Domestic land snails: Achatina. Snail at home, what is necessary for her

Breeding of domestic land snails in our time is available to both people who are professionally involved in molluscs and beginners.

True, in pet stores it is rarely possible to meet a consultant who can provide qualified assistance in this matter.

In our article, we will look at how to properly keep snails at home.

Short description

Giant African snail, or Achatina- this is a new hobby for fans of shellfish, large ten times larger than usual (you can compare them in the photo), which can be grown at home.

These snails belong to the Achatinidae family, which includes several genera and more than 60 species of these mollusks.

Achatina snails have an elongated and pointed top of the shell, which distinguishes them from fellow subspecies. They are very prolific, in one clutch there can be up to 500 eggs, similar to tiny chicken ones.
Achatina is considered the largest land snail, has a yellow-brown shell, the pattern on the shell is zigzag. The mollusk has a soft body, black or gray in color with small white tubercles.

Did you know? It is known that the largest specimen of a land snail weighed 450 g, and the length of its shell was about 37 cm.

Benefits of keeping Achatina

The Achatina snail, according to mollusk breeders, is an ideal pet. Consider the main advantages of snails as pets:

1. These creatures are not whimsical in care, they do not create noise.
2. They are not intrusive, and you do not need to ask your acquaintances to sit with them when you are away.
3. Achatina can live without you for two weeks.
4. They breed successfully in captivity.
5. Snails with good care can live up to 10 years.

Selection and arrangement of housing

Serves as a home for the snail terrarium container made of plastic or plexiglass. You can also use regular glass for. For a medium-sized snail, to make it feel comfortable, you need a terrarium with a volume of at least 3 liters. Therefore, if you are planning to start an Achatina family, take a larger container.

Or the terrarium should be equipped with special covers that have small holes. This is done so that Achatina does not run away, and at the same time there is air access.

substrate

The bottom of the terrarium, in which the snail will live, must be lined with a layer of substrate. For these purposes, you need to take flower compost without the addition of fertilizers or pure peat (but it can create a very acidic environment).

Soil is needed so that your snail can burrow into it during the day. It is necessary to ensure that the substrate is constantly moist, and wet it with water from a spray bottle at least twice a day. If the substrate is very dry, the snail will smear it with its mucus and get dirty, and the glass of the terrarium will also get dirty.

It is not recommended to use clay and fatty loams as a substrate; it is not necessary to add pieces of wood and bark to the soil. It is allowed to pour a little loose sand or hazelnut shells, or the core of a walnut. Nut shells are more convenient than ordinary soil, they do not get dirty, so you will need to clean the container less often.
However, flies can start in such a substrate, which are harmless to the pet, but will fly around the house.

Important! Regardless of the type of substrate, its thickness at the bottom of the container should be at least 4 cm.

Lighting

For a terrarium with this mollusk, no additional lighting. The intensity of light in no way affects the vital activity of mollusks. For them, the regular alternation of day and night is more important, since their main activity occurs at night, while during the day they like to hide in a layer of soil away from prying eyes and rest. The lighting of the terrarium is more necessary for the owner than for the mollusk.

Important!If you decide to light your pet's house, take the light outside the aquarium, because if the lamp is inside, the snail can crawl on it and damage the system, a short circuit may also occur and your pet may die.

Temperature

Since this species of snail is a tropical animal, it is used to living at high temperatures. The air in your terrarium will need to be warmed up to 20-28 °С. At this temperature, Achatina feel normal and are active.
But you should not try to heat the terrarium from direct sunlight or room heaters, as this will not end well - the mollusk may suffer from the temperature contrast in the room.

Air humidity

Snails prefer a humid environment, so the humidity level should be at least 70%, but not more than 90%. At a sufficient air temperature, the moisture in the substrate evaporates and further humidifies the air, this must be taken into account. To increase the humidity, use a conventional household spray bottle. Humidity will be sufficient if the terrarium is regularly sprayed with water. You can also keep a container of water in the terrarium.

Additional accessories

In order to entertain Achatina, they use scenery for a terrarium. These can be pieces of wood, moss, non-sharp fragments of clay pots that will serve as a shelter for a pet and decorate the landscape. All of these decorations must be kept clean and safe.

