Vermicompost Snails?

FreyaFL · February 9, 2013

Sorry if this is just not the place for this question, but I've looked all over online and haven't found an answer. I'm hoping someone here has knowledge of this situation.

I've an 18 gallon worm bin that's been going for 6+ months and, finally, needed to harvest some. (It was over 3/4s full.) The compost is amazing, very dark and hardly anything left unprocessed (undigested?) But, I found these little snails in the bin. (They are very tiny to about 1/2" long.) Now, I'm afraid to use the compost for fear of spreading snails throughout my garden!

Anyone know what should I do?

Redbaron · February 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreyaFL

Sorry if this is just not the place for this question, but I've looked all over online and haven't found an answer. I'm hoping someone here has knowledge of this situation.

I've an 18 gallon worm bin that's been going for 6+ months and, finally, needed to harvest some. (It was over 3/4s full.) The compost is amazing, very dark and hardly anything left unprocessed (undigested?) But, I found these little snails in the bin. (They are very tiny to about 1/2" long.) Now, I'm afraid to use the compost for fear of spreading snails throughout my garden!

Anyone know what should I do?

Let the chickens scratch through it.

FreyaFL · February 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Let the chickens scratch through it.

How I wish! But, I live in one of those "Chickens are EVIL!" towns.

No chickens for me (unless I want to claim religious or educational reasons...which is very tempting...hehe)

Redbaron · February 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreyaFL

How I wish! But, I live in one of those "Chickens are EVIL!" towns.

No chickens for me (unless I want to claim religious or educational reasons...which is very tempting...hehe)

I wonder if you might have some local wild birds willing to help you out? I mean sometimes birds want some of the harvest, maybe make them earn what they take later in the year? Spread out the compost on a sidewalk or sheet of plastic and see it the birds take the hint?

FreyaFL · February 10, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbaron

I wonder if you might have some local wild birds willing to help you out? I mean sometimes birds want some of the harvest, maybe make them earn what they take later in the year? Spread out the compost on a sidewalk or sheet of plastic and see it the birds take the hint?

I have wild birds. Flocks of quaker parrots, ibis, and egrets with a recent influx of grackles. But, these snails are so small, that I think they'd only be of interest to finch-sized birds.

Otoh, I found out what they are! They are Malaysian Trumpet Snails. However they found their way into my worm bin is beyond me, but there they are. These are GOOD snails. People use them in aquariums for algae control and keeping the rocks/sand clean. They are nocturnal, do not eat living plants, and burrow which makes them great aerators. I'm guessing they like the small amount of liquid in the bottom of the bin and all the rotting food. I'm also guessing that they won't survive long out of the moist bin. So, all's good! (I am so relieved!)

Stvrob · February 10, 2013

Otoh, I found out what they are! They are Malaysian Trumpet Snails.

How do they sound? Are they any good? Do they need a baritone or Trombone?

FreyaFL · February 10, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Otoh, I found out what they are! They are Malaysian Trumpet Snails.

How do they sound? Are they any good? Do they need a baritone or Trombone?

Huh...well, I took the little yogurt cup and stuck that to my ear and, hate to say it, but they're not any good at all!

Bummer.

CapnChkn · February 10, 2013

I was desperately trying to think of something smart@** to say, but you got it figured out first. "I have snails in my worm bin!" That's a new one!

Usually I see people looking into the worm beds and seeing maggots around 3/4 of an inch long, and 3/16 of an inch thick, saying, "Ewww! What are those?" They're Black Soldier Fly larvae, and probably the most unobtrusive insects you'll ever know. Being in Florida, you get them in a pile sooner or later. They live most of their lives in larval form, drop their mouthparts, and live for 4 days to mate, so they never show up inside your house.

FreyaFL · February 10, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnChkn

I was desperately trying to think of something smart@** to say, but you got it figured out first. "I have snails in my worm bin!" That's a new one!

Usually I see people looking into the worm beds and seeing maggots around 3/4 of an inch long, and 3/16 of an inch thick, saying, "Ewww! What are those?" They're Black Soldier Fly larvae, and probably the most unobtrusive insects you'll ever know. Being in Florida, you get them in a pile sooner or later. They live most of their lives in larval form, drop their mouthparts, and live for 4 days to mate, so they never show up inside your house.

