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RedSidedSPR
10-18-2011, 10:40 AM
How does one go about de-shelling a snail?

Does anyone feed snails? Are there any unsafe snails?
guidofatherof5
10-18-2011, 11:00 AM
How does one go about de-shelling a snail?

Does anyone feed snails? Are there any unsafe snails?

Been years since I've done it but I just break the shell and pull them out.
I've watched baby dekayis eat them in the wild. They just pull them out of the shell.
I do believe they can carry some parasites, not sure the risk.
RedSidedSPR
10-18-2011, 11:01 AM
Parasites? Forget it. Moving on.:D
kibakiba
10-18-2011, 12:12 PM
My snakes get snails as a treat, I personally think parasite risk is pretty low, but that's my opinion. I just smack them with the end of a knife and peel it off.
RedSidedSPR
10-18-2011, 12:13 PM
I don't want to do it i don't think it's importan enough to risk it, so I'll stick to worms. Never feeding another slug either as my checkered almost died 10 minutes ago
kibakiba
10-18-2011, 12:25 PM
Slugs can also carry parasites. Theres a higher risk with slugs, probably, since they eat poop too.
infernalis
10-18-2011, 12:31 PM
Aquatic snails are TARGETED hosts to worms. in other words, the life cycle of certain roundworms depend on aquatic snails, making the risk substantially higher.

Non aquatic snails are not mentioned as a well known host, so the risk is lower. I have fed Dekayi snails from my lawn forever. Likely the same is true with slugs.

But with night crawlers, fish and rodents to chose from, I'd say slugs and snails as garter foods are not really worth the time effort or risk.
brain
10-23-2011, 10:50 AM
Aquatic snails are TARGETEDhosts to worms. In other words, the life cycle of certain roundworms depend onaquatic snails, making the risk substantially higher.

Non-aquatic snails are not mentioned as a well-known host, so the risk islower. I have fed Dekayi snails from my lawn forever. Likely the same is truewith slugs.

But with night crawlers, fish and rodents to choose from, I'd say slugs andsnails as garter foods are not really worth the time effort or risk.

Thanks for the heads up Wayne. I have been staking out a small pond on baseand have seen a few garters there with this bright yellow dorsal and there arejust loads of these water snails, which I presume, are the main staple of thesnake.

What type of snake would live in the NW and thrive in this aquatic enviroment, the Western Terrestrial T. elegans. But first I need to cathc one to cinfirm.

I had considered raising them but with this new info,maybe just catch document and release.
Mommy2many
10-25-2011, 05:28 PM
I hunt slugs for my Dekayi cause that is absolutely her favorite snack! Since she eats worms, I do have another option but sluggies are at the top of her list!
guidofatherof5
10-25-2011, 05:50 PM
De-shelling seems easiest when you use the small fork that is provided.
Once removed a quick dip in the garlic butter and enjoy.:D
RedSidedSPR
10-25-2011, 07:34 PM
yum yum.
brain
10-26-2011, 12:24 AM
De-shelling seems easiest when you use the small fork that is provided.
Once removed a quick dip in the garlic butter and enjoy.:D


:D:D

wrong snail Steve. thanks for the chuckel :D
kimbosaur
10-26-2011, 06:42 AM
Hey, would those escargots be okay to feed? They usually come frozen anyways. Or is it a similar deal to the whole frog legs thing?
guidofatherof5
10-26-2011, 07:31 AM
Seem like an expensive meal for a garter snake.:D
RedSidedSPR
10-26-2011, 07:56 AM
Yeah, really.:D
kimbosaur
10-26-2011, 11:39 AM
Im looking to add more variety to my snakes' diet because I really want to avoid feeding live foods - even if it is just a worm. It's a personal choice and paying more to add some variety is one of the consequences I guess. So could it work? :D
BUSHSNAKE
10-26-2011, 11:54 AM
i say stick to your efforts of offering a varied diet. i think the method is underestimated.
RedSidedSPR
11-03-2011, 02:43 PM
Yup I'm pro-variety.:D
kimbosaur
11-03-2011, 04:08 PM
Finding escargots has been such a mission. The only frozen ones are already pre-soaked in butter so I went for canned ones which are already pre-cooked. I realize they probably aren't very nutritionally rich but wanted to try anyways. One girl was hesitant at first but was eager to have more after taking her first piece. The other one wouldn't have anything to do with it.
katach
11-03-2011, 04:52 PM
Be careful about caned stuff. They usually add lots of sodium. Too much sodium could cause kidney failure.
kimbosaur
11-03-2011, 05:22 PM
I was trying to look out for that and I picked the brand with a much lower sodium content. It had 150mg of sodium per 60g portion so I didn't think it would be much of an issue. I also soaked the piece in water before feeding as a 'just in case'.

