Although they are a niche animal to care for, more and more people are starting to care for snails be it aquatic snails in their aquariums or land snails kept as pets or just in their garden that people like to feed.
This has causes a number of people to reach out asking questions about the various things that they can and can’t feed their pet snails in recent months.
Thankfully, unlike some other animals that will eat anything before working out if it is good or bad for it, most snails can take a bite of something and workout if they should or shouldent be eating it.
Still, we have noticed people reaching out and asking if snails eat moss recently so we wanted to publish a dedicated article on the topic.
Do Snails Eat Moss?
The answer to this question is both yes and no depending on what type of moss you are talking about.
There are two types of moss, live moss and dead/dried out moss.
Live moss is still growing and has a lot of moisture in it whereas dead/dried out moss is, well, dead and dried out.
Snails will usually only eat live moss as it is the softer option and is easier for them to digest.
They will not eat dead/dried out moss as it is too tough for their digestive system to break down and they could end up getting sick or dying if they tried to eat it.
If the moss is dying and still holds moisture then there is a decent chance that snails will still eat it, especially if they are hungry.
Is Moss Safe For Snails?
Moss is perfectly safe for snails to eat and will not harm them in any way.
In fact, moss is actually a pretty good food source for snails as it is full of nutrients and moisture that they need to stay healthy.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you should only feed your snail live or dying moss as dead/dried out moss can cause problems for their digestive system.
If you are unsure whether or not the moss is safe for your snail to eat then it is always best to err on the side of caution and not feed it to them.
What About Pesticides And Herbicides?
If you are planning on feeding your snail moss that you have collected from your garden then you need to make sure that it has not been sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides.
These chemicals can be harmful to snails and even lethal in some cases so it is best to avoid them altogether.
The best way to do this is to only collect moss from areas that you know have not been sprayed with any chemicals.
If you are unsure then it is best to buy live Moss from a pet store as this will guarantee that it is safe for your snail to eat.
How Much Moss Should I Feed My Snail?
You should only feed your snail as much moss as they can eat in one sitting as they do not have a way to store food like we do.
This means that if you give them too much moss then it will just go to waste and they will not be able to eat it all before it dries out.
A good rule of thumb is to give them enough moss so that they can completely cover their body with it.
This will ensure that they have enough to eat without being wasteful.
Can Snails Eat Sphagnum Moss?
Yes, snails can eat sphagnum moss without any problems.
Sphagnum moss is actually a type of live moss that is often used as a substrate for reptiles and amphibians.
This is because it holds moisture well and can help to keep the environment humid which is ideal for many species of reptile and amphibian.
Sphagnum moss is also safe for snails to eat and is a good food source for them.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that sphagnum moss can be quite dusty so it is best to rinse it before giving it to your snail.
This will help to reduce the amount of dust that they ingest and could potentially save them from getting sick.
Can Snails Eat A Moss Ball?
Aquatic snails will often eat moss balls as they are a good source of food for them.
Moss balls are also safe for snails to eat and will not harm them in any way.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that moss balls can harbour bacteria so it is best to clean them before giving them to your snail.
This will help to reduce the risk of your snail getting sick from bacteria that could be present on the moss ball.
Can Snails Eat Java Moss?
Yes, snails can eat java moss without any problems.
Java moss is a type of live moss that is often used as a substrate for reptiles and amphibians.
This is because it holds moisture well and can help to keep the environment humid which is ideal for many species of reptile and amphibian.
Java moss is also safe for snails to eat and is a good food source for them.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that java moss can be quite dusty so it is best to rinse it before giving it to your snail.
This will help to reduce the amount of dust that they ingest and could potentially save them from getting sick.
Nutritional Value Of Moss For Snails!
Moss is a good source of food for snails and contains a variety of nutrients that they need to stay healthy.
Moss is high in moisture which is important for snails as they require a higher humidity level than most other animals.
Moss is also a good source of calcium which is necessary for the development and maintenance of a snail’s shell.
Moss also contains a variety of other vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a snail’s health.
Some of these include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Thiamin
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Pantothenic Acid
- Folate
- Biotin
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Choline
- Betaine
Some types of moss also contains a variety of other nutrients that are beneficial for a snail’s health.
Some of these include:
- Iron
- Copper
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Selenium
- Iodine
Moss is a good source of food for snails and contains a variety of nutrients that they need to stay healthy. Moss is high in moisture which is important for snails as they require a higher humidity level than most other animals too.