Sometimes Achatina owners plant live plants in terrariums. They look beautiful and unusual in the snail's house. True, when watering plants, you need to ensure that the substrate is not waterlogged. If you are going to plant plants in a container, give preference to those with small villi. Try not to plant ferns and ivy, although these plants look beautiful, they will be quickly eaten by Achatina.

Care and feeding

The larger the Achatina, the less often it is allowed to feed it, for example, once every few days. Small snails need to be fed once a day. These mollusks are vegetarians, for this reason they need to be provided with the most green plant foods. They should be fed only with approved products, combined with products that your particular Achatina loves.

Diet

Let's look at how to feed Achatina snails at home.

In their diet, you can include such products:

• cucumbers;
• zucchini;
• apples;
• spinach;
• corn;
• lettuce and tree leaves (not bitter);
• berries;
• mango;
• banana pulp.

A snail can love something, but completely refuse something. If you need to fill the diet with carbohydrates, add oatmeal, dry unleavened cookies, durum wheat bread, bran to your food.

What not to feed

• sharp;
• salty;
• sweet;
• smoked;
• fried;
• pasta;
• potato eyes;
• citrus fruits.

Water

Achatina not only eat, but also drink water, so always keep a container of clean water in a container. This container should not be very large, since Achatina can fall into it and drown. When your pet grows up, you can put a small pool in the terrarium, as snails love water, which they need to secrete mucus.

Nutritional supplements

For the rapid growth and development of mollusks, they need a source of calcium carbonate and vitamins. In the terrarium, you can put a piece of chalk, pour some eggshells. The chalk in the terrarium must be natural, as factory-made, chemically produced, will be ignored by the mollusk. You can purchase vitamin and mineral mixtures at pet stores, complexes made for reptiles are suitable.

Terrarium cleaning

The procedure for cleaning the terrarium, depending on its filler, is carried out several times in three months. Cleaning the container consists of completely rinsing it (but do not use chemicals, use baking soda instead of powder) and replace the substrate. Carry out unscheduled cleaning of the container if its walls are covered with mucus or an unpleasant odor emanates from it.

The snails themselves also do not mind swimming. This should be done with warm boiled water, carefully, under a gentle stream and without completely immersing the animal in water.
Thus, caring for Achatina snails at home does not require much effort.

Did you know?Snails can carry on their shell a load that is 10 times their own weight.

Diseases: prevention and treatment

Snails are very tenacious, but in any case, you need to know how to help them. If your pet has a piece of the shell broken off - this is not a reason to panic. Lubricate the edges of the broken part of the sink with an antiseptic, make sure that the pet is in a clean and comfortable place. In the body of your pet, regeneration processes should start themselves, so the mollusk will survive if the infection has not entered the body. New fabrics will eventually tighten the chipped shell.

Another problem with these animals is that the Achatina likes to scrape its shell with a radula, which can cause a hole to be rubbed in it. In order to wean your pet from this activity, lubricate the sink with something unpleasant to taste, but safe.

How many live at home

Is it possible to take

For the safety of the clam is better don't pick him up especially for the vulnerabilities of his body. But if you really want to take the pet in your arms, first wet his leg with water, then stick your finger under it, with your other hand you need to carefully hold the heavy sink.

African giant snails are the perfect pet for busy or lazy people who can forget about yt for a while. They are not whimsical enough in care and maintenance. They can be left unattended for a couple of weeks without fear for them. And if you keep them well, Achatina will be your pet for many years.

Caring for Achatina snails at home is very simple and does not require serious costs. It will be interesting for you to read the article if you want to have a pet and do not know what to choose, how to care for and feed it.

Such a pet will not create much trouble for the owner.

Who would have thought that a French delicacy or a field pest would become a pet. Achatina - smart molluscs that can remember their owners, are harmless in communication with young children and adults. Thanks to simple and simple care, minimal costs, as well as the ability to leave without feeding for a long time, Achatina is an ideal pet option. More details in our article.

Most lovers of this type of mollusks are convinced that pets are very devoted to their owners and do not like to communicate with strangers once again. The maintenance and care of Achatina snails is quite simple, they do not require much time, effort and, most importantly, money. African snails belong to the Arkhachatina family, there are a large number of varieties. In their homeland, they are considered pests; in a short period of time, one large individual is able to destroy a reed bush. In our area, "huge" snails are a variety of pets.

Achitins are one of the quietest and calmest domestic residents.

Before you buy Achatina, it is worth preparing all the "amenities" for him, there are not so many of them. Only special conditions will help the land mollusk to lead an active, for such creatures, way of life.

