Snail in enclosure?

[Suzle87]

Just curious could I pop a snail in the enclosure with ven to give him something to think about/ hunt during the day? Only one obviously it’d take him days to catch 2 haha. Let me know what you think about this? It could be a really bad idea and I’ve just missed something

[splashy07]

I think that would all depend on where the snail came from.

[Suzle87]

Swell reptiles (online) all bred for reptiles and safe etc.

[splashy07]

Not familiar with them on this side of the pond, and I really can't say either way as I've never tried. For one, I really like snails and couldn't kill one. Second, I'd be afraid they would hurt themselves on the shell. Possibly ingest a piece or whatever. I realize these things can just about digest rocks, and I know it's a natural food and a favorite of theirs but I'm just way too overprotective for that. I only use canned ones. Let's see what the others have to say.

[Suzle87]

Thanks for your input splashy07, sounds like you’re as much of a worrier as I am! Lol.
Good point about him cutting himself, I hadn’t thought of that, he’s been okay eating them (supervised) in the past, but yes maybe it’s something I should always be around for. I just want him to have something to come out of hiding for in the day, he just seems so lazy, so was thinking maybe he’s bored, but he could just be content with al his hide outs.
Any other thoughts on the snail query from anyone please do let me know thankyou

[mb606587]

Many keepers feed snails with shells to their BTS. The skinks will usually crush the shells open and eat the snail inside but I've seen some ingest the shell as well. The shell itself is supposedly an excellent source of calcium and I haven't heard of any issues regarding its consumption.

[kingofnobbys]

If it's wild and you live in a suburban location with neighbours nextdoor , then wild snails are not with the risk - you'll need to quaranteen the snails you gather and give them at least a week to purge and get rid of any parasites and toxins they have in their bodies.

[Suzle87]

If it's wild and you live in a suburban location with neighbours nextdoor , then wild snails are not with the risk - you'll need to quaranteen the snails you gather and give them at least a week to purge and get rid of any parasites and toxins they have in their bodies.

As stated above they are from a reptile live food company so no danger on that part. It’s just the actual leaving one in his viv with him unattended is what I’m querying.

[kingofnobbys]

If it's wild and you live in a suburban location with neighbours nextdoor , then wild snails are not with the risk - you'll need to quaranteen the snails you gather and give them at least a week to purge and get rid of any parasites and toxins they have in their bodies.

As stated above they are from a reptile live food company so no danger on that part. It’s just the actual leaving one in his viv with him unattended is what I’m querying.

Leaving a snail in the BT tank is no issue - if your BT is like my two old BTs , it wont last long before it's found and eaten . My BTS love to crunch up shell too and there is nothing left except maybe a little bit of snail trail when they are done.

[Suzle87]

As stated above they are from a reptile live food company so no danger on that part. It’s just the actual leaving one in his viv with him unattended is what I’m querying.

Leaving a snail in the BT tank is no issue - if your BT is like my two old BTs , it wont last long before it's found and eaten . My BTS love to crunch up shell too and there is nothing left except maybe a little bit of snail trail when they are done.

Ah brilliant, il perhaps give it a go sometime then. Putting him waterfall in tomorrow so maybe once I’ve done that he can have a snail play date haha

[kingofnobbys]

Leaving a snail in the BT tank is no issue - if your BT is like my two old BTs , it wont last long before it's found and eaten . My BTS love to crunch up shell too and there is nothing left except maybe a little bit of snail trail when they are done.

Ah brilliant, il perhaps give it a go sometime then. Putting him waterfall in tomorrow so maybe once I’ve done that he can have a snail play date haha

I do silkworm play dates for my bluetongues and bearded dragons …. when the lizard spots the worm it doesn't last long. Same with my bluetongues and their snails (I buy tub of a dozen from a snail farm a few times a year as treats for them).

My water skink doesn't like silkworms , but if I drop a mealworm in for her , it's gone in a flash.

[Suzle87]

Haha yeh I’ve been keeping silkworms again as they really are one of his faves, he’s taken now to just tugging on plants in the hopes it’s a magic silkworm tree (I sometimes sit them on the fake leaves so he can hunt them for a min or two)

[kingofnobbys]

Haha yeh I’ve been keeping silkworms again as they really are one of his faves, he’s taken now to just tugging on plants in the hopes it’s a magic silkworm tree (I sometimes sit them on the fake leaves so he can hunt them for a min or two)

I usually just place a silkworm on my pointing finger and then show the lizard, who all very daintily take the worm off it.

Other times I just deposit the silkworm in the salad bowl on a piece for mulberry leaf next to the fresh salad (when I have "fresh" leaves) and it doesn't take long for the skink or dragon to discover the worm , and if they eat the bit of mulberry leaf that's a bonus (as they are very nutritious and have Ca/P about 10).