Well ive been doing more and more research, and like I said, I'm after a pet I can watch ect.. ect.. These look perfect, the lady should be getting some in next week, and from the research ive done please correct me if any of this is wrong:
17-24 degree's is fine for them generally - my house is normally about 27 soo I shouldnt need a mat? I have central heating too.. (getting a matt means they may over-heat on a warm day :/)
food: they eat vegies, like me, generally letis and cucumber is a fav?
handling is possible.
they live between 3-5 years..
they need garden soul with some twigs, no anti bug stuff in the soul..
they need spraying daily and can be bathed under a tap..
natural light is fine..
they need cuttlefish...
is this about right?
these guys look reallly cool xd
You won't need a heat mat for everyday use like with a snake, George - I recommend you get a small one just in case you need it during the winter.
They need a variety of vegetables and fruit. Lettuce is fine, but not iceberg as it has very little in the way of nutrition. Romaine lettuce is a snail favourite. Also offer cucumber, courgette, tomato, apple, pear, and similar foods. Mine LOVE peas from the pod too.
3 years is actually fairly young for a snail. 6-7 years is better and they can live for up to 10 years.
As for substrate, I don't really recommend soil. I used it for a while and hated it; it attracts all manner of pests, like fruit flies, and there's also some evidence that soil is slightly acidic which scars the snails' shells. I swear by non-burrowing substrate; I use something called capillary matting, which is a type of soft 'carpet' used for watering plants. The snails love it and it holds humidity well. Just offer them a bowl of loose substrate to allow them to dig - spaghnum moss is a favourite. You can find the capillary matting in garden stores, or on ebay. If you want pictures I'd be happy to provide them.
Daily spraying is good; I aim for around 80% humidity. If your snails get too dry they will seal themselves in their shells. I also recommend a weekly bath - just sit them in shallow water, maybe in an old ice cream tub or something. It really helps keep them fresh and their skin moist.
Yes, natural light is fine, as snails are nocturnal.
Cuttlefish is essential and must always be available, be sure to rinse the bone before placing it in the tank.
You'll really enjoy snails. They are SUCH fun, and that's another reason why I recommend keeping more than one - they are much more active and fun to watch in a group. You'll also find that snails have little personalities; one of mine is much shyer than the other, and they also have different preferences as to what they like to eat!
Oh - for the viv, avoid wood as they will munch through it. I use a 2ft glass vivarium for my breeding pair. As for the lid, I'd avoid total screen as the snails will climb on it and it also allows too much moisture to escape. My lid is mostly glass, with about a 1/4 of one side mesh for circulation. That works just fine.
Hope that helps!