How to keep Achatina snails at home

Achatina are the largest land mollusks and can grow up to 30 cm in length. With proper handling and care, they can live up to 9 years, the average life cycle is about 6 years. They are quite funny creatures, despite their pedigree, they are smart, they remember the situation and their owners. Often they prefer a favorite corner in the terrarium, which they choose on their own.

Large snails do not create noise or odor

In order for the Achatina snail to live well and for a long time, its content at home should be as follows:

• Terrarium selection. You need to decide on the volume and material from which the new house will be made before you purchase a mollusk. One individual should take from 10 to 20 liters, so the "housing" should be roomy, preferably transparent with ventilation and a heavy lid. Close the terrarium should be constantly, as your pet can crawl out and find it will not be easy.
• Lighting is an equally important detail, it should not be very bright, as Achatina can go blind. Her visual apparatus is very sensitive; located on the antennae.
• Soil for Achatina snails is selected soft and loose, without sharp and small particles that can injure the delicate body of the pet or damage the shell. It is best to use coconut flakes, and ground is prohibited, as it contains fertilizer and sawdust, which have sharp edges. The thickness of the flooring should be the size of a snail's house so that it can freely burrow into it.
• An important point is the temperature, both in the room and in the house itself. African Achatinas love a warm climate in which they actively move, if the temperature drops below 24 degrees, they can hibernate or slow down when moving, become lethargic and lethargic.
• Although these snails are not water creatures, the humidity in their home should be constant. A small container of water can be placed in the terrarium, which should be heavy so that Achatina cannot turn it over. Or you can constantly moisten the walls of the house and the soil, as well as bathe the pet itself. In dry air, the snail will often hide in its shell.
• The terrarium needs to be cleaned weekly, but the substrate should be changed as it gets dirty.

A glass aquarium or a plastic box can become a home for snails

Proper care will provide your pets with a long life and create comfortable conditions for breeding or solitary existence. How to keep Achatina snails at home, a livestock specialist can tell you more.

How long do Achatina snails live at home

With the right content of Achatina, their life expectancy can be 6 years. If you follow them more carefully, constantly feed, treat, give vitamins, maintain temperature and cleanliness in the terrarium, you can reach up to 9 years. In captivity, the duration of their existence is about 5 years, or maybe less, since these land animals are considered terrible pests and easily destroy entire crop fields, therefore, in many countries they are actively exterminated.

Soil must be placed at the bottom

Now you know how long Achatina snails live at home, everything directly depends on the quality of their content, i.e. it is entirely up to you.

What do Achatina snails eat at home

It is necessary to feed Achatina strictly with products from the allowable list.

Many lovers of exotic animals, including land mollusks, are interested in the question, what do Achatina snails eat at home? On this occasion, you can not worry much, as they are quite omnivorous. Young animals should be fed daily, but individuals older than 6 months are fed at intervals of several days.

Pet owners are given in the diet:

• Fruits and vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, lettuce and cabbage leaves, apples, bananas and even watermelon peels are suitable.
• Be sure to give crushed chalk and egg shells, which are rich in calcium, and it is necessary for the strength and growth of the shell.
• Protein food, any boiled meat, egg white or even mushrooms.

Types of snails Achatina

There are several types of giant snails, they differ in the size and color of the house

The types of Achatina snails are diverse, in the wild there are about a hundred varieties. Their differences are in the color scheme of the shell, ranging from light tones to dark brown stripes and stains. The body itself is also of different colors from light milky to dark brown.

Consider the most popular and favorite types:

• Achatina fulica is an unpretentious giant snail with a variegated color. Calm, unpretentious and like to rest a lot in secluded dark places.
• Achatina reticulata - also has a great demand for home breeding, often have a color in the form of stripes or spots of different colors. She is much more active, more intelligent and mobile.

The conditions for their reproduction and residence practically do not differ from each other. Exotic lovers are mainly interested in their size and colors.

African Achatina snail care and maintenance

Cardboard houses are not suitable for such snails, because they can escape from them.

To breed African Achatina snails, care and maintenance is not considered difficult, even a cracked aquarium is enough for them, since they will not need to draw water into it. In addition to such houses, you can also take plastic containers, but because of the muddy walls, the pet will be hard to see, and it will be more difficult to follow its movements. It is better to immediately refuse cardboard products, thin walls are not an obstacle for them, they can gnaw a hole.

