Im so happy I’m freaking out!!!!

[littlegoldsnail]

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to celebrate!!!!!!!
The big news is, I can get a new snail tank inside next to my fish tank.😀 I have never been aloud to have land snails inside before, so this is a dream come true.

I’m thinking a glass 5.5 gallon right next to the 10 gallon inside.

I would love to get a pair of pacific sideband snails or something, but I have the aspersas outside. Question is, do I bring the aspersas inside, or do I leave them outside and get a different kind of snail indoors?

The aspersas tolerate weather extremely well and seem quite happy outdoors, but I feel bad.

Thoughts, opinions?

P.S. the aspersa enclosure is a sterilite that is currently half buried in the ground (to keep them warmer while they hibernate/aevastate).


snerdahmik
spooniesnail

[Liguus]

Congrats on the indoor snail terrarium. I would pick to have the aspersas inside. They are an adaptable snail and very popular as pets, having no trouble living indoors their whole lives. The Pacific Sideband snails are a bit more picky, so you may experience some trouble unless you are well prepared. The biggest thing with Pac Sideband's is their need for a cooler temp. Ideally you should keep them no warmer than about 75*F and they would appreciate a temp drop at night. Constant even warm temperatures indoors seem to stress them out. If you have a basement that would be a good place to keep them cool, and if not your could get more complicated by installing a peltier cooler on the lid of the terrarium. If neither of those sound possible then I would leave them outside (assuming here that you live in their native range). Pacific sidebands also appreciate terrariums that are much more humid that a terrarium for an aspersa needs to be. Again, if I had sidebands I would put an ultrasonic fogger (aka ReptiFogger) tube into the terrarium to keep them humid, something running at a very low setting but still noticeable.

[littlegoldsnail]

My room like never gets over 70 in the winter (usually stays around 66-68), and like never over 75 in the summer (usually stays around 72 or so), so I doubt temp would be a concern. I could mist it a couple times a day, but I’m not 100% sure their exact humidity requirements so you may be right. Are there any other potential snails for the indoor habitat? I may end up just putting the aspersas in there, I just wanted to look at all the possibilities.

Btw, our house is heated by a wood stove, so every night the fire dies and there is a fair temp drop.

[Liguus]

That may be fine for the temperature then. Another option for the humidity may be to plastic wrap a large fraction of the lid (assuming you would be using a standard glass terrarium with screen top). This reduces air flow but holds in humidity longer. To aid in some air flow you could put an aquarium airstone through the lid and down to the bottom of the terrarium.

There are quite a few snails that would do well indoors, however if you live in the USA you can't order snails as they can't cross state lines. Assuming you are in the pacific northwest another reasonable option would be Cepaea nemoralis if you can find them. Monadenia, Cepaea, and Cornu are at the forefront of my mind when I think of the PNW region, but I believe I have a book of PNW snails at home I'll check to refresh my memory if anything else relatively easy is around the area.

[littlegoldsnail]

Okay, I do have a spare air pump for my aquarium. I love grove snails as well, but I rarely see any around where I live. I was not aware that ordering was illegal (I see a lot of snails for sale in the US on eBay), but it makes sense that it would be.

[daniele]

Congratulations littlegoldsnail! and wish all the best for the future to your new snails!!!

[littlegoldsnail]

Thanks! I bought the tank online yesterday so it’s waiting for me in the store now. I’m either gonna pick it up today or tomorrow. Can’t wait to scape it!

[littlegoldsnail]

Just arrived, it’s perfect! Scaping starts tomarrow!
share images

[littlegoldsnail]

Just kidding! I already started.

[littlegoldsnail]

Okay, it didn’t quite look right first time so I changed the wood and added the water dish. What do you guys think?

[morningcoffee]

Looks nice! Make sure they also have a hide they can go inside to sleep - you can use something simple like a plastic plant pot on its side, or pick up a reptile hide if you want something that looks fancier.

I'm also a fan of fake plants in tanks to create a natural-looking environment, they look pretty and are less hassle than a real plant as you can remove them for cleaning, plus the snails won't nibble them! The Exo Terra Jungle Plants are great (other brands do similar ones) and have a suction cup to stick it to the tank wall, smaller snails really like climbing and then hiding amongst the leaves, so it encourages natural behaviour.
www.chewy.com/exo-terra-ficus-silk-plant-small/dp/129097

[littlegoldsnail]

I agree, I have some extra aquarium decor I’m planning on messing around with.

[littlegoldsnail]

Modified it, to much life and hiding places?

[littlegoldsnail]

So I settled on the last scape, except I took some of the sticks out. I unburied three little helix aspersas and brought them inside. I rinsed them in room temp water and set them in the terrarium with some boiled peas and carrots and fresh water. It’s been a couple hours and they haven’t stirred. How long will it take them to wake up? Is there any way I can encourage them to wake?

[snerdahmik]

Dec 20, 2019 22:24:48 GMT littlegoldsnail said:

So I settled on the last scape, except I took some of the sticks out. I unburied three little helix aspersas and brought them inside. I rinsed them in room temp water and set them in the terrarium with some boiled peas and carrots and fresh water. It’s been a couple hours and they haven’t stirred. How long will it take them to wake up? Is there any way I can encourage them to wake?

I missed so much! I wish I'd seen this sooner! That tank looks AMAZING!! 

Try rinsing them again, or pick them up, mist the food, and place them back on it so they have some slight moisture touching their skin. Only mist it a little, don't create a puddle. OH! Make sure there isn't epiphragm (looks like dried snot) keeping the moisture out. Happened to me once, I waited two hours for one of my snails to wake up only to realize he'd never gotten wet.

[littlegoldsnail]

Thank you!

[littlegoldsnail]

[littlegoldsnail]

I just had to meme this one.




P.S. sorry about the lighting, my bedroom lighting is terrible.

[daniele]

This guy is super cute!!!!!