An amazing aquaponic's guru lives not to far from me and he keeps soldier flies for feeding his tilapia, so I'd seen these and knew what they were. So, when I first got the worms and set up my bin INSIDE MY GARAGE, I began seeing poor, heartbroken soldier flies sitting on the nearby door or window waiting for me to free them so they could do their thing. (And, yes, I was obsessive/compulsive about checking them every morning and evening...

) After about three months (or there abouts...can't really remember...) they stopped. I guess no more were laying in the bin. I half considered setting up a bsf bin outside, too, but didn't.

(Now that you've mentioned it, however, maybe I'll revisit that idea. The man I know put all food scraps, meats and all, as well as dog wastes into that bin. Pretty amazing, really. And, I've heard, worms LOVE what the bsf's leave behind. LOL)

Crandrew · February 11, 2013

I kill the snails, hornworms etc and leave them out in the yard and within 2 hours the birds have cleaned up.

CapnChkn · February 14, 2013

Quote:

And, I've heard, worms LOVE what the bsf's leave behind. LOL)

I've raised them in their own bins several times. The BSF grubs chew everything up! That's great for the worms, they don't have to wait for the microbes to wear the food down to small enough/soft enough particles to get in their little mouths. My problem is getting them separated from the chopped bits.

If you're raising them for the larvae, it's great! They crawl up to get out and go turn into adults, and you just hang a bucket where they come out.

If you're trying to use them to chop up putrescents, large chunks of organic material and feed the worms, it presents a whole new set of problems...

FreyaFL · February 14, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnChkn

...If you're trying to use them to chop up putrescents, large chunks of organic material and feed the worms, it presents a whole new set of problems...

VERY good to know! (I hadn't known that at all.) As I haven't any tilapia yet, I'd thought for chopping reason. Guess I'll put this on hold until I have more of a need for the fish food than the worm food. Thanks!

FreyaFL

ginger2778 · February 14, 2013

Freda, I wonder if you could use an old fashioned spaghetti strainer, the metal mesh kind with the larger weave and just sift out the snails?

FreyaFL · February 14, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Freda, I wonder if you could use an old fashioned spaghetti strainer, the metal mesh kind with the larger weave and just sift out the snails?

These go from small (3/8"?) to VERY small (less than 1/8"? Only noticeable because they're light colored.) I've decided to just not worry about them. (Unless someone tells me differently. Hehe)

FreyaFL · February 15, 2013

Bummer. Someone's told me different. LOL

Interestingly, the snails in my harvested vermicompost seem to be dying. I'm not purposely drying out the compost, but it just is drying. I think they like the worm bin because it's pretty moist. I'll let the compost dry out more and check again before using. (And, probably, get myself a sieve. Can't hurt!)

Thanks, nativeplanter, for the info!

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February 10, 2013	#6
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	Otoh, I found out what they are! They are Malaysian Trumpet Snails. How do they sound? Are they any good? Do they need a baritone or Trombone?

February 10, 2013	#8
CapnChkn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 91	I was desperately trying to think of something smart@** to say, but you got it figured out first. "I have snails in my worm bin!" That's a new one! Usually I see people looking into the worm beds and seeing maggots around 3/4 of an inch long, and 3/16 of an inch thick, saying, "Ewww! What are those?" They're Black Soldier Fly larvae, and probably the most unobtrusive insects you'll ever know. Being in Florida, you get them in a pile sooner or later. They live most of their lives in larval form, drop their mouthparts, and live for 4 days to mate, so they never show up inside your house.

February 11, 2013	#10
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	I kill the snails, hornworms etc and leave them out in the yard and within 2 hours the birds have cleaned up.

February 14, 2013	#13
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Freda, I wonder if you could use an old fashioned spaghetti strainer, the metal mesh kind with the larger weave and just sift out the snails?

February 15, 2013	#15
FreyaFL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: SW FL Posts: 152	Bummer. Someone's told me different. LOL Interestingly, the snails in my harvested vermicompost seem to be dying. I'm not purposely drying out the compost, but it just is drying. I think they like the worm bin because it's pretty moist. I'll let the compost dry out more and check again before using. (And, probably, get myself a sieve. Can't hurt!) Thanks, nativeplanter, for the info!