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Post by alexsaunders1991 on Feb 22, 2011 16:33:15 GMT
Hey Guys,
I was wondering if anyone has come up with any enrichment techniques for their snails. I have tried growing cress and other small plants in their tank and they do seem to eat it occasionally, but would like to try something different, let me know your thoughts and ideas,
Alex
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coyote
Archachatina papyracea
Cochleas ego amo
Posts: 2,955
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Post by coyote on Feb 22, 2011 21:10:44 GMT
Do you mean like making the tank as much like their natural, wild habitat as possible? Or just having a variety of stimulating things in the tank?
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Post by ness on Feb 23, 2011 10:04:13 GMT
There are several things you could try.
I know of one person who built a multi-room habitat for his snails, this was part of University project. He put different substrate/conditions in each tank and connected each tank up via passageways that the snails could easily navigate.
You could perhaps do something on a smaller scale by having one type of substrate in one half of the tank and another in the other half, e.g. coir and organic compost. Many snails also appreciate a dish of water, and you can even purchase waterfalls (reptile waterfalls). These are a pain to maintain though in my opinion, but many snails like them.
There are different edible sprouting seeds that you can purchase - just plant them and the snails will nibble them as they grow.
Have a hide for them, or more than one hide if your tank is large enough.
Vary their food, give them more than one calcium source.
Snails do not really need much in the way of enrichment, but many (not all) of them show preference to bathing and hiding, and benefit from a varied diet.
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Post by alexsaunders1991 on Feb 23, 2011 12:30:35 GMT
I meant to simulate the snails coyote, thanks ness i have try to do most of these before including the bath (which they loved) planting different seeding in the tank like cress and different food and calcium types. I will try the hides idea as well as the different substrate and see whether my tigers and fulicas will respond to it, Thanks guys
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Post by morningcoffee on Feb 23, 2011 20:23:44 GMT
In my experience they tend to love having things to climb on and over. How big are your snails? If they're small or medium sized (anything up to large-ish fulicas) then I recommend Lucky Reptile branches, you can get them in lots of different places online. They are bendable branches that you can pose in any position you like, covered with a soft rubbery material. The smaller snails I've kept absolutely loved having a couple of them in the tank to clamber around on - and you can change the shape/position of the branches every now and then as well to make things more interesting. Failing that, any kind of tank ornaments made of polyresin are good because it's solid, doesn't rot or mould, and is reasonably light so shouldn't do too much damage to any snails that fall onto it. Fake vivarium plants are great as well - my snails have a Zoo Med bird's nest fern that they love to climb on and hide under.
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