How to Move a Snail Without Hurting It (6 Easy Steps)

How to Move a Snail Without Hurting It

How to Move a Snail Without Hurting It (6 Easy Steps)

Snails are active little critters that move around quite a bit. There may come a time when you need to relocate a snail, either for its safety or for your convenience. However, it’s important to know the proper way to move a snail without hurting it.

You can move a snail without hurting it by letting it slowly crawl onto your palm. Carefully position your hand in the direction the snail is moving and let it gradually make its way onto your palm. Avoid hastily grabbing the snail to prevent injury, and remember to wash your hands before and after.

The rest of the article provides a step-by-step guide on how to move a snail without hurting it. This information is particularly useful for aquarium hobbyists who keep snails as pets.

Step 1: Check and Prepare the New Area

Ensure the new habitat is safe, clean, and suitable for the snail. The environment should be predator-free, maintain proper water parameters, and be free of any toxic waste.

If your intention is to move the snail for breeding purposes, it is recommended to refer to a comprehensive guide on snail reproduction. The guide should provide valuable information on setting up optimal snail breeding conditions.

Once you have ensured a safe environment, it’s time to prepare for the next step.

Step 2: Clean Your Hands

Clean Hands Before Moving Snail
Image by brgfx on Freepik

To avoid transferring bacteria or chemical toxins to your snail, it’s crucial to have clean hands. Failure to do so could lead to diseases and stress for your snails, undermining your well-intentioned efforts.

  • Use antibacterial soap and warm water to thoroughly cleanse your hands.
  • Be sure to dry your hands carefully to eliminate residual odors or soap residue.

I recommend using mild, unscented soaps instead of strong antibacterial ones that may contain potassium chloride and caustic soda, which can be lethal to snails even in small quantities.

Once your hands are clean, you’re ready to move the snail.

Step 3: Pick the Snail

The process of picking up a snail can be tricky and is where many people make mistakes. Making a wrong move may cause the snail to retract into its shell. When this happens, it may be tempting to pick up the snail by its shell and move it.

However, it is not advisable to handle a snail by its shell, as there is a high risk of dropping it and causing harm. Dropping a snail on the floor can result in a broken shell or damage to its delicate internal organs.

Bladder snails, in particular, have sensitive shells, and their heavier build makes them especially risky to handle in this manner.

So, how should you correctly pick up a snail?

  • Slowly and gently lower your hand to the location of the snail, avoiding any sudden movements that could startle or stress it.
  • Keep your palm open and gradually move your hand in the direction of the snail’s movement.
  • Allow the snail to crawl onto your open palm at its own pace.
  • Once the snail is safely in your hand, refrain from tightly grasping your palm to prevent unnecessary stress on the snail.

I have noticed that some people allow snails to crawl onto the backside of their palms when moving them. While it may not be entirely incorrect, it does pose risks.

  • There is a chance that the snail could slip and fall from your hand, leading to serious consequences.
  • The sensation of snail slime on sensitive skin is often unwelcome for most individuals. It feels cold and sticky, prompting involuntary reactions such as a jerk or a sudden movement of the hand, which can result in dropping the snail.

Therefore, I recommend the palm pick method. With the snail securely resting on your palm, it is time to move it.

Step 4: Move the Snail

Moving a Snail
Photo by David Vilches on Unsplash

Once the snail is settled in the palm of your hand, allow it some time to adjust to its new environment. As it becomes comfortable with your hand, it will start moving around, indicating that it is ready to be relocated.

Here’s how to proceed:

  • Carefully lift your hand out of the enclosure to avoid startling the snail. Avoid sudden movements, such as shaking your hand or tightly gripping the snail.    
  • Move to the new enclosure or surface and gently place your hand down.    
  • Give the snail sufficient time to crawl out of your palm and acclimate to its new surroundings.    
  • Avoid abruptly shrugging off the snail from your hand or dropping it onto the new surface.

Step 5: Watch and Monitor Your Snail

Once you have securely placed the snail on the new surface, watch and monitor its behavior. Give it some time to settle in and start exploring its new environment.

If the snail doesn’t become active within an hour, it may indicate that stressors are present in the new environment.

In such cases, consider the following steps to create a more suitable environment for your snail:

  • Design an engaging snail amusement park by incorporating elements that create a playful and exciting environment. Consider adding new rocks, obstacles, and dietary treats like algae wafers.
  • After moving the snail to its new environment, promptly test and regulate the water parameters.

Take action if the snail remains retracted in its shell after six hours. It could be unwell, stressed due to the new environment, or already dead.

Retrieve the snail and conduct the smell test. Snails decompose relatively quickly, so if the snail is deceased, a foul smell will emanate from the shell.

Step 6: Wash Up

Now that your snail has acclimated to its new environment, it’s time to clean up.

  • Use antibacterial soap and warm water to wash away the slime from your hands.
  • Be sure to dry your hands thoroughly after washing.

While snail slime itself may not be dangerous to humans, snails are known carriers of bacteria and parasites that can be harmful.

If you have any traces of slime on your clothing, I recommend changing and promptly cleaning them.

Closing Remarks

If you need to move a snail from one place to another, there are several methods you can choose from. However, I recommend opting for the most humane and safe approach.

Using the palm of your hand not only demonstrates care toward the snail but also prevents it from accidentally falling. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the snail and monitor its activity levels.

Sources

Author

  • Paul Odoteh

    Paul Odoteh is an established writer and editor with nearly 10 years of experience in writing and editing. He holds a bachelor's degree in IT and has written for numerous publications and individuals. Currently, Odoteh is dedicated to expanding his blog, SnailPedia.com, which was inspired by his passion for owning an aquarium.

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