Brenda, at the next desk over, found the cutest little snail (less than a centimeter long) in her salad at lunch today, so we have adopted it as our office mascot (approriately, considering how fast we get our work done). But neither of us know anything about the care & handling of snails!
It is currently residing in the lid of the salad container, with a little puddle of water to splash about in. But what do snails eat? And is tap water bad for them?
Given that the little bugger was found in a salad, it’s a safe bet that your new pal likes lettuce. And as anyone who has a garden knows, they’re pretty adaptable as to what other veggies they like to eat. Chlorinated tap water is unlikely to harm your pet snail; garden snails certainly don’t seem inclined to die off after having the hose turned on them.
Thanks. It’s just sitting there and hasn’t moved in half an hour, so we’re not sure it’s alive.
Then again, I haven’t moved in half an hour, either.
As I recall, the romans had a big snail appetite and would raise snails on basil and other herbs so their flavor would improve.
If you want to fatten up for Sunday dinner, you could feed it cornmeal. Just sprinkle some around and it’ll vaccuum it right up. That’s the recommended way for feeding free-range snails that you catch for escargot. They live off of corn meal for a week or two, and that gets all the poisons out of their systems.
Would crumbled-up corm muffins work?
Snails like to swim around in a nice lemon-butter sauce with a little chopped parsley after you saute, er, after they take a quick trip to the sauna.
Snails are drawn to alcohol like moths to a flame. The attraction is equally fatal.
Obviously, the snail needs moist conditions. Lettuce should get Mr S through the day.
Snail Fact-Snails have neither teeth nor jaws. Instead, they use a specialized tongue, covered in hard, edged, bumps to file away at food. This organ is called a radula.
Eve-When I first learned that fact, I heard the voice of Bela Lugosi announce “Good evening, I am Count Radula.”
Perhaps together we can finish my children’s book of the fearsome undead escargo?
Am I the only person that is somewhat disturbed that Eve’s co-worker found a snail in her salad?
Oh, and I have to know. Does the snail have a shell?
They’re so cute when they have their shells!
I kind of wonder if maybe she missed some of them.
A snail with out a shellis a slug.
get him (him?!) some grass from a lawn too. I used to keep snails as a kid when I found them after the rain, and I’d give them lettuce and grass. I never kept them too long and released them, but I think they ate that!
IIRC Slugs and snails are true hermaphrodites. Each snail may be either the impregnater or the impregnated. How these roles are decided continues to baffle scientists. My observation of eye stalk movement prior to copulation has led me to hypothesize-they play rock, paper, scissors for it.
Only some of them. I’m not sure about the common garden/escargot type snail.
I sit corrected.
Put a mirror under his nose.
Some of the pages give conflicting information.
However, My preliminary conclusions-
Land snails are hermaphrodites. Some aquatic species are sexually dimorphous.
During the day, the snail withdraws into its shells and seals the entrance with mucus. It will emerge at night to feed. It also seals itself up if conditions become too dry.
this page gives basic dietary and behavioral information.
However, the specific breeding information conflicts with some other land snail sites I’ve read.
I must do more surfing to uncover the truth.
Wow. Sometimes the wonder of living and the miracles of science are seen in a meteor shower, or a fosssil. But, sometimes they’re seen in the sexual activities of mucus balls in shells
On A Note Other Folks May Actually Care About-
After some searching, it seems that some species of snail can reproduce all by themselves. Watch for baby snails.
Snail Fact-Some snails lay eggs through the sides of their heads.
Snail Fact-Some snails give birth to live young.
I kept snails as a kid, too.
The salad container could be Speedy’s new home, or maybe a clear plastic shoe box. Punch some air holes in the lid, and put moist paper towels on the bottom. Snails like humidity. Mine liked big lettuce leaves; not only are they good to eat, but you can hide under them if you’re feeling shy. Give him uncooked oatmeal now and then for protein–just one or two grains.
Snails can live through practically anything. The little guy is probably perfectly fine but too frightened to crawl around right now. Once he gets accustomed to people, you should see him out and about in his house. And do leave the lid on if no one’s watching him: they’re faster than you’d think.
Oh, and a piece of limestone. He can lick it with that sandpapery tongue for calcium.
Surprised nobody has corrected me on this.
Apparently it’s not the alcohol in beer that attracts snails. It’s the yeast. Nor is the alcohol fatal. They simply drown…
Well, it’s 2 am.
I’m going to bed. I expect some bizarre dreams after seeing all those gastropod sites.