Garden snails are great pets because they are easy to care for, and inexpensive to maintain.You need to change your snail's food daily and clean their shell to remove dirt and small pests.Making sure that your garden snail's shell is clean, undamaged, and that it stays in top shape is part of your cleaning routine.
Step 1: You can choose between a soft cloth, cotton swab, or toothbrush.
The tools have their own merits, and which one you choose depends on what kind of cleaning you need.No matter what tool you use, make sure it is free of chemicals and detergents.The cotton swab is the best choice if you need to do more detailed work.If you want to do a more genera wipe-down of the snail's shell, a soft cloth or thick tissue is best.If you need to clean your snail's shell, a soft-bristled toothbrush is the best choice.
Step 2: You can hold your snail in your hand.
When you hold your garden snail in the palm of your non-dominant hand, you will use your cloth, soft-bristled toothbrush, or cotton swab with your dominant hand.Don't let water get into the shell if you hold your snail in the palm of your hand.If you want your snail to walk on to your hand, you can put your finger near its head or put something in the palm of its hand.
Step 3: Do not apply too much pressure.
A snail is a mollusk, which means that it relies on its shell for protection.The outer layers of snail shells are firm, but the inner layers are soft, porous, and flexible.Don't press down on your snail's shell because it can easily crack.It is a good idea to let your snail walk on to your hand instead of picking them up with your fingers.
Step 4: The snail's shell needs to be washed.
Cleaning debris from your snail's shell will improve its health and quality of life.Consider that snails like to eat decaying food which is full ofbacteria, which you will need to remove regularly.The cloth, tissue, cotton swab, or soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to clean the shell.Don't use detergents.The underside of the shell needs to be cleaned.While cleaning with the dominant hand, hold your snail in the palm of your hand.
Step 5: Put your snail in a container.
To make sure the shell is clean, you need to rinse your snail off at least once.Hold the snail over a bowl and pour warm water on the shell.If you don't like pouring water over your snail's shell, fill a clean spray bottle with water and spray it.Land snails are not able to breathe under water.Don't pour water on the snail's head.You are only cleaning the shell.You should not put water in the snail's shell.Allow the shell to dry.
Step 6: You can give your snail a snack.
Plants, vegetables, fruits, and algae are some of the things garden snails love to eat.Keep the treat small so that you don't over feed your pet.Occasionally, garden snails like beer.Snails are attracted to high calcium foods because they need the mineral to build their shells.Some greens are great sources of calcium.
Step 7: Give them some air.
You will clean your snail over a bowl so that you can catch the water that falls off of them, and that they have a specific space in which to land if you accidentally drop them.If your snail should fall, fill the bowl with dry substrate, the same that you use in their tank, which will give a soft landing.
Step 8: You should not drown your snail.
You will need to rinse your snail with warm water at least twice in the cleaning process.You can't put garden snails under water because they can drown easily.A spray bottle can be used to apply water to your snail's shell instead of pouring it over them.A spray bottle filled with warm, not hot, water will give you better precision when applying water to your snail's shell.
Step 9: Don't push on your snail.
You can mist the snail with a spray bottle filled with warm water.Your goal is to encourage the snail to move.This stimulation may not be needed by more domesticated snails.If you put your finger in front of the snail's path, it will climb on to your hand or finger.Don't pull a snail by its shell.You could seriously hurt the animal by pulling on it.You want to avoid handling snails by their shells because of the risk of cracking their protective shell.
Step 10: Wear gloves if you want to wash your hands.
Wear gloves when you bathe your snail and wash your hands after touching it.Don't let a child touch a snail alone, as they may forget to wash their hands before touching their face, eyes, nose, or mouth.A host of potentially threatening issues can be passed along by snails.There are sanitary precautions you need to take when handling a snail.If you handle your snail without gloves, make sure you don't have anything on your hands that could be harmful to the animal.