Snails. They’re tiny. They’re adorable. And though they move at the speed of drying paint, they’re certainly a lot of fun to watch.
But do snails make good pets?
That depends on what you want in an animal companion!
Read on to find out whether or not a snail is the ideal pet for you!
Why Snails Make Good Pets
Do you want an affectionate animal companion who’ll form a deep, lifelong bond with you? Whom you can enjoy fun activities with and who’ll encourage you to get your butt off the sofa and spend some time in the sun? Then a snail isn’t the pet for you.
But if you want a pet that won’t take much effort to care for or burn a hole through your wallet, then you’ll love having a snail to call your own.
With that in mind, here are the reasons why snails make good pets.
1. Snails are inexpensive
Pet snails can be bought from pet stores for as little as $3 to $7. This is a pittance compared to how much an “ordinary” pet such as a dog or cat will cost you, with the least expensive dog costing an average of $275 and the cheapest cat around $50.
True, some online stores sell snails for as high as $50. However, you should also consider maintenance costs, and this is where snails once again come out on top.
Keeping a pet dog or cat means regularly spending money on food, medical examinations and treatments, pet carriers, toys, and other items and services necessary to ensure their safety and happiness.
With a snail, however, you won’t have to pay for much. All you need to buy is a snail habitat, which can be anything from a plastic box to an aquarium. Food and health maintenance aren’t big issues, either, which brings us to…
2. Snails are easy to take care of
Snails are incredibly low-maintenance pets. You don’t have to walk them, play with them, or train them. You won’t have to worry about them destroying your furniture or other possessions; they won’t soil your rug or bed, either, so cleaning up after them is a cakewalk. You don’t even have to show them affection (though this doesn’t mean you should neglect them or treat them cruelly). As long as you give your snail a home, food, and drink, it will take care of itself.
Generally speaking, a terrestrial snail is easier to take care of than an aquatic snail. This is because the latter needs to live in an aquatic environment, which can be challenging to maintain for first-time snail owners. All a terrestrial snail needs is a small enclosure with some soil, vegetation, and rocks—all of which you can find in your garden or yard. You can also place a tiny food bowl in this enclosure to make cleaning up after your pet more convenient.
Speaking of food, snails enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. However, you don’t have to go out of your way to buy food specifically for your pet. Any leftover food in your fridge will do—just make sure to wash it thoroughly before giving it to your tiny friend. Snails don’t even eat or drink a lot, so you only have to feed and water your pet once a day—something even a child can do.
For all these reasons, a snail is the ideal pet for extremely busy people who can’t spend more than a few minutes per day caring for an animal.
3. Snails don’t take up a lot of space
In general, it’s ideal to provide a 1-inch snail with a 1-gallon tank to call home. This enclosure is small enough that it can fit on your desk.
Other than this, a snail doesn’t need any more space to thrive. Snails are extremely simple creatures that don’t get bored or lonely, so you don’t need to let your pet out of its enclosure to roam your house or play in the yard. It doesn’t need to cuddle with you on the sofa. It doesn’t even need to be petted.
4. Snails are quiet
If you’ve ever lived with a dog, then chances are you’ve been woken up in the middle of the night by their persistent barking. Or maybe your dog made so much noise that your neighbors complained.
Cats aren’t much better. Have you ever heard them fight? It’s not pleasant to the ears. And the racket they make during mating is even worse.
In contrast, you won’t hear a peep from a snail. These creatures don’t have vocal cords, so it’s impossible for them to make even the tiniest squeak. A snail only makes sounds when it’s eating—but that’s not even the animal itself speaking, but the crunching of the food. You may also be able to hear it retracting into its shell. Nevertheless, these are quiet noises that won’t disturb you, let alone your neighbors.
5. Snails are easy and safe to handle
This will blow your mind, but snails actually have teeth. Thousands of them.
Thankfully, these teeth are so tiny that you won’t feel any pain or suffer any injury if a snail ever bites you.
In fact, snails are extremely easy and safe to handle. They won’t struggle, scratch you, accidentally kick you in the face, knock things off the table, or do other annoying/potentially harmful things dogs and cats are known for. This makes them great pets for kids!
How about snail slime? Is it toxic?
No. Snail slime is simply mucus that the species uses for lubrication that makes movement easier.
However, it is possible for snails to transmit diseases. More on this below!
6. Snails are fascinating to observe
There’s no getting around it: snails are weird-looking creatures. After all, they’re related to the octopus, a creature so bizarre it’s convinced some conspiracy theorists that it’s from outer space.
Because snails don’t look or behave like common household pets, they’re a lot of fun to watch. When was the last time you saw a dog defy gravity by gliding up a vertical wall or sticking upside down on the ceiling? Do cats have tentacles or lay eggs? Snails are interesting because they’re so unlike what we’re used to.
