Paul & Emma - A question about vermiculite

[snailgal]

I think Emmas idea of using vermiculite is an excellent one, not only does it hold water effectively but also it would not stick to their shells the way compost does and I think it looks nicer too. My question is why isn't this used more? I suppose cost comes into it, is that the only reason? Going around the snail sites I haven't seen vermiculite suggested once!! Could I use all vermiculite or is it beneficial to the snails to also have a 'topping' of moss, and if so is it the moss used for hanging baskets which you use Emma??
(this is so exciting!!)

Val

[Paul]

Hi,

I don't think vermiculite is commonly used for a number of reasons. The main ones are lack of press and no doubt cost, it ain't cheap at all.

Also, I have heard from a few people that given the choice of both the snails prefer soil. And, I know it holds water but it does so in a different way to soil.

I have never tried it with my snails, but I have used it for plants. It is used to improve drainage because it doesn't actually soak up that much water itself. It dries quicker and less evenly, I always find pure vermiculite (used for cuttings) tends to be dry on top, and soaking at the bottom, especially in a container with no holes at the bottom. I suppose stirring it up often would improve this.

Lastly, I don't think it would not stick to the shells, in fact I would say quite the opposite. If your hands are wet and you touch vermiculite you get it all over you, it sticks to everything. The alternative is of course perlite but I'd be careful about that too, it is extremely drying.

Emma uses it with no problems, she can obviously give you a better account than me but I think it came from a desire to sort out pests in the tank like little mites and springtails etc, rather than a conscious decision that vermiculite was better suited. I may be wrong.

I imagine it is easier to reuse, coz it must be easier to bake in the oven or sterilise with water than soil. Adding boiling water to soil just makes muddy water, but vermiculite doesn't break down so there is a great advantage. Still, I sterilise my soil in the microwave. Its quick, can be covered with clingfilm and doesn't smell bad like in the oven. It just takes quite a few turns to do all my soil.

The moss you want is Spaghnum Moss:

www.petsnails.co.uk/index.php?action=care&type=substrate

It is the type you find for hanging baskets. It isn't cheap at about £3-4 a litre but it can be re-used and snails LOVE IT!

I got about £50 worth (2 huge buckets) for free from Kielder forest, if you know of somewhere locally that you can get it from, get some. It takes a bit of faffing to clean wild stuff up but I just keep my spare in buckets of water outside. That way, I can rotate it to make sure the moss stays alive.

paul

[Emmachan]

well,
i would have to agree with paul on some issues..
vermiculate really sticks to shells, but its easier to wash off than peat is. Vericulite also holds water differently.i make sure i mix it up a bit when i add water and i also add moss which is a great water holder and the snails love its softness. I use this as a surface layer and its really really great for moisture. even with a heat mat it will retain moisture for days i find.
The main reason i use vermiculite is because it doesnt have any nasty parasites which my snails have recieved from peat and compost.

[Paul]

Emma's raised a good point there.

If you do use soil/peat etc. I'd recommend you sterilising your soil before it ever gets near your snails.

I have also had bugs in mine, I suppose it is inevitable. Only very expensive compost is sterilised, like John Innes stuff.

paul

[snailgal]

WOW - loads more info to think about - thanks so much guys, also that is a brilliant web site you have there Paul, loads of the basic info that a newbie like me needs.
I'm not sure yet what I shall use, I would prefer to use what the snails prefer i.e. peat, but definitely do not want bugs!!! So if I do use it I may just sterilise it first. Incidentally, is Irish Moss Peat O.K. I can get that. Thanks again,

Val

[Darren Willis]

Hi there

Yes Irish Moss Peat is what we use and we've had no problems as yet (touch wood). In fact it was the only peat that we could find , and that ran at £5 for 100 Litres which is not bad , we've still got about 70% of it left and we bought it about 2 months since.

Daz