Silly snail questions...

[destined_love7]

So I've got my brig snails from Dakotagirl and I just love them. But wouldn't you know that mine don't seem to really care much for the cucumber? So I go to the store to get the stuff to make snail jello and I can't find the Knox gelatin. All I could find is Sure-Jell. Is that ok? So I use the whole package?

I got baby food, but the only kind I could find with calcium was green beans with rice (crappy grocery store...). They did have mac and cheese, but I didn't think snails would be into that. What kinds do you get?

And when you all say you feed your snails green beans...do you cook them first? If so for how long? Anything else you can think to tell me?

Sorry for all the silly questions, but I really want to do the best by them that I can. Thanks for your help....again. LOL

Brandi

[soobie]

I don't think Sure-Jell will work for the snail jello. Sure-Jell is pectin, not gelatin, used for making jam and jelly. I think it might just melt away when you put it in the tank.

As far as the baby food, I think any green veggie baby food would work. If it doesn't have added calcium already, you could always crush up a calcium pill. You could also just puree cooked green beans or spinach or kale or other greens. That way you wouldn't be getting all the added salt, sugar, and preservatives that sometimes make their way into canned baby food.

ETA: in my grocery store, the Knox gelatin is in the baking aisle near the yeast packages.

[destined_love7]

LOL. Thanks. I finally just went to Wal-Mart and got some Knox. Good to know about the puree, though. That wil definately save some money.

[Flaringshutter]

Are you cooking/blanching the cucumber first? Remember that brigs are not true plant-eaters. They only eat dead or decaying plant matter. So they'll only get excited about cucumber that's been in the tank a few days or has been pre-cooked for them.
Any greens or veggies you feed your brigs should be microwaved or blanched for about 10-15 seconds before putting it in the tank, to "kill" it and break down the cell structure enough for the brigs to eat it. You'll find they'll start muching right away then. :)

[destined_love7]

I tried cooking the cucumber first and that didn't help. I dropped it in raw and they eventually found it and a few small bites were gone. But I didn't know about leaving it in the tank long enough for it to really break down. I'm having enough problems with this tank. lol

[msjinkzd]

i use vegetable stew to make the jello, it has really high calcium (8% i think). To feed regular veggies, I buy the frozen mixed veggies and just defrost the green been (usually frenched or cut) and drop it in hooked to a chip clip. By the next day its typically gone. As for zucchini or cuke, I use them when they are past when my family will eat them, sorta slimey/soggy, and peel and de-seed them. Then drop them in and leave them for a day. Or if I use fresh, I nuke it for 15seconds, cool it off, and drop it in.