Snails in cool tank - Orchid Board

NeofinetiaCanada2014 · #1 08-31-2014, 03:24 AM

I'm at loss what to do... Two weeks ago I noticed some snail damage to my caledictyons... A few leaves with tiny holes and then half leaves missing... I try every night to look for the snails but no luck. I didn't want to spray insecticidal soap (maybe they wouldn't like the taste) but after a week I did, hoping not to damage the green moss... Anyone have ideas how to get rid of these tiny snails safely before they devour all those precious leaves??

You can see the tiny holes and half leaves that were eaten by these little buggers... Help!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NatalieS · #2 08-31-2014, 04:57 AM

I remembered a thread here:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...errariums.html

I thought it was pretty clever, but I'm not sure how possible it is for you to do (I wouldn't know where to get dry ice from). There may be some more threads with advice posted over in the terrarium gardening section, though.

Terrarium Gardening - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !

NeofinetiaCanada2014 · #3 08-31-2014, 05:28 AM

Thanks Natalie re this CO2... I might try this!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lordoftheswarms · #4 09-01-2014, 02:20 AM

Could just throw some slug bait in there.
Lettuce will attract them. Remove lettuce every morning.
Alternatively, sluggo is a brand of muluscicide that starves them.

NeofinetiaCanada2014 · #5 09-02-2014, 05:57 AM

Hmmm I might try that too lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Paul · #6 09-02-2014, 11:43 AM

IME, there isn't much to be done as a "sure thing" in your terrarium.

I have tried the dry-ice method. Didn't faze the snails at all.

I have tried Sluggo and even bait with Metaldehyde -- neither succeeded in wiping the slimy little @%@#$%@ out.

Finally tore down both of my terrs, removed all media from the chids, and sterilized everything. For several years I was snail free. Then, recently, I found a couple snails in on of my terrs. Not sure how the buggers got there. Terribly discouraging.

isurus79 · #7 09-02-2014, 06:30 PM

Like Paul, I tried several methods to get rid of snails in my terrarium. I tried the dry ice method several times and it was complete failure.

Most likely you have bush snails (very small brown snails with a circular shell) which are not attracted to snail bait. You can put all the bait, lettuce, beer, etc. you can find in the tank, but the only way to kill them is to completely douse everything in the tank with Deadline a few times. I did this and it worked very well. I think might have introduced an infected plant, because after about a year of being snail free, my terrarium is now infected again :-(

Read the posts by Alexis in this thread: Bush Snails - Orchid Forum by The Orchid Source

Leafmite · #8 09-02-2014, 07:02 PM

Sevin killed the tiny flat snails that were eating holes in my chocolate tree's leaves. I sprinkled a little on the surface of the dirt and kept finding dead ones ever after....
I don't really like to use the stuff, though, and would recommend something safer.

Paul · #9 09-02-2014, 10:28 PM

Only problem, Steve, at least from what I have read, is that one should allow the media to go completely dry. That would likely kill a number of my micro minis as a well as the snails.

isurus79 · #10 09-03-2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Only problem, Steve, at least from what I have read, is that one should allow the media to go completely dry. That would likely kill a number of my micro minis as a well as the snails.

Very true! The snails need to dry out while getting hit with the desiccant at the same to for the remedy to work.