Snails Food Test #001
Introduction:
Today we are examining what kind of food our snails like to eat.
The Question:
Do snails prefer carrots, cucumber, lettuce, or onions?
Materials:
1. Terrarium
2. Rescue Center Snails – all 20
3. One piece of carrot
4. One piece of cucumber
5. One piece of lettuce
6. One piece of onion
Procedure:
1. Wash terrarium with snail safe, sensitive skin dish soap. Rinse well.
2. Place vegetables on one end of the terrarium.
3. Place all snails on the opposite end of the terrarium.
4. Close the lid of the terrarium.
5. Record observations every hour.
Observations:
8:00 am — At 8:00 am, the outside air temperature was 12C with 70% humidity, and the weather was cloudy. We put all the snails into the terrarium on the opposite side of the vegetables. We saw 4 snails go up the sides of the terrarium. We saw 4 snails investigate the onion, avoid it, and go somewhere else. Two of those snails actually put out their eyestalks, quickly brought them back in, and left the onion.
9:00 am — All is well.
10:00 am — By 10:00 am, the outside air temperature was 14C with 60% humidity, and the weather was cloudy. We have observed 4 snails munch the cucumber, 3 snails munch the carrot, and 2 snails munch the lettuce. No snails have gone near the onion (or above it) since the initial 4 snails at 8:00 am. All the snails have left the initial drop spot, and two have returned. The snails have spread out evenly throughout the terrarium, yet most are near several other snails. Most of the snails are resting along the lid or the top vents.
11:00 am — The snails were sleepy – none were moving, and they were all in their shells: 1 was under the cucumber, 1 was under the carrot, 1 was under lettuce, 5 were near the drop spot on the wall, and the rest (12) were on the lid of the terrarium. When the lid was opened to take the photo, 5 snails fell off the lid; none landed near the onion.
12:00 noon — By 12:00 noon, the outside air temperature was 18C with 50% humidity, and the weather was cloudy with some sunshine. The terrarium was in the sunlight. There were 2 snails under the cucumber, 1 under the flipped over carrot, and 2 under the lettuce. The rest of the snails (15) were on lid and the walls, away from the onion. One snail was on the lid screen: it was the first one we have seen actually on the screen, yet still not above the onion.
1:00 pm — All is well. The weather was sunny, however, the terrarium was back in the shade.
2:00 pm — By 2:00 pm, the outside air temperature was 18C with 45% humidity, and the weather was cloudy with some sunshine. All the snails were in the same position, and the terrarium was still in the shade.
3:00 pm — All is well.
4:00 pm — By 4:00 pm the outside air temperature was still at 18C, which was the day’s highest temperature. The humidity was 42%, which was the day’s lowest humidity. The weather was slightly cloudy with lots of bright, warm sunshine. All the snails were sleeping in the same position, and the terrarium was still in the shade.
5:00 pm — All is well.
6:00 pm — At 6:00 pm, the outside air temperature was 17C with 50% humidity, and the weather was sunny and cloudy. The snails were in the same positions. At this time, we noticed that the carrot had been flipped back over to its initial position.
7:00 pm — All is well.
8:00 pm — At 8:00 pm, the sun was setting and the snails were starting to move around.
Conclusion:
1. Our snails liked cucumber, carrots, and lettuce.
2. Overall, they weren’t very hungry during the day time.
3.They did not like onions, and they avoided the onion for all 12 hours.
4. Snails spend a lot of the day time sleeping.
Observations Requiring Further Study:
Q: No snails went on the lid screen above the onion. Many snails preferred to be near the air vents. Was this behavior because of the onion and its smell, or do snails prefer to be near the air vents anyway?
Q: The carrot was flipped over and flipped back. To what extent do snails move objects around, and is this done on purpose or by accident?
Recommendations:
1. Snails will eat cucumber, carrots, and lettuce.
2. Snails will not eat onions. Do not give pet snails onions.
3. Make sure pet snails have good ventilation and fresh air.
