Our Snails Had Babies - Now What? (Overpopulation?)

[marquisexb]

Hello all,

We picked up some snails from a friend's backyard for our children to keep along with their worms in their 12" x 6" x 8" enclosure. I'm guessing they are Cepaea Nemoralis. Now our snails have had babies and we're not sure what to do?!!?

Basically our concern is overpopulation. From four snails there appears to be a horde of babies - and we're scared that if they become adults & reproduce - they're going to run out of room in our tank. Even if we get a bigger tank, eventually the population is going to get out of hand. 

So what to do when our tank gets too small?

Idea 1 is to give them as gifts, but eventually we're going to run out of friends that'll take them. 

Idea 2 is to release them into the wild, but where? From what I've read they are pests to a garden (is this true?). My wife is concerned that we could tilt the scales in the environment. There is little wildlife where we live, but there are a few grassy/tree parks. I thought that introducing them there might be harmless (or at the worst the rats, cats, & pigeons would have a feast). Other thoughts were to give them back to the people we received them from (their "natural habitat") or maybe a large area like Central Park (NYC). 

Idea 3 is to give/sell them to the local pet store. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[malacophile]

If they're already found in the wild where you are, I'd just release the babies. Some are going to die off during the transition from captivity back to the wild, so there's not that much risk of tilting the environmental scales. Who knows, you may also be helping boost a population that is dwindling in spots. Either way, releasing the extra babies isn't likely to cause any detrimental problems with the other local wildlife.

[Zorst]

I have Cepaea both sorts and if there native to the country your in you can release them back to the wild. But do so in say a wooded or wild area where they can hide away. I release some but always wait until spring if there born during winter. If you have a garden you could release them there.

Keep some more as pets for yourself if you want because if you check there substructure each week work your fingers through it each time you muck them out you'll find the eggs.

Personally I always collect the majority of eggs n deep freeze them as this kills them. That way you don't get the over population problems n don't over populate other places. Its the way many snail keepers deal with the egg over population.

The frozen eggs I leave for about 4 days there wrapped up in a bag, I just put outside and the become food for something. You can sell some or give them as gifts, they don't make much money though like some of the more exotic snails.

Hope that helps and enjoy your snails.

Zorst

[barnaclesnail]

Jan 15, 2014 18:28:58 GMT marquisexb said:

Hello all,

Idea 2 is to release them into the wild, but where? From what I've read they are pests to a garden (is this true?). My wife is concerned that we could tilt the scales in the environment. There is little wildlife where we live, but there are a few grassy/tree parks. I thought that introducing them there might be harmless (or at the worst the rats, cats, & pigeons would have a feast). Other thoughts were to give them back to the people we received them from (their "natural habitat") or maybe a large area like Central Park (NYC). 

Idea 3 is to give/sell them to the local pet store. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Nature is nothing else if not an efficient, but cold-hearted witch; so if you do release the little guys into an appropriate area, it will have very little long term impact on the environment. An excess of snails will die off if they over-consume in any given habitat, or natural predators will take care of the excess. Cepeas are extremely common in NYC, and in fact I believe since they are more of a refuse than fresh food eater, they are the main snails to be found in most urban areas. If you choose Central Park, make certain you release them deep enough that pestiferous gardeners and their pesticides will not harm them.

What I would advise against at all costs is taking anything living to a NYC pet store... first, I doubt they will take snails, and if they do, it will probably be as a live feeder for their reptiles But mostly, its because I live in the NYC area (and am assuming you do, as well?) and having worked in dog rescue for nearly a decade, I can say with certainty that stupidity abounds here re: caring for pets, and depending on who the store sells to, they would most likely be better off in the wild. Cheap pets usually = disposable, or at the very least, poor husbandry.

Also, you definitely need to check the substrate no less than every ten days for eggs, which will need to be frozen for 48hrs before you can safely dispose of them. Come spring, they're going to have some good egg laying parties so you need to stay on top of that.

BTW, practically my entire colony of cepea nemoralis died off this winter, so I would be glad to take a few off your hands... will pay postage of course. PM me if you might be interested in sending a few my way.