Adding calcium for snail health

[Confetto]

I've had Zamboni (mystery snail) for about a week now and I believe things are going well. He has tackled a lot of the algae issue I was having and Miso (betta) for the most part, has accepted his new tank mate. I find him floating around the tank attached to my frogbit like Mary Poppins/Yondo! 

When I bought Zamboni, the CSR at my fish store mentioned nothing about feeding & care for snails - "just toss 'em in"  they said. That much I know is not true.

I'm feeding Zamboni a mini algae waffle every other day. The back wall of the tank does not get scraped so there's plenty to nibble. I know he'll need calcium for shell health... Should I get Zoo Med Nano Banquet Food Blocks or mini Magic Shell? And how often does he need them?

My alkalinity level in my 3gal runs very low - less than 40 ppm. pH is neutral, nitrite and nitrate levels are safe & the GH level is 75 ppm (soft) according to my Tetra testing strips. I have assorted anubias and a bucephalandra that I treat with Easy Green once a week. 

 

[MattyM]

I was noticing my snails getting to a certain size, then their shell would look like it was eroding and then they'd die/disappear. 

A month or 2 ago I added cuttlebone to my tanks, and no more problems. I also drop some crab cuisine in here and there, which has calcium - I think it's been good for my amanos as well. 

[TOtrees]

I like the zoo med dr turtle tabs. The softer your water is, the faster they dissolve, so they’re kind of self-dosing. 

Also +1 on the cuttlebone suggestion. 

And you can feed foods high in calcium like spinach. 

Another option is “snello”: https://steemit.com/snails/@snailshack/for-the-aquatic-snail-keeper-snello-recipe

[Flumpweesel]

I have just added cuttlebone to my shrimp tank. Time will tell how that pans out for my snails.

I have hight ph and soft water so some mineralisation is required. I try to provide that with tinned vegges and shrimp formula dried food in all my tanks

[JJenna]

On 1/3/2023 at 4:18 PM, MattyM said:

I also drop some crab cuisine in here and there, which has calcium - I think it's been good for my amanos as well. 

The crab cuisine brings everyone to the table at once in my tank...first the amanos, then the hillstreams and otos and now the endlers are picking at it 😊

[Cinnebuns]

You have a lot of good suggestions here. I would just like to add that wonder shells are for adding calcium to the water not for them to eat. It's still also important to have calcium in the water. You may rarely see them grazing on a wonder shell but not very often at all. 

[T. Payne]

You can also use tums. They will eat them and use the calcium for their shells. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:48 PM, T. Payne said:

You can also use tums. They will eat them and use the calcium for their shells. 

I would advise against Tums. They have added ingredients (flavorings and food coloring) that you don’t necessarily want in your water. I use wondershell, cuttlebone, crab cuisine, egg shells (baked then powdered), banquet food blocks, and calcium carbonate. I put the eggshells or calcium carbonate into “Snello”, but some people put the powdered eggshells directly into the tank (powdered so no sharp edges).

Snails may not be able to utilize the calcium in spinach due to the iron, which is true for reptiles.

My snello:

 

 

[T. Payne]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:58 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I would advise against Tums. They have added ingredients (flavorings and food coloring) that you don’t necessarily want in your water. I use wondershell, cuttlebone, crab cuisine, egg shells (baked then powdered), banquet food blocks, and calcium carbonate. I put the eggshells or calcium carbonate into “Snello”, but some people put the powdered eggshells directly into the tank (powdered so no sharp edges).

Snails may not be able to utilize the calcium in spinach due to the iron, which is true for reptiles.

They certainly do have additives, with that being said, I have been using them for 20 years and have yet to have an issue.  If I am not mistaken I believe Cory has said that he has used them before as well. 

[Guppysnail]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:58 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I would advise against Tums. They have added ingredients (flavorings and food coloring) that you don’t necessarily want in your water.

I agree completely with this statement. Calcium chips are about comparable price wise to tums and contain spirulina the snails love. Crayfish empire on their site or on eBay. Zoomed nano banquet blocks with the shrimp photo on the front. Other foods offered by crayfish empire also contain a lot of edible calcium and other important things for snails. 

[Rube_Goldfish]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:58 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I would advise against Tums. They have added ingredients (flavorings and food coloring) that you don’t necessarily want in your water. I use wondershell, cuttlebone, crab cuisine, egg shells (baked then powdered), banquet food blocks, and calcium carbonate. I put the eggshells or calcium carbonate into “Snello”, but some people put the powdered eggshells directly into the tank (powdered so no sharp edges).

