Where to Buy and How to Breed Snails?

[Swayne8998]

Hey all, I have recently inherited a sick Jackson's chameleon that was only fed a diet of crickets, received inadequate hydration, is in a small cage, has a broken horn, and was possibly wild caught. I am trying my best to get this guy back on track, I currently have crickets, superworms and dubias readily available, but soon I want to get some snails going. Anyone have any advice to where I can get them and how to breed them? Right now is not the best time for me to buy, just wanted some info. Thanks

 

[pssh]

To ship them over state lines you need permits. Garden snails (I believe they are helix aspersa?) are easy to breed though. Just pop them in a container with some moist soil and food and they handle it themselves. If it gets too dry, they wont come out though.

 

[KirbyTheCham]

I saw some yesterday for $3.49/lb at the international market I went to. They were HUGE, I'm sure your Chameleon wouldn't want those. I'm curious though...are you talking about snails with a hard shell or more like slugs? Is there a nutritional advantage to feeding him snails? It already sounds like you've got a good variety of feeders available. By the way, good job on rescuing the little guy, I hope he does better for you soon.

 

[Swayne8998]

To ship them over state lines you need permits. Garden snails (I believe they are helix aspersa?) are easy to breed though. Just pop them in a container with some moist soil and food and they handle it themselves. If it gets too dry, they wont come out though.

I don't know if I want to go through all that trouble... do you have a Jackson's? If so, what are some feeders you use and do breed?

 

[Swayne8998]

I saw some yesterday for $3.49/lb at the international market I went to. They were HUGE, I'm sure your Chameleon wouldn't want those. I'm curious though...are you talking about snails with a hard shell or more like slugs? Is there a nutritional advantage to feeding him snails? It already sounds like you've got a good variety of feeders available. By the way, good job on rescuing the little guy, I hope he does better for you soon.

Thank you Well just drama over here. The delivery was cancelled once AGAIN for personal reasons. I just hope he gets here soon...

 

[pssh]

I used to. I just fed him the regular feeders. Silks, supers, mealies, crickets, roaches, butterworms, etc.

 

[Swayne8998]

I used to. I just fed him the regular feeders. Silks, supers, mealies, crickets, roaches, butterworms, etc.

Would butterworms from Walmart be ok? Like from the fishing department?

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Would butterworms from Walmart be ok? Like from the fishing department?

where did you even get the idea of slugs?

 

[Swayne8998]

where did you even get the idea of slugs?

You mean snails? Haha. I have had many suggestions on them and seen Jackson's eating them on Youtube. So I thought it might be worth a shot But now with the whole permit thing... I don't even know how you get that...

 

[ISA my Veiled]

You mean snails? Haha. I have had many suggestions on them and seen Jackson's eating them on Youtube. So I thought it might be worth a shot But now with the whole permit thing... I don't even know how you get that...

Yeah way more of a pain in the Arce than it would be worth. I saw your question about the butterworms and I am very curious too if they would be the same, I am sure they would be less expensive.

 

[Swayne8998]

Yeah way more of a pain in the Arce than it would be worth. I saw your question about the butterworms and I am very curious too if they would be the same, I am sure they would be less expensive.

Lol... we went there to see if they had mealworms for our gecko 'cause PetSmart was out. They said they had butterworms, but not mealworms... they were checking through all of them... "No, not that one," "Ooh, those are bad," etc. LMAO

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Lol... we went there to see if they had mealworms for our gecko 'cause PetSmart was out. They said they had butterworms, but not mealworms... they were checking through all of them... "No, not that one," "Ooh, those are bad," etc. LMAO

I am not a huge fan of mealworms, I was at first with my Leopard Geckos, but a couple of them had a little problem digesting them so I got rid of them all together and switched to wax worms and super worms. LOL yeah probably not that good to buy them from Wal-Mart, but maybe that was just a one time thing. How expensive are butter worms from a breeder anyway?

 

[Swayne8998]

I am not a huge fan of mealworms, I was at first with my Leopard Geckos, but a couple of them had a little problem digesting them so I got rid of them all together and switched to wax worms and super worms. LOL yeah probably not that good to buy them from Wal-Mart, but maybe that was just a one time thing. How expensive are butter worms from a breeder anyway?

Heck I don't know. I've never had problems with mealies, and isn't regular-feeing waxies bad?

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Heck I don't know. I've never had problems with mealies, and isn't regular-feeing waxies bad?

Goodness no I don't feed them regularly, but I used Mealworms as a treat, but now instead I use waxies as an occasional treat lol oh goodness no

 

[maxttu]

Butters are pretty expensive and the ones from wallyworld would be fine, if you can find them! Apparently they're not offered in my part of TX. I can't find them in San Antone or Houston.

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Butters are pretty expensive and the ones from wallyworld would be fine, if you can find them! Apparently they're not offered in my part of TX. I can't find them in San Antone or Houston.

That is a shame, I hate that some things are just so expensive. people really take advantage of us loving our animals. I wonder how much they are at Wallyworld lol

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hey all, I have recently inherited a sick Jackson's chameleon that was only fed a diet of crickets, received inadequate hydration, is in a small cage, has a broken horn, and was possibly wild caught. I am trying my best to get this guy back on track, I currently have crickets, superworms and dubias readily available, but soon I want to get some snails going. Anyone have any advice to where I can get them and how to breed them? Right now is not the best time for me to buy, just wanted some info. Thanks

info on snails (and other prey choices):
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html