Eggshells for snails

[PsyKick]

Anyone add eggshells to their tanks for the snails?

Do you prep them first or just throw in a clean eggshell?

Do your snails eat them or does the calcium just dissolve into the water and get absorbed by the snails?

 

[jackiomy]

I put a cuttle bone in the tank for my crab and my snails. it is easier and much less of a mess.

 

[msjinkzd]

Clean out any egg goo, then drop them in or crush them to use in recipes. They will both dissolve and be grazed on. I prefer using calcium powder, but egg shells are a good alternative.

 

[PsyKick]

could I use calcium powder like you dust crickets with for lizards and such?

 

[msjinkzd]

I use jurassi-cal reptile calcium supplement (phosphorus free). Works great. You can also use 100% calcium pills from teh drug store.

 

[pik01]

is phosphorous harmful to snails (or shrimp, for that matter)?

 

[crimsonmoon]

i have heard that phosphuros has something in it that makes it difficult for the snail to absorb calcium, or for the calcium to bond with them or something along those lines. no idea if thats true or not, just figured i throw in my two cents

 

[Hollygirl]

My baby Mystery snails like egg shells in the snail jello I prepare for them. When a piece of eggshell is sticking up from the jello, I see two or three baby snails grazing on it. Like Msjinkzd said, you have to clean out the membrane from the shell; that gooey part which will pull off rather easily and will leave a clean surface that will feel just like the top of the eggshell.