If you have kids, you can be sure your snail will be a hit with them, as children are usually drawn to strange creatures and things. Snails can even be educational!
Can Snails Make Bad Pets?
True, snails can make great pets. However, there are a few things about them that you need to keep in mind.
1. Snails can harbor disease-causing parasites
Many wild snails have parasites and germs that can make you or your other pets ill. This is why it’s not always a good idea to just grab a snail from your garden to keep as a pet.
However, even some snails purchased from pet stores can harbor infectious pathogens.
To ensure your health, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling a snail. You should also wash any part of your body the snail touches.
Do not, for any reason, put a live snail in your mouth or anywhere near your lips!
2. Snails are fragile creatures
Snails are extremely delicate creatures that can die from poor handling.
Remember what we said about washing your hands well after touching a snail? Well, you should also do this before touching a snail. Why? Because any chemicals on your hands may be toxic to it. The lotion you use to keep your hands silky smooth could make your pet sick or even kill it.
You could even seriously injure a snail if you pick it up by the shell. This can damage the muscular structure responsible for keeping the snail’s body attached to the shell.
So what’s the right way to pick up a snail? Slightly wet your hands, then scoop your pet up from under its foot.
3. Snails could disrupt the ecosystem
Snails are essential to a healthy ecosystem. For example, they aid in the decomposition process of plants and help in the nitrification of soil. Taking a snail from your yard or garden can therefore adversely impact the health of your plants and even the animals in your area—another reason not to kidnap a wild snail from its natural habitat.
However, accidentally or purposely releasing a pet snail from its enclosure can also disrupt the natural balance in your region. If a single disease-carrying snail escapes into the wild, it can transmit said disease to countless other animals. In optimal conditions, snails can also reproduce and multiply quickly, which can cause widespread damage to plant and animal life. For these reasons, make sure your pet snail is always secure in its enclosure.
FAQs About Pet Snails
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about snails as pets!
Is it legal to own a snail?
Yes! However, there are some snail species that you can’t legally own in the U.S. For instance, the U.S. prohibits the keeping giant African land snails as pets, as these are an invasive species that can wreak havoc on crops.
Don’t try importing a snail from another country before checking your state’s laws regarding which species you’re allowed to have as a pet.
How long do snails live?
In captivity, snails can live up to 25 years. Wild snails typically live up to 10 years.
What is the best kind of snail to keep as a pet?
Garden snails are among the most sought-after snails among pet lovers. These can grow up to 1.5 inches long.
Orthalicus tree snails are also quite popular. They’re quite large, with some reaching over 2 inches in length.
Check your state’s laws and regulations to find out what other types of snail species you can own.
What do snails eat?
Snails enjoy fresh vegetables, fruits, and leaves. Try giving them:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Basil
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Cucumbers
- Dandelion greens
- Mushrooms
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
Snails also need calcium to keep their shells healthy, so feed them dried, crushed eggshells without the membrane. Cuttlefish bones, which can be purchased from pet stores, are also a great source of calcium.
You can also give your pet snail food.
Don’t give your snail too much to eat lest the excess food spoils. Remove any rotten food from its enclosure as soon as possible.
What foods should snails avoid?
Don’t feed snails the following foods:
- Avocados
- Celeries
- Citrus foods
- Leeks
- Onions
- Rhubarb
- Salt or salty foods
How often should snails be fed and watered?
Snails only eat once a day. Remove any food your pet doesn’t promptly eat before it spoils.
Feed your pet various foods so that it can benefit from a rich assortment of nutrients.
You should also give it clean, fresh water for drinking and bathing. Yes, snails love taking baths!
What should a snail habitat contain?
Put some damp dirt, small rocks, leaves, and sticks in your snail’s enclosure. Snails like having places to hide in and things to climb.
While the enclosure should have no large openings your snail can crawl out of, do ensure it has tiny holes for ventilation. You don’t want your pet to suffocate!
How many snails should I get?
While a single snail will be fine on its own, it won’t hurt to get it another snail as a companion. However, make sure they’re the same species, because some species have diseases that can harm other species.
Keep in mind that if you have more than one snail, they could end up reproducing. Most terrestrial snails are hermaphrodites, so every individual has the reproductive organs of both males and females.
Two snails can therefore make hundreds of eggs at a time, which can be a nightmare for anyone who isn’t ready to take over the world with a snail army. If you don’t want your snails making babies, remove the eggs they produce from their enclosure.
The more snails you have, the bigger their habitat should be. Ideally, the enclosure should be as large as 1 gallon for every inch of snail.
Conclusion
If you want a low-maintenance animal companion, then go to a pet store and get yourself a snail. These amazing creatures are fun yet convenient to keep as pets, needing only a small enclosure and some food and water to thrive. And as long as you observe cleanliness routines and keep your snail secure within their home, both you and your tiny friend can enjoy many memorable years together.