Question about dealing with snails

[Emma]

I am currently dealing with a snail infestation in my vivarium. The snails weren't causing my plants any harm, but I have gotten really sick of looking at the blobby masses of snail eggs all over the background. I tried the bait method, which allowed me to catch snails (powdered sugar was a big hit), but the eggs continued to appear.

Because I had yet to plant any moss and because the build was really organized, I was able to empty the viv of everything but the peat/silicone/pond-foam background very quickly tonight. I plan on bleaching the plants, cooking the ABG OR replacing it, and cooking the hydroton. I feel like that is all under control.

Now my real question. If I rinse and clean the glass and background very well, and then allow the tank with peat/silicone/pond-foam background to dry completely, and sit under warm lights for a period of time, will the remaining snail egg clusters die? The little buggers won't re-animate after being desiccated will they?!?

Thank you so much for any help.
Emma

[HerpDerp]

Wow, I had no idea this could happen in a vivarium! My only experience has been with aquarium snails! It's great that you were able to clean everything in there. I'm not like an expert on what's safe to use and whatnot but I've heard that vinegar is safe to use in a vivarium? I would think that spraying a diluted vinegar solution on it and letting it sit and then rinsing it and repeating would probably kill leftover eggs since vinegar is so acidic. But like I said, I would do it a couple times just to make sure they're dead. Snails are resilient little things!

[deranged chipmunk]

It depends on the snail species really, as far as he egg sacs goes. Unfortunately, baking the whole thing would be best, but unrealistic. Drying it out will also work, but you need to make absolutely sure you get all the egg sacs out. Once the humidity kicks up, they will be back. The best way to eliminate them is to eliminate their food source. At least that is how i control them in my fish tanks.

[Emma]

Thanks Michelle & Bill. Bill, I am dealing with Zonitoides arboreus.

Well, I carefully took everything apart, scrubbed the vivarium background with a cleaning brush and scalding water, baked the hydroton & ABG separately (200F), bleached (5%) the plants, substrate divider, and vivarium lid, and now have a fan and heat light on the vivarium & background. I will let the fan and heat do their work until the background is completely dry for a few days. I'll let you know how it goes. I searched and searched the internet to no avail to find out if any of these methods will work!

My main question remains: will snail eggs survive desiccation?

I guess I'll know soon enough! Wish me luck!

[deranged chipmunk]

Emma, sorry i just saw your reply. i was going to suggest to you to gas them out. an excess of co2 should do it. there are a few ways to do it. but we'll hold off on that until you find out if your method works