Snail Farm

[jkrekord]

Hello
Well i'll get stright to the point, i have long wanted a dwarf puffer set up, and it is definatley something i will do some time in the future. I have a barrel in the back garde which s about 10 - 12 gallons, and what i would like to do is use it as a snail farm. The aim is to eventualy use the snails as dwarf puffer food, but i really like the idea of haveing the little snail farm, however there is a major problem, the barrel (and snails) have to stay outdoors, meaning they would need to be able to survive cold temperatures. I would like the simple little pest snails that appear in tropical tanks (these would be easy to aqquire freely at my lfs, plus from what i've heard they are ideal for dwarf puffer) but im unsure if they could survive outside, could they? What species of snail would be suitable for my plan? Also i can't add a heater to the barrel , i might be able to add a bubbler....but i doubt it!

To simplify my questions are...
Can the common pest snails survive outside in cold weather?
What other species may be suitable? (remembering the lack of equipment)



Thanks in advance
James

 

[J4MES]

pond snails. they can survive anything and are the best for your puffers.

J4MES

 

[Jamesham]

Hi, as far as I'm aware the common pest snail is 100% fine. If you got some out of your LFS and dropped them in the barrel they should breed very quickly. You dont need a heater or bubble machine! If you leave the barrel for 2-3 weeks after then you should have about 30 or more snails. Just drop in a bit of grass or something sutible for them to eat once in a while. My only concern is how you are going to get them out. If it is a barrel then you wont be able to see them as they are so small.

 

[Jamesham]

Hi, as far as I'm aware the common pest snail is 100% fine. If you got some out of your LFS and dropped them in the barrel they should breed very quickly. You dont need a heater or bubble machine! If you leave the barrel for 2-3 weeks after then you should have about 30 or more snails. Just drop in a bit of grass or something sutible for them to eat once in a while. My only concern is how you are going to get them out. If it is a barrel then you wont be able to see them as they are so small.

 

[jkrekord]

Lol no its nto that sort of barrel just unsure how else to describe it...its more....a gigantic bucket lol. I will research the pond snails

 

[jkrekord]

BUMP

right from my research concerning pest snails, it says they can't live in temparatures less than 3 degrees celsius. The water outised is guaranteed to freeze sometimes and although i will try and prevent this it will happen, and i dont think peest snails would survive, what would survive?

 

[J4MES]

erm well i have them in a pond outside and it freezes over in the winter and they are ok. Do you have a garage or shed you could put the barrel in?

J4MES

 

[jkrekord]

No afraid not. Im thinking of possibly tyring to mix them and pond snails over 1 year and see how each species survives, then if one species is decimated, i know to stick to just the other species.

 

[shaz3271]

No afraid not. Im thinking of possibly tyring to mix them and pond snails over 1 year and see how each species survives, then if one species is decimated, i know to stick to just the other species.

ramshorns can survive in a pond over winter, there temprature range is between 5 and 26 degrees celcius , not sure if they will survive in a barrel but its worth a try.

sharon

 

[jkrekord]

The other thing i need to take into account is they need to be good for dwarf puffer food, which is the long term future plan. And im not sure if a dwarf puffer could bite through a ramshorn shell?