Those who cherish snails recognize the need to learn about their dietary habits. This endeavor inevitably involves crafting an optimal feeding schedule, detailing what these creatures should consume each day of the week. Still, addressing the question of whether snails eat pumpkin and pumpkin seeds remains vital.
Snails eat pumpkins, inclusive of the leaves and ground pumpkin seeds. However, they typically avoid the pumpkin fruit unless the skin is still soft. This is because snails are generally less inclined to eat the hard flesh of the fruit.
Understanding that snails eat pumpkin leaves and seeds is one aspect; comprehending why they should ingest these types of food is another. This article delves into the methods of preparing pumpkin leaves and seeds for your snails, exploring their significance in the snails’ diet.
Which Part of the Pumpkin Do Snails and Slugs Prefer?
Snails, being omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores, are quite versatile in their diet. They will consume decaying plant matter and animal remains, but they are fond of plant-based foods.
Garden snails, for instance, show a preference for lettuce, broccoli, kale, spinach, and, notably, pumpkin leaves. Observations from farmers reveal that snails frequently feast on pumpkin leaves to such an extent that the plants may die or exhibit stunted growth.
The snails’ preference for pumpkin leaves over other plants in the garden demonstrates their particular fondness for this part of the plant. Moreover, additional insights from pumpkin farmers suggest that snails and slugs can be problematic pests, often impeding their crop growth.
Snails not only love pumpkin leaves but will also consume the fruit when it is young and has soft skin. These snails create deep holes in the fruit, making it rot and unsuitable for harvest.
Interestingly, a preventative measure that farmers can take is to surround the pumpkin fruit with a thick layer of sand. Snails are generally disinclined to traverse sand, so this method effectively deters them from accessing the fruit, allowing it to mature safely. Once the pumpkin’s outer skin has sufficiently hardened, it becomes secure from snail attacks.
Related Reading: Are Mushrooms Bad for Snails?
How to Prepare Pumpkin Seeds for Snails and Slugs
Snails and slugs naturally feed on pumpkin leaves and fruits when the latter is still soft. However, an often overlooked yet essential part of a snail’s diet is the pumpkin seed. Renowned for their medicinal value, pumpkin seeds can eliminate worms and other parasites in snails.
Across various regions globally, pumpkins are primarily cultivated as a vegetable. In the United States, they are widely grown for carving during Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations. While some farmers discard pumpkin seeds post-harvest, others conserve them for future planting seasons.
A select group of individuals repurposes these pumpkin seeds instead of discarding them. They add flavor to imbue a nutty taste, then gently fry the seeds to create a roasted, salted snack.
For humans, these seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, loaded with iron, manganese, zinc, phosphorous, protein, copper, fatty acids, potassium, and several other nutrients.
Snails, too, can benefit from these nutrients, but preparing pumpkin seeds for their consumption requires some effort. The seeds must be ground into a powder before snails can ingest them.
Owing to their nutritional significance, powdered pumpkin seeds have gained popularity. They are now available as a ready-to-use “snail mix” at some outlets. This snail mix is prepared by grinding pumpkin seeds into a powder and mixing it with water to form a porridge-like consistency.
Though usually sold in powder form, the mix must be combined with water before serving the snails. Pumpkin seeds, a robust source of protein – with six grams per serving – contribute to the growth of strong, healthy shells in snails.
It is recommended to provide your snails with pumpkin seeds at least thrice a week, though in modest portion sizes.
Below is a YouTube video showing how to prepare snail mix at home.
The S&C AQUATICS Freshwater Snail Mix is an excellent choice for those looking to provide a high-quality, nutrient-rich diet for their aquatic pets. The mix is expertly formulated and heat-sealed to ensure freshness, making it perfect for your plecos, catfish, shrimp, and snails. The combination of mini spirulina wafers, calcium, super veggie sticks, krill bits, and spirulina bits guarantees your aquatic friends a balanced and health-promoting meal.
How to Protect Pumpkins From Slugs and Snails
Protecting pumpkins from slugs can be achieved through a combination of natural deterrents, traps, and habitat modifications.
Here are some suggestions:
- Use Barriers: snails and slugs don’t like crossing abrasive surfaces. You can create barriers around your pumpkins using crushed eggshells, coarse sand, or diatomaceous earth. Slugs will avoid these due to their sharp and abrasive nature.
- Create Traps: Traps with beer are a common slug deterrent. Slugs and snails are attracted to the smell of yeast. By burying a cup so that the lip is at ground level and filling it with beer, you can attract and drown slugs.
- Use Copper Tape: Slugs and snails receive an electric shock-like sensation when they come into contact with copper. You can buy strips of copper tape and put them around the base of your pumpkin plants.
- Employ Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators such as birds, toads, and ground beetles in your garden. These creatures eat slugs and can help keep the population down.
- Water in the Morning: Slugs and snails are most active at night, and a dry garden will be less appealing. Watering your garden in the morning gives the area time to dry out before nightfall.
- Remove by Hand: If you’re not squeamish, go out at night with a torch and remove the slugs and snails by hand. You can then relocate them far away from your garden.
- Maintain Garden Cleanliness: Slugs and snails hide in dark, damp places during the day. Regularly clean up fallen leaves, wood, and debris in your garden to reduce hiding places.
Use Slug Pellets: Slug pellets can be effective. Use them sparingly and carefully, as they can harm other wildlife and pets. Always use according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Summary
Wild and domestic snails share several similarities, particularly regarding their preferred food. They typically enjoy leafy greens, flowers, and certain fruits. Among their favorites are pumpkin leaves, a vegetable variety snails delight in eating.
However, these little creatures can also wreak havoc on pumpkin fruits by boring deep holes into them. They exhibit a certain mischief in pursuing young, soft pumpkin seeds. Once the outer shell hardens, they shift their attention back to pumpkin leaves.
As for the seeds, wild snails are not so fortunate, as these require careful preparation before they can be consumed. Given that pumpkin seeds are a rich source of protein and a natural dewormer, grinding them and incorporating them into your snails’ diet is worthwhile.
Sources
- Pumpkin Nook: Pesky Bugs – How to Control Harmful Insects
- Springer Link: Pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) Seeds as Nutraceutic: A Review on Status Quo and Scopes
- Agric Wa Gov Au: Snail and Slug Control
- Gardening Know How: Pumpkin Insect Control – Dealing With Pumpkin Insect Pests