Giant Achatina snails

Giant Achatina snails do not need a special approach. Humidification remains important, for this you can put a container of water in the aquarium and change it constantly.

These pets are very fond of bathing in water, it is necessary to regularly wash their leg.

You should also clean the terrarium once a week, and change the soil at least once a year. Do not forget to feed them, sometimes you should wash them under warm running water and make sure that when crawling around the house, the snail does not run into sharp small objects.

How Achatina snails reproduce

Beginners in breeding land mollusks need to know how Achatina snails reproduce. According to their reproductive system, they are hermaphrodites, that is, they do not have sexual differences. They prefer to produce eggs in pairs, especially after cleaning the ground in an almost sterile terrarium. Therefore, if you do not want replenishment in the family, it is better to keep one individual. A more adult snail is suitable for the female role, but the young representative of the Achatins can also get the male role.

Achatina snails: breeding and egg care

Giant snails become sexually mature around 6 months of age, although many factors depend on the conditions of detention, the worse they are, the longer and slower the individual develops. Fertilization in this species is internal, and the brood appears from the eggs, one female is able to endure about two hundred.

They reproduce with white capsule-like eggs.

Egg clutches are often placed in groups at the bottom of the aquarium, so that all the offspring are preserved, they should be given due attention in time. First of all, make sure that the bottom is not too wet or vice versa - dry. Many snails recommend weaning young from adults once every couple of months, selecting the largest ones, parents, as a rule, do not harm their offspring.

How long does it take for Achatina snail eggs to hatch?

An equally important and interesting question is, after how many Achatina snail eggs hatch? Often, individuals lay eggs for about two days, scattering them along the bottom of the house or grouping them in dark corners. Hatching begins at 1-3 weeks, it all depends on the ambient temperature, the babies that appear are very tiny, only about 5 mm in size. So that the offspring do not die, you should monitor the humidity and cleanliness in the place where the eggs are deposited.

Achatina snails: benefits and harms to humans

Getting used to people, these pets cease to be afraid of them.

Achatina snails: benefit and harm - two sides of the same coin. The thing is that these creatures produce mucus that is very useful for the human body for gliding. It quickly heals wounds, smoothes scars, and also fights mimic wrinkles. If you want to apply the healing properties on yourself, you should first of all wash your pet thoroughly and only then use its saliva for cosmetic purposes.

The mollusk can be dangerous as well. it is a carrier of various bacteria and with poor washing, you can bring the infection into the wounds on the skin. When ingested, an allergic reaction may develop.

Garden snails are one of the easiest and cheapest pets to keep at home because they often live in large numbers in the garden, eating plants. Although snails need to be fed and watered at least once every two days, they are easy to care for if you understand what they need. The snail can live for several years in a container with a constantly maintained environment.

Steps

Making a house for snails

If the snail will not live with you for a long time, take any container with holes for ventilation. If you are going to watch the snails for a few days and then release them back into the garden, then it makes no difference what container you take, as long as the snail has access to oxygen. Both a plastic container and a jar with holes in the lid are perfect. Instead of a lid, you can use a piece of gauze wrapped around the rim of the container and secured with an elastic bandage.

• Be aware that snails can climb vertical surfaces and may escape if the container does not have a lid.

1. If you are leaving the snail for a long time, get a larger terrarium or aquarium. If you are going to keep the snail for more than a few days, use a container that will give the snail enough space for its size. Only baby snails or tiny adults can stay in a plastic container for a long time. Most snails need an aquarium to keep them clean and healthy. At the pet store, you can buy a terrarium designed specifically for snails.

   • Use a 5 gallon (19L) or larger aquarium to give the snail a place to move around. If you have multiple snails or are looking to take care of the young, or if the adults are breeding, buy a larger tank.

2. Make sure the terrarium has free airflow. Just like humans, snails breathe air using oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. In your terrarium, you definitely need holes in order for air to pass through, preferably on different sides, in order to improve air circulation. Some snail owners have noticed that they are more active when there is a tiny hole in the bottom of the terrarium for air to escape.

   Maintain the terrarium at room temperature. As long as the terrarium is humid, most snails will not be particularly sensitive to temperature. On the other hand, they will be most active and feel safe at room temperature. Keep snails in cool shade during hot weather and avoid exposure to frost.

