If you are wondering whether turtles can eat snails, the answer is yes. Turtles eat snails since they are an important part of turtles’ natural diet in the wild, alongside with other creatures, such as worms and slugs. However, it’s crucial to emphasize what kind of snails can be eaten by aquatic turtles. Smaller snails are more appropriate because they do not have larger shells, therefore, it’s much easier to eat them.
There are a lot of things you should take into account. And that’s why, in this article, I’ll try to draw your attention to the best snails for your turtle tank as well as the benefits and drawbacks of eating snails by your turtle.
Why are snails great for turtle’s tanks?
You are definitely aware of the fact that snails are perfect for turtle’s tanks mostly because of aesthetic purposes. They simply look nice and are considered to be a decoration. Nevertheless, that’s not all. I’d like to point out that snails are also useful for turtle’s tank maintenance. Thanks to them, you will be able to keep your tank clean as well as your filtering system free from wear and strain.
It’s all possible since snails look for organic debris and garbage carefully and, later on, they are pretty great at eating it. Moreover, they are truly fond of algae. It’s also worth mentioning that these small water animals are simple to keep up with. They do not need much care, and most importantly, they do not cause any serious problems connected with living with their tankmates. That’s why, it’s a pleasure to have them.
The best snails for your turtle
There are several types of snails that can be eaten by your turtle. These are the following:
- Mystery snails – they are the most common snails which your turtle can eat. They are distinguished by their bright colors and patterns. This type of snail gets along with almost all species, that’s why it won’t escape from your turtle (Why do turtles try to escape from aquarium?) . What’s more, mystery snails are used in heavily-planted tanks and are considered to be effective tank cleaners.
- Apple snails – this type of snail will be easy for you to care for since it’s quite simple and dependable. It usually eats plants (do your turtle eat iceberg lettuce?) and may hide from other animals in the tank. It’s advisable to feed them fish food which is plant-based.
- Rabbit snails – this is a type of snail which also can be eaten by your turtle. Rabbit snails are very interesting because of their distinctive appearance. Their shells are quite long since they can grow to a length of about 3-5 inches. It makes them much slower than typical aquarium snails.
- Black Devil snails – in comparison to rabbit snails, these ones are said to be the fastest aquarium snails. It’s worth mentioning that they easily stand out in the tank because of the fact that they are completely black. That’s why they’re called this way.
- Ramshorn snails – your turtle can also eat snails whose shell is shaped like a horn, therefore, you can easily identify them. This kind of snail is fairly active. They move all the time and climb on all the types of plants.
- Trumpet snails – the last type of snails is easy and unproblematic to care for. They are able to reproduce quite fast, that’s why they may take over your turtle’s tank. However, it’s a big benefit for your turtle since it’s got plenty of snails to eat.
Reasons why eating snails is good for your turtle
I would like to assure you that eating snails by turtles is completely normal since it helps to maintain the ecological balance. There is a wide range of benefits coming from this phenomenon.
First of all, turtles can eat snails because they are easy to digest. Turtles themselves have a good digestion system and they aren’t into eating something that can destroy their stomach. Therefore, they prefer to go for something easy to digest, too. That’s why these aquatic creatures can eat other species, such as snails, worms and fish.
Second of all, turtles need a huge amount of various vitamins, minerals and proteins (https://wildestpets.com/can-turtles-eat-hot-dogs/) . That’s why snails are eaten by turtles as they are known to be a good source of nutrients.
Last but not least, turtles aren’t able to run fast, they’re very slow in the water and it’s fairly tiring for them to chase the food. Snails are quite easy to find, that’s why turtles do not have to try hard to look for them.
Are there any downsides of eating snails by your turtle?
You may wonder whether there are any drawbacks of eating snails by your turtle. Of course, feeding snails to turtles is healthy, however, you have to remember that only feeding them in moderation is acceptable. What I mean is that overfeeding turtles by giving them snails can turn out to be fatal.
Furthermore, it is dangerous to let turtles eat wild-caught live snails since they may contain a lot of harmful parasites as well as pathogens. It can cause lung fluke to turtles which, eventually, may be deadly.
Despite some downsides of eating snails by turtles, it’s possible for your turtle not to get infected. However, you have to take many crucial measures to avoid the risk. Remember to buy live snails only from reliable pet stores and do not breed wild-caught live snails in a turtle tank.
Now you know if your turtle can eat snails!
To sum up, you can be sure that your turtle does eat snails. However, you have to remember about a wide range of aspects connected with feeding snails to your animal. One of these aspects is taking various types of snails into consideration. Moreover, it’s also important to bear in mind that there are plenty of benefits and drawbacks of turtles eating snails as well as that we must feed them sensibly and responsibly.
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