Q&A for How to Build a Snail House

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How can I tell if a snail is a male or female?

Community Answer

Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they are both male and female at the same time.

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Question

Can I put sawdust in the snail tank?

Community Answer

It's best not to, as sawdust is very rough and can injure the snails' soft bodies.

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Question

If snail eggs are exposed to rain, can they still hatch?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Question

What if I sprinkle some water in the soil daily?

Community Answer

You should do this every 1 - 2 days, as it is the snail's primary way of getting water.

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Question

What are the best types of hideaways for young snails?

Community Answer

Small pots or a big cup under ground filled with sphagnum moss.

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Question

Is there a way to tell how old the snails are?

Community Answer

You really do just have to keep it from birth and track the age yourself. There's no way to tell accurately apart from size and shell color (for some snails).

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Question

What is the purpose of having something for them to crawl on?

Community Answer

So that they can exercise enough, although you only need a few sticks from the garden for this purpose.

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Question

My snail eggs have not hatched for weeks, what should I do?

Community Answer

Do not touch them. Touching the eggs can harm them, they possible could have died or may not have been viable eggs.

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Question

What is the lifespan of a snail? Can they live for at least one year?

Community Answer

That depends on the type of snail. Garden snails can live for about three years.

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Question

How big do the boxes need to be?

Community Answer

Typically, you want about 1 square meter for every 100 hatchlings and about 1 square meter for every 7-10 adult snails.

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Question

Can you put in dirt instead of compost?

Community Answer

Yes. Just make sure to keep the dirt moist, or your snails won't do so good.

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Question

It rained, so I grabbed some mud and put it on the bottom of a jar where my snail is. Is it okay or should I change it?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

NO! You cannot use mud or soil from your backyard, especially after it rains! The earth could contain pests and parasites that will harm your snail. Only ever use shop-bought soil.

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Question

How do I know what type of snails I have?

Dawn Suns

Community Answer

There's no affirmative way to know unless they are brightly marked or distinct in any way.

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Question

Can leave the eggs together with other snails?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

No, it's very risky, as the other snails will eat the eggs.

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Question

How long will it take for snails to fully mature?

Community Answer

Depending on the species, 1 - 3 years.

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Question

Can I keep a snail in a 2 cm house?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

No! This is cruelty.

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Question

How do I know if my snail is sick?

Community Answer

If your snail has either been in his shell a lot, or upside down and unable to roll over, these are signs that he is sick.

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Question

Can garden snails swim or live in water?

Community Answer

They can't live or swim in water.

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Question

Will cardboard hurt a snail?

Community Answer

It won't hurt a snail, but they can eat through cardboard so it wouldn't be a good choice for a house.

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Question

What is the stuff that looks like poop, if snails don't poop?

Community Answer

Snails do poop, all animals excrete in one way or another. Snail poo looks like long, thin lines.

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Question

How do I know when a snail is pregnant?

Community Answer

You have to look in her genital tube. If there are any eggs, then she will lay a brood soon.

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Question

When my snails bred a few days ago, they shot each other with love darts, which is supposed to happen, but the love darts fell off of them. Does that mean they won't lay eggs?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

No, this is completely normal, just make sure they have moist soil to lay in.

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Question

Is it okay if put my snails in an old bin with grass and water?

Community Answer

As long as you mist the bin with a spray bottle full of water every day and maintain the freshness of the grass, there shouldn't be a problem.

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Question

My snails die immediately after hatching their eggs. Is this normal?

Community Answer

It is normal, as the female is under a lot of pressure. It's often the same with fish.

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Question

Can I leave my snails alone for a week?

Community Answer

As long as they have enough food and drink it should be fine, but it would be best to see if a neighbour or friend could check on it once or twice a day or so.

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Question

Is it okay if I put a lot of leaves in the house instead of dirt?

Community Answer

No. Snails prefer soil to leaves.

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Question

How can I breed or keep snails and their eggs?

Community Answer

Keep several snails in the same tank for up to a month. Once one lays its eggs, it's best to take the eggs out and put them in a separate container as the other snails may eat the eggs if you keep them in the same container.

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Question

Can snail eat watermelon?

Lucy Thurgood

Top Answerer

Yes. This has very low nutritional value, though, so use it as an occasional treat.

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Question

Could I use coconut fiber as a substitute for soil?

sylvester anya

Community Answer

No. The coconut shell is rough, and when it is dry it can injure the soft body of the snail.

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Question

Is it safe to use garden soil?

Community Answer

Probably not. Garden soil that you buy at a store usually contains some form of fertilizer and/or pesticide. Just use regular dirt; it's a lot safer. If you have to use garden soil, check the bag and see what it contains.

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