Introduction
According to Matt Davies Harmony Communities, while cats and dogs still remain the most popular choice as pets, other animals are slowly gaining traction and one of them is the humble snail. There are several species of snails that can become pets. Let’s check out the reasons for having a pet snail.
The Discussion
- They are quiet – Dogs are adorable. They are cute, make funny expressions, can be extremely loyal, and sometimes understand you more than close humans. Unfortunately, some of them can be very loud. Popular breeds including Golden Retrievers, Beagles, German Shepherds, and Siberian Huskies are notorious for being loud.
That means you attract the ire of your neighbors when you own loud dogs and in cities, some landlords won’t sign a rental agreement if you have loud pets. Here’s an interesting fact about snails. You’ll need to put a microphone in front of them and turn up the volume of the speakers to hear them. They are as silent as pets can be.
- Snails can be long companions – The lifespan of snails can differ quite a lot as you move from one species to another. While a lot of snail species live around 2 to 5 years, some of them can even live up to 15 years if they are properly cared for. They can be long-term companions for your kids even if their lifespan is not as long as cats or dogs. A snail’s diet and environment have a huge influence on its lifespan. If you’re able to keep a snail healthy, you’re going to take care of it for a long while.
- Low and easy maintenance – Snails are one of the easiest and cheapest pets you can care for. They won’t suffer emotionally if you don’t give them a lot of attention. Just feeding them and keeping them in an appropriate environment is all you need to do. It’s best to choose a terrestrial snail as a pet since they are easier to care for than aquatic species.
While you can feed snails on veggie scrap from the kitchen, feeding them a few fresh and clean veggies and fruits takes care of their diet. You just need to crush a few eggshells or cuttlefish and add them to the diet so that your snails can get calcium for the shells. Apart from that, use a good substrate and clean the tank once a month.
- Snails don’t bite – Unlike popular belief, snails have a lot of teeth, thousands of them. However, they are so small and dull that you would feel a tingle even if they bite you. Moreover, snails don’t usually bite people unless they confuse you for food. If they feel threatened, they will contract back into their shell instead of putting up a fight.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Harmony Communities suggests that you consider the idea of having a pet snail. Snails require very little space, don’t have extensive diet reactions, aren’t prone to a lot of diseases, and can be the silent companion that you need.
