Inspiring Conversations with Hali Hart of Lady Astrids Snails

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hali Hart.

Hi Hali, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t plan on starting a business. I was just looking for an algae eater for my crayfish, and that led me to learning about snails. The more I learned, the more I realized how misunderstood they are and how often they’re not cared for properly.

I started setting up tanks at home and spending a lot of time researching. Soon I was breeding snails and taking in local surrenders. What started as a hobby slowly turned into something bigger.

Now I run Lady Astrid’s Snails from my home. I care for multiple tanks, focus on ethical breeding and rescue, and help educate others on proper snail care. Most of my growth has come from social media and word of mouth, and I’m proud of how far it’s come.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a small business like this hasn’t been easy. Space and time are a big challenge since everything is run from my home. Managing tanks, doing water changes, packing orders, and keeping up with messages takes a lot of time every day.

Money has also been hard. Tanks, supplies, food, and shipping costs add up fast, and any losses come straight out of pocket.

A lot of people don’t understand snails, so I spend a lot of time explaining proper care or saying no when a setup isn’t right. Shipping live animals is stressful too because weather and delays are always a risk.

On top of that, being taken seriously can be difficult since this started as a hobby and is home-based, but there’s a lot of work and care behind it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lady Astrid’s Snails is a small, home-based aquatics business focused on ethically bred and rescued freshwater snails. I care for and manage multiple tanks at home and work hands-on with every part of the process, from breeding and rescue to packing and shipping.

I specialize in healthy, well-cared-for snails and honest education. I don’t believe in pushing sales if someone’s tank isn’t ready, and I spend a lot of time helping people understand proper care. I’m especially known for being transparent, answering questions, and doing things the right way instead of the fast way.

What sets me apart is that this isn’t just a business to me. I raise most of my stock myself, take in local surrenders, and treat this as both a shop and a small rescue. Every snail is handled with care, and I put a lot of pride into how they’re raised and shipped.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the trust I’ve built with my customers and the community around it. I want people to know that when they buy from Lady Astrid’s Snails, they’re supporting ethical care, education, and someone who genuinely loves what they do.

What are your plans for the future?
Going forward, I want to keep growing in a way that’s sustainable and responsible. My main focus is improving systems and continuing to provide the healthiest stock possible, along with strong education around proper snail and tank care.

I’m looking forward to expanding my rescue efforts, offering more educational content, and slowly adding new products or species when I know I can do it the right way. I also want to keep building my online presence and community, since that’s been a big part of my growth.

Long term, the dream would be to have a storefront. A space where people can learn, ask questions, and see ethical aquatic care done the right way. Until then, my goal is steady growth without losing the personal care, ethics, and transparency that Lady Astrid’s Snails is known for.

Pricing:

• Ramshorn Snail $0.76 each
• Mystery Snail $6.00 each
• Trapdoor Snail $5.00
• Assassin Snail $5.00
• Nerite Snail $5.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aquafindr.com/store/lady-astrids-snails/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyastrid0695
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FvxjDcVQD/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ladyastrid6
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lady-astrid-s-snails-elyria
• Other: https://linktr.ee/6LadyAsnails