I don't think I will be feeding these often anyways - I just wanted to give them a shot. I will be keeping an eye out for fresh/frozen ones though.
katach
11-03-2011, 06:54 PM
Good idea!
d_virginiana
11-03-2011, 07:48 PM
Whaaattttt! I have never heard of canned snails before. My life is a little bit richer now.
guidofatherof5
11-03-2011, 07:58 PM
Whaaattttt! I have never heard of canned snails before. My life is a little bit richer now.

Carnivore Food for Reptiles: Zoo Med Reptile Can O' Foods at Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6458)
kimbosaur
11-03-2011, 08:04 PM
:eek: I didn't know they had them specially made for reptiles! I got mine from the grocery store! Would those be okay to feed more regularly? Like once-a-weekish?
guidofatherof5
11-03-2011, 08:22 PM
I would be afraid the ones for people have preservatives in them.
kimbosaur
11-03-2011, 08:27 PM
I meant the zoo-med ones - Are those okay on the regular? :D
guidofatherof5
11-03-2011, 08:32 PM
I tried them with my radixes once.
9 out of 10 discriminating radixes did not prefer them.
kimbosaur
11-03-2011, 09:09 PM
Hehe, now all I can picture is everybody in the group turning their noses up while the one little fatty does the radix equivalant to a shrug and goes "I'll eat it."Nevertheless, I shall give them a shot. I hope I get better results since I seem to be sending more on foods that dont work lately.
katach
11-03-2011, 10:52 PM
I think Petco and Petsmart carry them, you can order them online too I believe. The "Can-o" has several different kinds of food options.
RedSidedSPR
11-05-2011, 08:42 AM
Seem them in petsmart. Scared to try it.
kimbosaur
11-05-2011, 03:59 PM
Seem them in petsmart. Scared to try it.

How come?

I tried Bigals yesterday because they have it online. Apparently it's not in stores so I picked up another pack of Silversides instead of leaving empty-handed.

I will try Petsmart.
d_virginiana
11-05-2011, 06:14 PM
Our petsmart/petco is abysmally understocked for reptile supplies. If I didn't have to have them shipped, I might give it a try. The only thing I can count on finding is frog bedding which, incidentally, they refuse to use for their frogs, in favor of reptibark..
Right now we're planning a Thanksgiving celebration with chicken livers. (By 'we' I mean me and the snakes).
RedSidedSPR
11-06-2011, 06:37 PM
How come?

'Cause it's petsmart.
kimbosaur
01-04-2012, 09:16 AM
Finally ordered some "Cans o' Snails" online. The normal gulped it down enthusiastically straight from the can. The albino would only eat it after I tricked her into doing so by placing small pieces of salmon on a bigger chunk of snail.
thamneil
01-05-2012, 11:48 AM
I actually tried the canned exo terra snails on my litter of baby checkered garters. Every single baby snake was utterly disgusted and wanted nothing to do with the snails! The canned fish on the other hand...

-Neil
Selkielass
01-06-2012, 09:37 AM
Hehe, now all I can picture is everybody in the group turning their noses up while the one little fatty does the radix equivalant to a shrug and goes "I'll eat it."Nevertheless, I shall give them a shot. I hope I get better results since I seem to be sending more on foods that dont work lately.

That must be Mikey. Mikey'll eat it. Mikey'll eat anything...