Parasites

The moist, nutrient-rich environment where our snails live is a breeding ground for pest infestations. Below is a list of possible pests and ways to control them.

Sciaroidea

More commonly known as “mushroom gnats,” these insects are attracted to moisture, tropical temperatures, and decaying plant matter. They invade both homes with potted plants and those with humid terrariums. The female of this pesky insect lays hundreds of eggs at a time, which then hatch into white larvae that feed on roots or compost before pupating and becoming the classic fruit fly we find buzzing around the house.

The larvae can cause problems for plants but not for snails, nor do the adult flies, which are completely harmless in and of themselves.

If the number of adults per terrarium doesn’t reach alarming levels, they don’t stress our animals.

However, they are annoying to us in any case, and the only completely effective method to control their numbers in each terrarium is to introduce a colony of springtails into each one so that they feed on the flies’ eggs.

As a temporary solution, you can place adhesive traps—available at garden centers—next to the terrariums. To prevent them from proliferating in houseplant pots, simply cover the soil surface with a 3–4 cm layer of volcanic pumice, expanded clay, or decorative stones so that the adults cannot access the moisture their eggs need to hatch.

Enchitrei

• These thin, white nematodes are often found in terrariums. They thrive in environments with extremely high humidity, and it’s very common for them to appear in terrariums with poor ventilation combined with a waterlogged substrate.

• They are introduced through fruit or vegetables that haven’t been washed thoroughly, or if a newly purchased snail has lived in an infested terrarium.

• “White worms” are a nutrient-rich food source for both amphibians and tropical aquarium fish; believe it or not, they are bred and sold in starter colonies. They are completely harmless and cause no damage because they perform a function very similar to that of springtails.

• However, if they’re thriving in your terrarium, it means the substrate is too wet, and you need to fix this quickly because the snail could be affected. Once this problem is resolved, the environmental conditions should become too unfavorable for the enchytraeids, and you’ll see them gradually disappear.

• However, if they bother you too much, you can use this method, which I’ve always found effective:

• Empty the entire terrarium

• Place the soil in the oven at 70–80°C to dry and sterilize it

• Disinfect the bottom, sides, and lid of the terrarium, as well as any synthetic decorations, with apple cider vinegar (F10 is preferable), then rinse thoroughly to remove any residue.

• Give the snail a bath and clean its shell so that most of the worms on it aren’t reintroduced into the terrarium.

• Put everything back together as it was before once the substrate has cooled down

Riccardoella limacum

The most common mite found in terrariums, although there are many different species. 

They are small, move very quickly, and may feed on blood. Opinions are, in fact, divided: while they cause no harm to some snails, they can lead to the death of others. 

In some cases, these mites burrow into the animal’s mucous membrane or nest in the pneumostome, leading to very serious consequences if not addressed promptly. 

They are introduced into the terrarium via vegetables, fruit, or starchy foods. To eradicate them, you can introduce isopods and springtails or a specific species of mite, Hypoaspis miles, which will not only rid the substrate of this pest but will also burrow into the snail’s pneumostome to feed on the rival mite.

In addition, the snail should be given a few baths so that any mites remaining on its foot can be washed off.

Fecal mite

The exact species has not yet been identified, although it is believed to be Tyrophagus putrescentiae; this mite infests the internal organs of both humans and animals, particularly the intestines.

Its presence is detected when examining snail feces and noticing a swarm of these mites on them.

These mites almost never affect snails born in captivity, whereas they are very common in those collected from the wild; this is one of the reasons why you should always wear gloves and exercise great caution when handling WC snails that have not yet completed a quarantine period.

There is no treatment that is 100% effective, as these parasites appear quite rarely, but it’s reasonable to assume that offering the snail “purgative” foods such as chopped bell peppers and pumpkin seeds, while consistently removing feces and maintaining a clean environment, may help.

Other parasites

Spiders, earthworms, caterpillars, beetle larvae… anything can happen if you put unwashed food or unsterilized soil, leaves, or twigs in the terrarium.

They won’t cause any harm; just remove them.