{"product_id":"snail-substrate-mix","title":"Snail Substrate Mix","description":"\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSnail Substrate Mix: Calcium-Rich Substrate for Land Snails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eHealthy shells start from the ground up. Our Snail Substrate Mix takes our moisture-holding Rainforest Substrate Mix and adds crushed cuttlefish, calcium sand and extra diced sphagnum moss. The result is a soft, humid, calcium-rich forest floor where land snails can burrow, rest, lay eggs and graze the calcium they need to build strong shells. It’s the same substrate we use for the native snails in our own collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAustralian native land snails, including Chillagoe melon snails, Fraser’s banded snails and hairy snails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther land snails that need a humid, calcium-rich setup\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMillipedes and isopods, which also benefit from extra calcium\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhy snails need a dedicated substrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLand snails spend much of their lives in contact with the soil. They burrow to rest and lay eggs, and they graze the surface for minerals. A standard substrate can be too acidic and too low in calcium, which can lead to thin, pitted or cracked shells. Our snail mix is blended to fix that:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCalcium for strong shells:\u003c\/strong\u003e crushed cuttlefish and calcium sand let snails graze calcium straight from the substrate, and help buffer the soil’s pH.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHolds humidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e the extra diced sphagnum moss keeps moisture in the substrate, so humidity stays high and snails don’t dry out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoft and easy to burrow:\u003c\/strong\u003e a loose, moist texture that’s gentle on a snail’s foot and easy to dig into for resting and egg-laying.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupports a bioactive setup:\u003c\/strong\u003e it gives springtails and isopods a healthy home to break down waste and leftover food.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat’s in it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOur Rainforest Substrate Mix:\u003c\/strong\u003e a base of coco coir, peat, sand, horticultural charcoal, bark bedding and aqua soil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrushed cuttlefish:\u003c\/strong\u003e a natural calcium source\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCalcium sand:\u003c\/strong\u003e extra calcium and a balanced pH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExtra diced sphagnum moss:\u003c\/strong\u003e for moisture and humidity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eEvery batch is mixed from new or sanitised ingredients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdd 5–8cm of substrate,\u003c\/strong\u003e deeper for large snails so they have room to burrow and lay eggs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoisten it evenly.\u003c\/strong\u003e It should feel damp like a wrung-out sponge, never waterlogged.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTop with leaf litter, moss and a piece of cork bark\u003c\/strong\u003e for hiding and grazing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMist daily\u003c\/strong\u003e to keep humidity at 70–90%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep cuttlebone in the enclosure as well.\u003c\/strong\u003e The substrate adds calcium, but a cuttlebone gives snails an easy source to graze any time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpot-clean leftover food daily\u003c\/strong\u003e and top up the substrate as it settles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSnail substrate FAQ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the best substrate for land snails?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA soft, moisture-holding, calcium-rich soil they can burrow into. Our Snail Substrate Mix combines a rainforest base with cuttlefish, calcium sand and extra sphagnum moss for exactly that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do snails need calcium?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA snail’s shell is made mostly of calcium carbonate. Without enough calcium, shells can become thin, brittle or pitted. A calcium-rich substrate plus cuttlebone helps keep them strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow deep should snail substrate be?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5–8cm for most land snails, deeper for large species, so they can burrow fully and lay eggs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow wet should snail substrate be?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDamp, like a wrung-out sponge. Too dry and snails dehydrate; too wet and the soil goes sour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for millipedes?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Millipedes also need calcium and moist substrate, so this mix suits them well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePairs well with:\u003c\/strong\u003e Snail Enclosure Starter Kit, Chillagoe Melon Snail (Xanthomelon saginatum), Fraser’s Banded Snail (Sphaerospira fraseri), Terrarium Misting Bottle, Springtail Cultures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBlended in Surry Hills, Sydney, and shipped Australia-wide.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Biota Studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52817362157799,"sku":"Snail Substrate Mix","price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0810\/5014\/0903\/files\/Howtoimprovesoilorganically-EcoOrganicsheader_8242064a-9876-4bba-899b-5134ffb7084b.jpg?v=1792160841","url":"https:\/\/www.biotastudio.com.au\/products\/snail-substrate-mix","provider":"Biota Studio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}