Stubborn Feeder Snails

[bay121]

I purchased 24 feeder snails a few weeks ago but am having difficulty getting them to breed. How can I make sure the snails I already have are safe for my chameleons to eat? Do they need to be purged, etc.? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Do you have a couple inches of moist soil for them to burrow into to lay the eggs?

how did you source your originals? captive bred or wild caught?

 

[bay121]

I have about 3 1/2 inches of moist Eco Earth in their habitat, mist them once or twice daily, and feed them a variety of fresh fruit and veggies.

I purchased the snails from Carolina Biological online. Both my male and female Parsons would be able to eat the adults, but I'd love to have babies so my 3 Panther's could enjoy them as well.

 

[Psychobunny]

Depends on where you got them.

Snailsinthemail.com claims their snails (Helix) comes from organic farms in California and are parasite free.
I still separate the babies because I feed them differently, so its just easier to put them in a separate tank.

There is no trick to get them to breed, and once they start, there is no stopping them!!
Just put a few adults in a terrarium with about 2'' of soil (any kind) and give them a cuttle bone for calcium, and feed them plenty!!
It takes a while but you will see spots where they have been digging.
That's where you will find clumps of eggs.

I gently dip them up, and re-bury them in the baby tank.

You need to keep the soil moist. If it dries out completely, the eggs will die and dry up.
They look like white caviar
And people do eat them (the adult snails too)

If you let the babies hatch in with the adults, they cling to the backs of the adult snails and ride around.
It's pretty cool to watch, for a nature nerd

 

[Psychobunny]

Do you have a couple inches of moist soil for them to burrow into to lay the eggs?

how did you source your originals? captive bred or wild caught?

I put down more soil then needed so I can skim off the top 1/4'' off when cleaning.
They are very messy!! they get slime and poop everywhere.

Also, I wash them very well with cool tap water before feeding them to my chams.

I need to clean the cage twice a week or it will get really funky and attract gnats.

Oh the things we do for our chams!!

 

[pigglett79]

You should also provide a shallow dish of water, they love to drink from it and slide in it. I use a very shallow rock like bowl meant as a feeding bowl. Its not even 1/2 inch deep. I also occasionally sprinkle plain calcium on their veggies to ensure they have enough calcium for their shells. Also if you add plastic cups or plastic plant pots cut in half as huts, they will like to congregate in there and it helps with cleaning.

Here is my set up, its super dirty right now, but that's what you have to look forward to. I cleaned it out on Saturday and put all new dirt and its already this bad haha.

Also in my thread here you can see what the eggs look like and I also added a picture of them mating.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/snails-arrived-114158/

Good luck

 

[bay121]

Thanks guys! I REALLY appreciate the wonderful advice and all of your tips! I'll keep you posted on my crazy stubborn feeder snails.