Snails may not be able to utilize the calcium in spinach due to the iron, which is true for reptiles.

My snello:

 

 

That looked pretty good right up until it was puréed into that greenish color. But the molds make it look adorable!

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/4/2023 at 6:18 PM, Guppysnail said:

Zoomed nano banquet blocks with the shrimp photo on the front.

Link

[A3M0N]

I put cuttlebone in my tank a couple months ago, but my single mystery snail has never touched it, that I've seen at least. Maybe it gets enough calcium from the algae wafers I've been giving him. I plan to make a simple snello soon though, should be interesting! 

[BlueLineAquaticsSC]

On 1/4/2023 at 6:03 PM, T. Payne said:

They certainly do have additives, with that being said, I have been using them for 20 years and have yet to have an issue.  If I am not mistaken I believe Cory has said that he has used them before as well. 

I can second this, I use tums in my tanks and did in fact get the idea from a Cory video, it was one of those quick tip videos. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/4/2023 at 11:19 PM, A3M0N said:

I put cuttlebone in my tank a couple months ago, but my single mystery snail has never touched it, that I've seen at least. Maybe it gets enough calcium from the algae wafers I've been giving him. I plan to make a simple snello soon though, should be interesting! 

That’s ok, it slowly releases calcium into the water for him.

easiest Snello = Repashy + calcium carbonate

cheaper = Repashy + powdered eggshells 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/5/2023 at 1:51 AM, BlueLineAquaticsSC said:

I can second this, I use tums in my tanks and did in fact get the idea from a Cory video, it was one of those quick tip videos. 

It's a matter of personal preference, really.  I like to provide more natural foods for my creatures.  ie: I can give hot dogs to a dog every day and they have protein the dog needs, and the dog really likes them, but I don't feel it's the best I can do for my pet long term.

On 1/4/2023 at 6:18 PM, Guppysnail said:

Calcium chips are about comparable price wise to tums and contain spirulina the snails love

If these are similar in price, why not go for these instead of a medication made for humans?

Edited January 5, 2023 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/3/2023 at 5:39 PM, TOtrees said:

Another option is “snello”: https://steemit.com/snails/@snailshack/for-the-aquatic-snail-keeper-snello-recipe

I like this @TOtrees. I'm going to try it out w/ the calcium carbonate powder. Thanks for sharing!

[TOtrees]

On 1/5/2023 at 1:24 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I like this @TOtrees. I'm going to try it out w/ the calcium carbonate powder. Thanks for sharing!

It’s basically repashy, but home made and way more focused on snail needs. I used to add finely grated raw carrot for carotenoids, and spirulina powder as well. 

For preparation, you can pour it into an ice cube tray or baking molds, or pour it out onto parchment paper, freeze it, then let it thaw just a bit and slice/cube it. Slicing it while still mostly frozen allows it to go back in the freezer and the pieces won’t stick to one another. Also way tidier. 

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

On 1/5/2023 at 2:24 PM, TOtrees said:

finely grated raw carrot

My mystery snails go crazy for carrots! 
 

[Guppysnail]

On 1/5/2023 at 2:42 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

My mystery snails go crazy for carrots! 
 

Mine to

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

I like to use Soilent Green Repashy. The first ingredient is spirulina. It has high protein as well.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea

[Confetto]

I can just toss a bit of carrot into the tank?? Are purple carrots ok?

[PerceptivePesce]

On 1/5/2023 at 2:13 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

I like to use Soilent Green Repashy. The first ingredient is spirulina. It has high protein as well.

I was just about to ask you which repashy. Thank you!  How much caco3 do you add to a batch?  (Do you use a whole bottle of 3oz or 6oz when you make a batch?)

@Chick-In-Of-TheSeaone more question. How much water do you use? I add extra, because it's way too thick to work with using the instructions on the label.  It starts setting up before I can even wet all the powder

[Rube_Goldfish]

On 1/5/2023 at 6:49 PM, Confetto said:

I can just toss a bit of carrot into the tank?? Are purple carrots ok?

It might be better to blanch or parboil it first to soften it up a bit.

[PerceptivePesce]

I've had this question in my head for awhile now:

Have yall ever frozen leafy greens and then defrosted them? I did that once, like 20 years ago.  It wilts the lettuce.  So, my question is: Instead of parboiling leafy greens, could the lettuce be stored in the freezer and fed after defrosting?  I assume the point of parboiling leafy greens is to make them tender (soggy) for easier snail munching.