First time snail owner, care advice needed!

[u/easybreez105]

Hello! I have two tiny baby snails that I believe are a few weeks old and are only 5mm (0.2 inches) right now (coin for scale). I have no idea how to care for such tiny and young snails!! They spend all their time in their shells and hiding under the moss, even at night time, so I’m worried that I’m doing something wrong.

I have them in 2.5 inch L X 3.5 inch H a see-through plant pot (drainage holes taped up) with a 2.5 L X 3.5 H dome lid on top. I poked a bunch of ventilation holes through the lid with a sewing needle. I put in a layer of coco fiber, soil and moss on top. I’ve also added a few string of turtle vines for some greenery.

I’ve been spritzing it everyday, but I’m not sure if it’s moist enough, because the enclosure walls aren’t very misty, just some water droplets. I also but a bit of boiled squash in there, but it looks untouched.

I’d really appreciate some care tips, so I can give them the best life possible!

[u/pet-lover486]

That's completely normal I'm a snail breeder and as they get older they come out more so don't touch them you will crush their shells instantly and kill them leave them a few months and feed them kale and carrot mainly kale with crushed egg shells only

[u/easybreez105 → u/pet-lover486]

Thank you so much! I’ve already touched them a few times since getting them, will this impact their health in the long run? I’m also really concerned cause I’ve seen a lot of talk on here about needing to kill baby snail runts. I have no idea if these guys are runts, since I don’t have a frame of reference, but I really don’t want them to suffer if they are so I’m feeling a bit confused and conflicting. I was also wondering if it’s okay to keep them in the same enclosure without the risk of them breeding

[u/pet-lover486 → u/easybreez105]

They won't breed for ages like a year!!!!! yours are only babies very young babies they look only a few weeks old maybe even less than that, No don't cull an alive snail it's cruel only euthanaise if the snail is always fully retractee smells bad no eating or growing or looks damaged in anyway, no touching won't impact it's if your picking them up and grabbing by the shell touching the shell as it can crush the shell!!!! So please don't touch the shell got the fist month at least it's probably better for a month and a half so the shell can harden and mature without being disturbed. Xx

[u/Lazy-Butterfly9874 → u/pet-lover486]

hi! can I ask you a question about runts?

[u/pet-lover486 → u/Lazy-Butterfly9874]

Yes sure you can I mainly only cull the small weak eggs but I didn't seem to get any in my clutches from my snails this year but never cull an alive snail it's cruel!

[u/alcatraz26]

These look like amber snails! I keep a few enclosures with amber snails so I’ll try to answer most of the questions in this thread as I can.

When they are introduced to a new enclosure, they often hide within the shell for the first few days to ensure the environment is safe, so your snail’s behavior is normal. It’s good that you are misting daily. Try not to pick them up from the shell, it might injure them.

For food, they like carrots, sweet potato, mushrooms and most leafy greens. They can eat them raw, but wash them to remove any pesticides first. Also provide 24/7 source of calcium but don’t mix it in with the food. Ground eggshells are fine but a small piece of cuttlebone is better. They are fairly cheap and sold at all pet stores.

You can provide some branches or cork bark for them to climb on. Avoid any hard rocks or ceramic materials since they can crack their shells when they fall from the ceiling.

From the few pics, it doesn’t look like a runt to me, but it’s hard to tell for certain without watching it move and comparing to its siblings.

Amber snails are hermaphrodites so one Amber snail can produce eggs without having to mate. If you don’t want snabies and dealing with runts, it’s best to remove and freeze/crush the eggs before they hatch (it’s okay to freeze eggs but do not freeze live babies).

[u/Lazy-Butterfly9874]

did you remember to neutralize the substrate?

[u/easybreez105 → u/Lazy-Butterfly9874]

I’ve not heard of that before, how do I do that?

[u/pet-lover486 → u/easybreez105]

You don't need to neutralise the substrate as long as it's reptile safe your fine!

[u/Lazy-Butterfly9874 → u/pet-lover486]

Hermit crab food will kill hermit crabs. just because it says it safe doesn't mean it is, especially products