17/01/2022
INSIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE.
⚠️ This is to help anyone who may be wondering what to put into the enclosure once it’s bought or even for those who wish to upgrade the inside ⚠️
SUBSTRATE:
Coir is the most popular substrate used in a snail enclosure because it holds the heat & humidity well. You can buy this online or in pet stores all year round but it’s always handy to keep an eye out in the likes of Poundland come spring/summer as it can be found in stock there for potting soil for plants! Top Soil can also be used as long as it doesn’t contain fertiliser or water retaining crystals. As you can see in my photo, I’ve currently got the Coco Fibre Substrate on the go. Very easy to use & have no complaints.
⚠️ Always research the snail species you’re getting as some snails need a form of sand or clay mixed into the already mentioned substrate ⚠️
DECORATING/ENRICHMENT:
As shown in my photo, you have options!
Moss - Helps with humidity and provides a damp area for the snail. You can buy this from your local garden centres, pet stores & online or alternatively, you can collect it from outside! However, if collecting from outside MAKE SURE it is not near roads or paths and hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals!! It’s also recommended to rinse the moss before placing it into the enclosure with water.
Branches - Ideal climbing for the snails but also helps to fill “empty spaces”. You can buy branches or collect them from outside, but the same rules of collecting from outdoors apply! In my photo you can see I have Cork Bark pieces, these smaller pieces are ideal for those little gaps.
Leaf Litter - The perfect way to make an enclosure look natural. They also help provide food for your CUC (Clean Up Crew - I’ll talk about this in another post). Remember the rule for collecting from outdoors.
Plastic Plant Pots - I haven’t pictured these, however if you or your Mum are anything like my Mum, you’ll have tonnes of these in the garden that aren’t being used. After a good clean I like to use these as hides for my snails, they’re ideal as they’re soft plastic and come in a range of sizes / shapes. Simply bury part of it in the substrate and then cover the top with your substrate or moss and you’re good to go!
Fake Plants - Easy to get hold of, you’re not having to worry about keeping them alive & they’re usually very cheap! I have two options shown in my photo, a couple of coloured fish tank plants which I bought off of Amazon in a huge pack or a fake vine which you can get in most, if not all, reptile shops.
You CAN use real plants, but there are a lot of the you can’t use. Info on real plants will be provided in the guidance leaflets with your snail from me. These posts are just to show what’s needed to set up your enclosure before you get your snail. 🥰🐌💚
