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Snails can be fun pets and are really easy to look after. Simply feed the snail a variety of organic fruit and vegetables and give it a shallow dish of water to keep it hydrated. Avoid giving the snail processed foods and starchy foods as this can harm its digestive system. Enjoy watching the snail grow as you continue to feed it.
Steps
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Source a variety of fruit and vegetables to feed your snail. Raw produce is the best food option for snails, as it contains the most nutrients and is easy to digest. Apple, aubergine, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, and lettuce are cheap and easy options; however, any fruit and vegetables are fine. [1] X Research source
- Give the snail a variety of fruit and vegetables to ensure that it gets a wide range of nutrients.
- Feed the snail organic produce, as snails are sensitive to pesticides.
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Peel the food into thin strips or cut it into 1 centimetre (0.39 in) cubes. This makes it easier for the snail to eat. Use a food peeler to shave thin strips off the fruit or vegetables. If the food can’t be peeled, use a sharp knife to cut it into thin slices or small cubes. [2] X Research source
- Don’t worry about removing thin skins from fruit or vegetable such as carrots. Thick-skinned produce, such as bananas and pumpkins should be peeled to make it easier for the snail to eat the flesh.
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Replenish the snail's food supply when it runs out. The snails will stop eating once it has had enough. When you notice that the snail has eaten all of its food, simply give it some more fruit and vegetables. [3] X Research source
- Over time, you will get used to how much the snail eats and will be able to plan accordingly.
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Replace any uneaten food after 3 days to stop if from rotting. Most fruit and vegetables have a relatively short shelf life when they are kept out of the fridge. Replace the fresh produce regularly to stop it from going bad. [4] X Research source
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Place a shallow, plastic dish of water by the snail's food. The snail will drink the water and also bathe in it to keep its shell hydrated. Place no more than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) of water in the dish help prevent the snail from drowning in the water. Do not use a dish of any material you aren't able to bend. A snail can fall on this and damage their shells.
- Make sure the dish is secure and will not spill.
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Leave a cuttlefish bone with the snail's food to increase its calcium intake. In order to build and repair its shell, snails need calcium. The snail will absorb the calcium through its foot when it sits on top of the cuttlefish. Place the cuttlefish bone beside its food to help encourage them to sit on it. [5] X Research source
- Purchase a cuttlefish bone from a pet shop.
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Stay away from salty foods. Your snail only needs a very small amount of salt in its diet, which is naturally found in fruit and vegetables. Foods with a high salt content will dehydrate the snail and make it unwell.
- Avoid packaged food, as this tends to have a high salt content.
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Avoid feeding the snail pasta, rice, and millet. Snails are unable to digest any food that has a lot of starch. These foods cause the snail to experience bloating and internal blockages. This can make the snail sick and can be fatal.
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Limit the amount of acidic food that you feed the snail. Provide the snail with a variety of food options. Avoid only feeding the snail acidic fruit such as tomatoes, oranges, and tangerines, as these can be harmful if they aren’t supplemented with other foods.
- As long as the snail has less-acidic food options, it is fine to feed it acidic foods as well.
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Avoid fruit and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides. Snails are really sensitive to the pesticides that are sprayed on fruit. Avoid any fruit and vegetables that aren’t organically grown.
- Look for “organic” and “spray-free” signs when you are doing your fruit and vegetable shopping.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy snail is a picky eater and it does not come out of its shell a lot, only if I take it out of the tank. What should I do?Lucy ThurgoodTop AnswererKeep in mind that most snails are nocturnal creatures and are most active at night, leave out a variety of foods and check in the next day to see what's being eaten.
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QuestionWhat is the amount of food I should feed my snail?Tigerclaw476Community AnswerIt depends on what type of snail you have. If you have a land snail, you should give it 3 pieces of algae, fungi, lettuce, cucumbers, and carrots.
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QuestionHow do I give my snails water?Community AnswerGet a clean spray bottle and fill with water not tap water (because of chlorine) and dampen the jar or tank.
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Tips
- Take extra caution not to feed your snails any fruits or vegetables that have been treated with pesticides, as these are typically poisonous.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- When a snail is hungry, it will scrape its little tongue on surfaces to search for food. If a snail is licking you (it should feel like a tickle), then it's hungry.
- Don't give your snails tap water as it can contain chlorine that may harm them.
- You can use crushed up eggshells as another calcium source.
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References
- ↑ http://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/terrestrial.html?/gastropoda/terrestrial/food.html
- ↑ http://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/terrestrial.html?/gastropoda/terrestrial/food.html
- ↑ http://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/terrestrial.html?/gastropoda/terrestrial/food.html
- ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/heres-how-long-your-fresh-produce-will-really-last/
- ↑ https://animals.mom.me/caring-pet-land-snails-2666.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To feed a land snail, give it fresh produce, like apples, cucumbers, and carrots, that you've cut into thin strips or small cubes. Make sure you use organic produce since land snails are sensitive to pesticides. After you add the food to its enclosure, leave it there for up to 3 days before replacing it with fresh produce. If your snail eats it all before then, replenish its food so it has enough to eat. To learn how to avoid feeding your land snail dangerous, unhealthy foods, scroll down!
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