Pet snails - Helix aspersa

Northampton MA

Description

I have some pet snails, Helix aspersa, commonly known as garden snails. They made babies and I'd like to give some of the little ones up so they don't crowd the tank. 100% free to a good home. Snails are pretty to look at and easy to care for and don't require much. You can find easy instructions online, and I can advise you. They need a clean environment, cuttlebone for calcium, a misting every day, and it's not a good idea to give them rocks since they can fall the break their shells (they like to climb). They have those stalks that come out of their heads with eyeballs on top, but they can't see too well. They don't have ears, but they have an excellent sense of smell. They don't like bright light I'm told, but it never seemed to bother mine. They're supposed to like to burrow in dirt, but mine never did. Mostly they hang out on the side of the tank sleeping till they're ready to move around. I give them bark from outdoors and sphagnum moss (they seem to like this best of all the substrates I've tried, and it's easy to clean). The list of stuff they eat is long, but their favorite is cucumber and romaine lettuce. You're supposed to force them to eat other things with a variety of nutrients but they act like picky eaters. No acidic, salty, or starchy foods but spinach, anything leafy, many fruits, and blanched carrots or sweet potato are good. It's a good idea to freeze their substrate before throwing it out to kill the eggs if they make any unless you want a million-billion babies which you don't. I think they exist in Massachusetts' wilds but these cannot be released since they're domesticated and come from California. They're social so you'll need more than one. Four is a good number for my six-gallon tank but I had eight in a ten-gallon.