Adding yeast will make the traps more enticing to the snails. You may need to put out multiple traps, as they will only be effective for snails that are close by. Other great options for your beer container include a plastic cup, yogurt cup, bowl, or pie dish. Don’t bury your beer trap at soil level, as other beneficial bugs might accidentally die in it.
You might also decide to kill the snails. To make the process quicker, you can put an overturned pot or bowl in your garden or near the area where you’ve seen the snails. The snails will likely hide under the pot, which makes it easy for you to find them.
Make your own coffee spray by brewing a pot of coffee, then letting it cool. Put the coffee in a spray bottle to use around your garden or home.
To make your garlic spray, soak 3 crushed garlic cloves in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of vegetable oil overnight. Then, strain the liquid into 1 litre (4. 2 c) of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Add 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) of liquid soap to the solution, then shake the bottle before using.
You an find an iron phosphate bait at a local gardening store or online. This bait will make the snails stop eating, but they may take as long as a week to die. Iron phosphate is the safest bait to use because it’s non-toxic to humans and pets.
This product is generally safe for use around your yard, but keep your children and pets away from the area. The molluscicide should be in a thin layer. Don’t put out clumps, as other animals could eat it and get sick or die.
Ducks may also eat snails, but they prefer slugs over snails. [8] X Research source Make sure your local laws and ordinances allow you to have a chicken in your yard.
You might also search online for the best ways of encouraging natural predators in your area.
If you can, opt for a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose, which will help manage the ground moisture so that snails can’t easily procreate.
Keep in mind that a compost pile is going to be a carnival for your snails. Place it far away from your yard and garden. Additionally, surround it with an abrasive barrier to reduce snail activity.
Crush up eggshells for an easy, at home option. You can find diatomaceous earth, gravel, wood ash, and cedar chips at a local gardening store or online.
If you don’t drink coffee, check with your local coffee shops, as they may give away their used coffee grounds.
As another option, you can sprinkle pennies around the area, as they contain copper. You can find copper tape at a local gardening store or online.
For example, you might put a potted plant near the area where snails are crawling on your home. Keep in mind that foxglove is toxic, so it may not be a good option if you have children and pets in your home.
If you see any snails during the quarantine period, pick them off the plant as soon as you notice them.
You only need to submerge the plant in the solution for a second for it to work, so it’s okay to just dip and remove the plant in one motion.
Replace your gravel and substrate for best results. Before you put your plants and other fixtures back in the aquarium, clean them. One way to do this is to dip them in a cleaning solution that’s 19 parts water and 1 part bleach. This will kill any snails or eggs that are on them. If you don’t want to take everything out of the tank, you can use a siphon to suck out just the gravel and substrate. Additionally, you’ll need to pick the snails off the sides of the tank. [19] X Research source
For a small fish tank, you might choose a zebra or dwarf chain loach. If you have a large fish tank, you can choose a clown loach, pictus catfish, koi, or large goldfish. [20] X Research source As an alternative, you might place an assassin snail into your tank. It will enjoy eating the other snails in the tank and won’t reproduce often.
You can find snail traps at your local pet store or online. You can make your own snail trap by clipping a large piece of lettuce to the side of your tank. Leave it in place overnight, then remove it in the morning. It should attract a fair number of snails, which will now be gone from your tank![22] X Research source
If you’re worried about your fish dying, check their fact sheet to see if they are sensitive to copper. Don’t use this treatment if you have shrimp or ornamental snails, as they are also sensitive to copper. You can find copper sulfate at a local pet store or online.
