Calcium for snails: what can I give and how to cook?

Achatina snails are fairly common aquarium pets. In order for them to grow up healthy and fully develop, their owner will have to organize proper feeding, as well as supplement the diet with all kinds of nutrients. One such supplement is calcium, which is vital for Achatina.

Snails in their natural habitats, as a rule, take care of themselves, getting calcium from natural sources. This element is necessary for them for the correct development of the shell, which consists of calcium and conhiolin. When an animal grows, its glands secrete substances for the construction of the shell, and it becomes stronger and harder. The mollusk, receiving calcium, starts the process of its processing and builds up the shell. Moreover, this element of the snail consumes not only from food, but also due to its sole.

If there is not enough calcium in the body of the mollusk, the following occurs:

• the shell becomes dull and brittle;
• the snail stops growing;
• the mollusk can begin to gnaw on the shells of its brethren;
• if the shell is damaged, the process of its restoration will be very long;
• it is difficult or almost impossible for a snail to lay eggs.

To rid the snails of shell problems, they need to be given calcium carbonate regularly. Let's see what pets can offer.

• Seashells. Such a shell rock can be purchased already crushed, and there should not be any impurities in the composition. The percentage of calcium here is about 40.Many owners do not speak very well about shells, since they are primarily intended for feeding livestock, which means that they are not too small. Additionally, they will have to be crushed and grinded at home, for this a high-power coffee grinder should be used.

• Dolomite flour. This is a product that is also widely used in gardening. It is obtained by grinding dolomite - a natural material from the class of carbonates. Dolomite flour perfectly affects the health of Achatina: saturates their body with potassium and magnesium, strengthens the shell, and prevents the propagation of pathogenic microflora. A very cheap tool that you can buy at any pet store.

• Feed chalk. This is an excellent source of calcium, which can be served in a mixture with other products, since the chalk contains many lumps that can stick to the body of the cochlea. Such a tool does not spoil, so you can buy it for the future. In most cases, chalk is found in the form of powder, but sometimes you can see large pieces, they will also be useful for snails.

• Cuttlefish shell In another way, such a source is called sepia. Most often it is sold for parrots, but you can also use it for snails, since the calcium content is quite high - about 35%. In the aquarium, the shell is placed whole, so that the snails can entertain themselves by gnawing it.

• Eggshell. The most simple and affordable source of calcium, which is definitely found in every home. The shell is suitable only for raw eggs, thoroughly washed before use. Boiled will lose a significant portion of nutrients. You can use shells from both chicken and quail eggs.

• Shop preparations. If none of the above sources are at hand or you don’t want to grind products, you can always turn to store tools. They contain the same materials, only in finished form, for example, in powders or tablets. Pets should be given to them following the manufacturer's instructions.

Many beginner owners of Achatina are interested in the question, how much calcium should be given to snails and whether there will be problems from its overabundance. There will be no problems, because the snail will eat exactly as much as it needs. Access to calcium should be around the clock, you don’t need to worry that the pet will overeat, recover or die.

Calcium does not happen much, so you can additionally offer snails the following products containing it in small numbers:

• bird feeding, as well as bone meal - snails are very fond of these products, but they need to be given once a week, before making sure that the expiration date is true;
• sesame and sunflower seeds, rice grains, nuts - they also give not too often, they grind well before feeding (peanuts should not be);
• lettuce and cabbage - the leaves are washed well, and the cabbage must first be scalded with boiling water.

In addition, the owner of Achatina needs to monitor not only a sufficient amount of calcium, but also its proper absorption. To do this, from time to time to file:

• nettle, dandelion or alfalfa greens;
• low-fat sea fish;
• milk.

It is completely easy to make a calcium mixture at home. Consider a few popular recipes with the right proportions.

For this you need following ingredients:

• 1 part of feed chalk;
• 1 part of hercules;
• as many eggshells.

All components are placed in a blender or coffee grinder and thoroughly ground to a state of a homogeneous powder mass. The resulting composition will last for a long time, since it does not have an expiration date.

This product is an excellent budget source of calcium for Achatina. But it needs to be prepared correctly:

• the eggs wash well, they should not have traces of feathers, droppings, other dirt;
• the shell is removed, the film is removed from the inside;
• the product is placed on a towel and dried in place without direct sunlight for a couple of days;
• after this time, the shells must be ground and poured into a sealed container.

This is a very popular recipe, many reviews suggest that the snail eats such a mixture very willingly, and its shell becomes strong.

Composition (all in equal parts):

• finished eggshell;
• dry oatmeal or oatmeal;
• gammarus crustaceans;
• raw rice grains;
• food chalk.

As in previous recipes, the ingredients need to be combined and ground.

One of the most favorite treats among Achatina snails. You need to give the finished product a little, a couple of times a week, and if the pets have not eaten it, remove it. We draw your attention to the fact that this product is more good for snails, a week is a complete top dressing, therefore, it should not be limited to it in any case.

Ingredients:

• half a liter of milk;
• 10 mg of calcium chloride (in ampoules).

The solution is added to milk, and then the resulting mixture will need to be boiled. The boiled product is poured into a colander and allowed to drain the serum. When this process is over, the cottage cheese is folded in a pan and placed in the refrigerator.

Some snail breeders, just beginning to get acquainted with these pets, mistakenly believe that calcium chloride in the form of tablets, solutions, and vitamins intended for humans can be given to achatins. But it is worth considering that such decisions will do more harm than good. Consider several products that should be offered with great care or not purchased at all.

• Construction chalk. Such chalk is different from food chalk, there will definitely be cement leftovers that will not give the snail anything good. The same applies to school chalk, which contains many unnecessary components, including dyes.
• Products intended for feeding other animals. We are talking about bird and turtle mixtures. Calcium, of course, is there, but in addition to it there are other components that are useful, for example, for birds, but doubtful in the case of snails. Be sure to carefully study the composition of such products.
• Calcium gluconate. This is a tablet preparation that is well suited for human use, but for snails it can be dangerous. In addition, it is also meaningless, since there is very little calcium in it, and it is clearly not enough to feed Achatina.

Achatina snails are quiet and calm pets that can deliver many pleasant minutes with simple observation. All they need is a minimal care from the owner, as well as the right diet with all the necessary additives.

See below for how to prepare a grain-mix mixture for Achatina.