Which substrat are you using and why?

[apple]

I have been reading some threads here and noticed that some people are using capillary mating.
Most are satisfied.
But it´s enough to provide them only with one bowl full with moss, coir or compost, and the rest of the substrat with capillary matting carpet?
And about the wild caught ones, that love to hide/burrow under leaves, logs, and that are used to live on jungle soil, everyone doesn´t notice anything diferent on their behaviour when they now have to live on capillary mating? They are doing fine?
I´m using now coir, with some leaves and bark, the snails love it, but it´s a bit messy and not easy to keep it clean. But I will keep on it, if I think that´s the best way to keep them. By now is what I think, but I´m interested in know about how the others are doing, to see if I have to change something.
About egg laying rate: Sarah says that her snails keep a high egg laying rate even with capillary mating, so I´m not sure, if this happens with most the cases or if it´s a singular situation. I read somewhere that this ( c. mating) could discourage snails to lay eggs, so I would like to know your opinion about this aspect.
Do they have enough contact with soil bacteria to eat it?
If you use moss, coir,compost or capillary mating, I would like to know your opinion.
Good luck with your snails!
Thanks.
apple

[deadmansfinger]

I keep all my smaller snails on capillary matting, mainly for moisture. All have sphagnum moss on top of this for burrowing etc
because margie tank is so big the bottom level has 6" compost with sphagnum moss on top in bottom level and capillary matting with moss in the top level.

I find the margies always show a preference for compost when it is available.

Brian.

[Moracai]

My smaller snails and fulica are on capillary matting with some moss and leaves for hiding.
The margies and tigers were on matting, but I changed to soil not long ago, and within 2 weeks of the change, the margies laid eggs. Not sure if it was the change that did it, but they do seem happier. I changed them to coir a couple of weeks ago to see if they liked it, and after a couple of days of them sitting in the water bowl and food bowls, they settled down and are happily burrowing again.

[Kevin]

All my snails are on coir, mixed with moss. I used to use organic soil, but changed to coir for all my snails last year.

[LisaLQ]

So far my margie adults are my only ones on capillary, when I get round to swapping the tanks around, I'm not sure whether I'll put them all on capillary or not. I usually use sphagnum moss - all over the base of their tanks, but the adult margies were compacting it and carrying it around with them, leaving bare patches on the base. No matter how much I put in, it's always the same. I did also try them on organic peat free compost, but Boycie decided he was going to aestivate - as it doesn't hold the water well, all the moisture sank to the bottom, leaving the surface bone dry, and a lake in the bottom

The compost we used was much better, but we cant get that any more - perhaps the DIY stores will stock more in the summer. And it wasn't peat free.

So I think I may keep the margies on capillary matting - they have a big tub of moss to dig in at one end of the tank - and at least one of them is using it.

But either way, capillary or moss, my margies haven't laid eggs, but I'm sure I'm not the only one here with margies who haven't. My fulicas were up until November, and despite new company and conditions - they still haven't. I'm not bothered as I'd only freeze them, and they were laying well in moss before, I think it's just the time of year.

[sezzy5889]

all of my snails except the limicolaria and zachrysia are on capillary matting, because they're tank is only small so i don't mind cleaning it out regularly,
I have 5 adult margies and have had 32 eggs from them since, i also have 9 or 10 fulica and have had a batch every night from them for 2 weeks, big healthy batches too, in fact all my eggs have been extremely healthy since but that may be the calcium spray doing that,
and then i have 3 iradelei, 2 reti's, 3 panthera, 4 two-tones, 2 margies and 2 smithii who seem to be fine, and are growing well, they all have a tub of organic compost to burrow in which they love especially the tigers, and another tub of water for bathing, i clean them out once a week, sometimes 2 weeks depending on the 'activeness' of the snails.
My nursery tank has nothing on the bottom just a tub of soil and a pool, and a little bridge, this is to provide as sterile conditions as possible and not attract mites or worms.
As you know mi limi's laid 45 eggs too.

[Deleted]

1 of my tanks is on coir (about 7cm deep) cus they like to burrow. the other snails dont like to burrow so theyre on capillary matting.

[KathyM]

I have recently changed to capillary matting from compost. They have tubs of sphagnum moss to dig in. Sherman (margie ovum) is miles happier now he is off the compost - he never liked it, and never buried in it. He loves the tub of moss though

[sonicsnail]

I just got some capillary matting today! I am going to use it, to see if these white worm like dot things disappear. Although, Sarah gets these worms, even with capillary matting. I have always wanted the "natural look" for my tanks. I used to have twigs, leaves, branches and plants in there. However, now I am converting to capillary matting, I feel that some of the "natural look" is no longer possible. However, I would rather have healthy snails and no pests than a natural environment tank.