How to Keep Snails in a Jar

Snails are fun and interesting to keep as pets, so if you’re looking for something different and less conventional, they could be the right choice. They’re also relatively easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginners looking to learn more about keeping terrariums.

How to Keep Snails in a Jar

There are many ways to keep snails as pets, but one of the easiest and most inexpensive is to put them in a jar. You’ll need a glass jar or container, some rocks or gravel, some potting soil, some plants (real or fake), and of course, a snail.

To begin, wash the jar and any plants you’ll be using with warm water to remove dirt or other debris. Then, add a layer of rocks or gravel to the bottom of the jar for drainage and some potting soil. You can also add a few plants for color and interest, like lettuce or cabbage, but be sure that the plant material you choose is safe for snails, as they could become infected with pesticides or other chemicals.

Then, set the jar in a place with indirect sunlight but not direct sun. This will help the snails stay cool, since they do not tolerate sudden temperature changes.

You can put in a small piece of egg shell or natural chalk as well to offer the snails calcium and other minerals. You can also use wet or dry cat or dog food or even tortoise food to feed the snails.

Snails don’t need much in the way of food, so you can give them a small amount once a day and let them decide how much they want to eat. They’re also herbivores, so you can feed them a variety of fresh dandelion greens, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and other vegetables.

It’s important to remember that snails need a source of calcium in order to build their shells, so you can also sprinkle finely ground eggshells or cuttlebones over their food. You can find these at pet stores, but be sure to check the ingredients on the package to make sure they don’t contain anything that will harm your snails.

Once the jar is filled with potting soil and plants, you can fill it up with water and put in your snails. Make sure you put the lid on to prevent them from escaping and hurting themselves.