Snailed It! Your Hub for Aquatic Snail Care

Aquatic snails: the focus and love of this blog. I started this blog to help streamline information for fledgling snailkeepers, and I want to promote helpful resources, so I'm taking some time today to shout out The Light Fish Blog and their article on black mystery snails . The owner of the site and blog, Miles Harrison, has over ten years of experience in the aquarium hobby. (You can check out his Instagram account  here !) The Light Fish Blog also has a thriving community site, which you can check out. It's always fun to meet and network with others in the hobby. (Note: I am not sponsored by The Light Fish Blog, thank you!) ************************************** I'll highlight a few key points in the article that I think are especially helpful and insightful.  "Their calcium-based shells have a traditional spiral pattern, and their eyes appear at the tips of their upper tentacles. It’s believed that these snails can see subtle differences in light, which they use to...

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Snailed It! When it comes to snailkeeping, the amount of "do's and don'ts" can feel overwhelming. There's so much that goes into keeping our snail friends happy and healthy! Today's topic focuses on a more lighthearted, fun aspect of snailkeeping: decor! I've touched on setups before, but today, I'll focus on personalizing your tank. Safe and expressive are not mutually exclusive.  (Note: I am not sponsored by any brands I mention, nor am I affiliated with any sources I recommend. Thank you! 🐌) ************************************************* In my experience, key safety guidelines for tank ornaments can easily be summed up with the following points: Guidelines for tank decor safety Paint — be wary of painted decorations. In my opinion, it's best to steer clear of these, as it's better not to risk the paint chipping off and polluting the water. The chemicals are highly dangerous to both fish and invertebr...

The Shelled Sanctuary is an incredible rescue founded and operated by one individual dedicated to saving Giant African Land Snails (GALS) by providing them specialized care and by spreading awareness of their plight. In their own words, they are "a sanctuary for the loved, unloved, and misunderstood snails that get passed down to me due to rehomes, rescues, etc." Here are some excerpts from one of their posts that best sum up the sanctuary's mission: "These animals are far more than 'kids pets' like they are too often treated as, and deserve just as much respect as any other exotic animal. Giant african land snails, while beautiful, are often neglected to the point they die far earlier than they would naturally or with correct care, meaning many pass away before they are even 5 years old! This is partially due to incorrect care, accidental neglect, and also due to these lovely animals being marketed as 'children's pets' - something most children...

A useful reference for popular aquatic snails and their tank size minimums! For the minimums alone, scroll to the "Conclusion" section :) Mystery Snails Tank Size Minimum: 10 gallons* They start out tiny, but they can reach 2 inches! *While a mystery snail on its own can live in a 5 gallon, I do not recommend housing them in one. Spending their days exploring and roaming, these snails do best in a spacious environment that can accommodate their inquisitive personalities. They're highly social creatures, and they benefit from the company of fellow mystery snails. (It's not strictly necessary to house them with another mystery, but in my experience, they very much appreciate having a companion.) In addition, mystery snails produce a lot of waste, and it is much more work to maintain the bioload in a 5 gallon tank than it is in a 10 gallon tank.  Summary: while one mystery can live in a 5 gallon tank, mystery snails flourish in 10 gallons and above. They also benefit gre...

I always say that calcium is the key to optimal snail shell health, but...how does one actually go about supplementing it? Sure, there's suggestions on supplies to use; yet, there's not often much clarification about how to use them. When I first began snailkeeping, I was totally lost when it came to calcium supplementation.  Little lady is thrilled about all this calcium! For my beginner snailkeepers, this simple guide will show you four easy ways to ensure your aquatic snail is getting all the calcium they need.  Before we begin, I personally recommend supplementing calcium in both water and diet.  With that, let's dive in! (Note: I am not sponsored by any brands I mention, nor am I affiliated with any sources I recommend. Thank you!) Cuttlebone A delightful tortoise enjoying some cuttlebone. Credit: Richard Mayer, de.wikipedia, (CC BY-SA 3.0)   Snails require calcium carbonate to promote healthy shell growth. Cracked shells are a common sign of inadequate calcium...