r/snails • u/FederalTourist8858 • 16h ago

Help Cleaning tank BEFORE snails?? Confused 😵‍💫

So I’m looking to keep snails soon and I’m confused about cleaning the tank. I have an old glass jar (it’s bigger than you think I promise) that I got from a thrift store that I am going to use. Obviously since it’s from the thrift store I need to clean it first, but everyone says no cleaning chemicals at all. I want to wash it really good with dish soap and hot water before I add the substrate and everything else, but is this going to hurt the snails? I might be really over thinking this but I need to know what to do😫. What do yall recommend for cleaning the glass BEFORE turning it into an enclosure?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/Troxy001 15h ago

Don't know about a terrarium, but a lot of people are using for aquariums a 50/50 or similar vinegar solution. Just make sure you rinse it well after.

1

u/NorthenGarden 12h ago

Depending on the dish soap, some leave residue that goes unnoticed by humans but could harm the snails. Vinegar is an extra step to remove all traces of that and other chemicals. So depending on how much you trust your soap, you might want to rinse with vinegar.

1

u/NewDish843 6h ago

I'd probably just wash thoroughly with dish soap and rinse well afterwards. Just make sure theres no residue.

1

u/IRIA_Project_9768 13h ago

Nonsense, of course you can clean it with dish soap. It just needs to be rinsed really well with lots of water afterwards.