Snail soil:
"What is the right soil for my African land snails after all?"
Snail soil for African land snails sounds almost like a science in itself on online blogs, and everyone has a different opinion about it. But what is the right snail soil for African land snails after all?
And what do you generally need to consider with snail soil?
We will explain the pros and cons of the different soil options:
Potting soil for snail keeping:
Pro: it is cheap.
Con: It quickly becomes waterlogged and must be changed often. Changing the substrate too often can cause especially older snails to die. Due to the rapid waterlogging and nitrite formation, it promotes shell growth defects or damage to the growth glands. Fungus gnats and other insects multiply very quickly.
Organic potting soil is fertilized with bird droppings and should therefore generally not be used.
Coconut bricks for plants:
Pro: it is cheap. Far fewer fungus gnats and insects.
Con: often coarse-fibered, has little to do with a feeling of soil or pleasant substrate, was only washed once, therefore has an elevated EC value, therefore promotes shell growth defects.
Coconut bricks from some terrarium shops and from us - Slimeside
Pro: washed several times, therefore has a low EC value, therefore fewer shell growth defects.
Con: it is more expensive to buy (but due to the slow waterlogging and the fact that you hardly have to change it, it is cheaper in the long run).
Pro: costs nothing
Con: uninvited guests in the terrarium that you do not want. Some of them would be dangerous for your African land snails. African land snails are animals that do not occur in nature in our country and therefore have no connection/defense against local insects or snail species. Therefore, contact should be avoided as much as possible.
Q&A Snail soil:
The most common questions about the topic of snail soil
- Do you have to check the pH value of the soil?
No, you do not have to. That is a waste of money. They are not that sensitive with any of these soils. Instead, you are better off buying an extra sweet potato or two for your beloved slimmers. Either you get the pre-calcified snail soil, or you mix the right calcium yourself into the soil a little. (Here, less is often more). But that in detail in another Slimeside blog.
- How often do you have to change the snail soil?
Ideally not at all. Because many snail species react badly to change (especially in old age). They can even die from it. A change of environment, especially a sudden one, means stress for the animals.
- When should you change the soil?
You change the soil when it becomes waterlogged, smells of nitrite, or some insect or small creature multiplies too much because it has no natural enemies, and it gets out of hand.
The most common mistakes when buying snail soil
- Wanting to save money - Snails spend most of their lives on and in the soil. Therefore, the right soil is the most important thing in snail keeping. If you skimp on the right soil, you will have to invest much more time and money in the long run due to waterlogging, nitrite formation, and many insects, and with the frequent changing of the soil, you risk (especially older animals) stressing them so much that they die.
- keeping it too damp - the soil can become waterlogged and the animals damage their growth glands and can no longer grow. They always stay small and eventually die.
- keeping it too dry for the species - Snails will shell up, baby snails, thin snails, or already weakened animals are then in danger of dying.