to get close-up pics of them each. It's sorta ironic ... the first person who liked my post is "Slowly". I named my first two snails Slowy and Pokey lol. I still don't have a name for the third one yet? Maybe some members can help me out with that?? Thanks so much for replying

I would recommend Brian (of Magic Roundabout fame), but maybe it's not very original

[Butterflyna]

OK. Perhaps I'm getting carried away with myself but I now have 4 snails... 2's company, three's... so I found one more to even out the number. My bad? Anyhow, I had a friend suggest I change their names to Eenie, Meanie, Miney and Moe? Can I put a dab of nail polish on the top of their shells to tell them apart??? They are not really doing much and I am cleaning the poop every night and morning. Putting fresh lettuce and food in their container. They mostly just stay at the top of the container and hang upside down. Is that normal. Do you think they are happy? I don't see them eating anything I've put in the container. I tend to be a worry wart but I just hope they are ok.
One really important question I would like to ask. I live in Canada and we get some pretty cold snowy weather. Do they find a way to survive that outside? All winter?? If they do maybe I should set them free. I'm feeling a little sorry for keeping them cooped up like they are. What do you guys/gals think?


P.S. I like the name Slowly but now that I have four??? Thanks for the suggestion though 

[Butterflyna]

Oct 20, 2016 15:30:30 GMT Butterflyna said:

OK. Perhaps I'm getting carried away with myself but I now have 4 snails... 2's company, three's... so I found one more to even out the number. My bad? Anyhow, I had a friend suggest I change their names to Eenie, Meanie, Miney and Moe? Can I put a dab of nail polish on the top of their shells to tell them apart??? They are not really doing much and I am cleaning the poop every night and morning. Putting fresh lettuce and food in their container. They mostly just stay at the top of the container and hang upside down. Is that normal. Do you think they are happy? I don't see them eating anything I've put in the container. I tend to be a worry wart but I just hope they are ok.
One really important question I would like to ask. I live in Canada and we get some pretty cold snowy weather. Do they find a way to survive that outside? All winter?? If they do maybe I should set them free. I'm feeling a little sorry for keeping them cooped up like they are. What do you guys/gals think?


P.S. I like the name Slowly but now that I have four??? Thanks for the suggestion though 

Is this post in the wrong place or am my bad for asking this? I haven't got any replies and was just wondering?

[etana]

No it's ok, sometimes the members who answer questions just all go away at once.

If there's poop, then they are eating something. If it's the colours of the food you're offering, they're eating it when you're not looking.

Wild snails can be a bit boring at first because they need to rest to adjust to the new living place.

Yes, snails hibernate outside. They will dig a hole in the ground and seal in, and just a few cm deep they already don't freeze - especially if there's a good layer of snow.

[Butterflyna]

Thank you so much etana. I haven't gotten rid of them yet,and have seen them "dancing" and stuff like that. I will wait and see. Thanks again for the info.

[Butterflyna]

I let them go in backyard. God Bless them all <3 Thank you all for all your help xoxo