Small snails in terrarium

[orion141]

Hi All,

So I noticed some very tiny snails on the walls of my terrarium. They are at most 3-5mm in size. I have a pic below but it’s really hard to see these or photograph them. How do you deal with them in a terrarium? Are they harmful?

Interestingly I haven’t added any new plants recently so not sure how they got inside my home and then the terrarium....

[Ray]

Commonly known as "bush snails", those little buggers can decimate your plants. They eat roots, buds, newly-emerging growths, and pretty much anything else.

Most snail and slug baits won't kill them, but I trust products that contain metaldehyde.

[orion141]

Originally Posted by Ray

Commonly known as "bush snails", those little buggers can decimate your plants. They eat roots, buds, newly-emerging growths, and pretty much anything else.

Most snail and slug baits won't kill them, but I trust products that contain metaldehyde.

Thanks Ray. So would you recommend putting granules of a product that has metaldehyde around on the floor of the terrarium? Or are there any other tips/tricks to getting rid of them with these products (are they dangerous to orchids if in direct contact with them, etc)?

Also I saw an old post where you used cinnamon and isopropyl alcohol, have you found that to be a safe and effective spray for ridding your terrariums of bush snails?

Thanks!

[Roberta]

Another "helpful hint" that I have seen here though haven't had a situation where I had to try it... coffee or coffee grounds seem to be useful against bush snails.

[orion141]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Another "helpful hint" that I have seen here though haven't had a situation where I had to try it... coffee or coffee grounds seem to be useful against bush snails.

Hi Roberta, like applying coffee grounds to the floor of the terrarium? I’ve read a few threads on here about bush snails but it seemed that most haven’t had good luck or a go to/definitive way to eradicate snails (I may have missed some of the more definitive threads though).

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by orion141

Hi Roberta, like applying coffee grounds to the floor of the terrarium? I’ve read a few threads on here about bush snails but it seemed that most haven’t had good luck or a go to/definitive way to eradicate snails (I may have missed some of the more definitive threads though).

Making inference but I can't claim experience, that would be the approach that I would try. Are your plants mounted or potted? If potted, maybe also scatter some of those grounds on top of the pots. I don't think that they'll harm anything, and anything to discourage the bush snails! I do know that they tend to not be attracted to "normal" snail baits.

Found the reference that I was thinking of... Orchid/Bush Snails?

[orion141]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Making inference but I can't claim experience, that would be the approach that I would try. Are your plants mounted or potted? If potted, maybe also scatter some of those grounds on top of the pots. I don't think that they'll harm anything, and anything to discourage the bush snails! I do know that they tend to not be attracted to "normal" snail baits.

Hi Roberta. They are essentially all mounted to various cork pieces and background of the terrarium.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by orion141

Hi Roberta. They are essentially all mounted to various cork pieces and background of the terrarium.

Then yes, scatter on the bottom of the terrarium. Here's the reference I was thinking of: Orchid/Bush Snails?

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by orion141

I’ve read a few threads on here about bush snails but it seemed that most haven’t had good luck or a go to/definitive way to eradicate snails (I may have missed some of the more definitive threads though).

I've used coffee with 100% efficacy. The plant is potted and I mixed brewed coffee with the normal watering. Never had any more snails.

[orion141]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I've used coffee with 100% efficacy. The plant is potted and I mixed brewed coffee with the normal watering. Never had any more snails.

Hi rbarata, do you just essentially use cool black coffee rather than water to water/drench the plants? 100% coffee or like a 50/50 coffee water mix?

Thanks!