   Buy land or soil for a terrarium. To reduce the chance of harmful bacteria, pesticides, and other hazards, buy terrarium soil from a pet store. Another good option would be to take natural soil from a garden that has not been treated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Lay the soil on the bottom of the terrarium in a layer, completely covering the glass or plastic.

   • Do not take soil from flower pots, there may be substances harmful to snails.

3. On top of the earth, add a layer of natural substance. Place a layer of sphagnum moss, peat moss, compost, or vermiculite on top of the ground. This will keep the moisture inside the soil, creating favorable conditions for the snails.

   Decorate the snail house. Place objects in the terrarium that the snails can hide under or climb on. This will make their home more comfortable, and it will be more interesting for you to watch them. Most pet stores sell artificial logs that small animals can crawl through, or short hamster tubes that are also suitable for snails. In your garden, you too can find interesting materials to use! Rocks are a great addition to a terrarium. The bark and branches usually fall off after a couple of weeks, so you'll need to replace them.

   • Cardboard toilet paper rolls are also great for climbing up.

4. Attach a heavy or closing lid. Snails are extremely strong for their size and can climb to the top of almost any aquarium. A lid that closes with a latch can prevent them from escaping. If your terrarium lid doesn't have a latch, press down on the top of the lid with a stack of books or other heavy object.

   Feed your snails clean food every day. Most snails are not picky eaters and will happily eat almost any fresh fruit and vegetable. Wash all food thoroughly with clean water before giving it to the snails, and cut large vegetables into slices or chunks. Some foods, such as potatoes or carrots, need to be boiled for a couple of minutes to soften these vegetables a little. Always cool cooked food before serving it to snails.

5. Find out which foods can harm snails. The nutritional diet of snails has not been particularly studied by scientists, so there is disagreement among snail owners about what food is harmful to snails and what is not. Below is a list of unhealthy foods for snails, ranked from most dangerous to least dangerous:

   • Salty food can kill your snails. Completely avoid anything with salt crystals.
   • Do not give pasta, rice and millet. This starchy food can lead to blockages in the snails' digestive tract. Do not feed these foods to snails.
   • Home-grown plants can be exposed to vehicle exhaust fumes and can therefore be dangerous.
   • Acidic foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and kiwis can harm snails. Might not hurt them. Use such food in small quantities, adding to the main meal.

6. Clean the terrarium once a month or as it gets dirty. Gently take the snails, beckoning them under your head with your finger, and transfer them to a towel in a temporary container. Remove the old earth by pouring it into the garden. Use a damp sponge with a little soap to scrub the walls and bottom of the tank and get rid of snail slime and waste. Rinse the terrarium thoroughly to remove any traces of soap as it is harmful to snails.

   • If the temporary container is small, do not leave the snails unattended.
   • Do not close snails in a container without access to air.
   • When replacing the soil and other materials in the aquarium, follow all the steps described above in the section Making a house for snails.

• To pick up a snail from the surface of the terrarium, gently move your finger under its head. If the snail tries to hide, place a piece of food to lure it onto your finger. Turn your finger and entire hand under the body of the snail so that it does not fall before you pick it up.

Warnings

• Do not attempt to decorate a live snail shell with glue or other craft materials. These substances can kill the snail.
• While giant African snails and apple snails love saucers of water, garden snails can drown in them. Use a spray bottle or spray bottle to dampen the terrarium, but don't put a saucer of water on it.
• Keep an eye on young children so that they do not eat the snail, because this can lead to serious illness.

Those people who want to have a problem-free pet at home give birth to Achatina snails. They are creatures that show friendliness, while being undemanding in care. The main thing that should be provided for them is high humidity conditions and a diet that should consist of minerals and nutrients.

If all this is present, then the snails will grow well and reproduce well, laying eggs. These pets really like the company of their relatives, so if you decide to keep snails at home, then you should buy not one, but several individuals.

Brief description of Achatina snails

These creatures that breed by eggs live in Africa in tropical and subtropical climates. Scientists have identified 60 varieties of these mollusks to date. Domestic species include fulica and reticulata snails. In Achatina snails, the body is rather soft, and the shell has a pointed shape. In some mollusks, it can reach 30 cm in length. Representatives of this species may have the following colors:

• black;
• brown;
• marsh;
• brown with a predominance of dark stripes.

In addition to the listed colors, albino snails are also found in nature, a characteristic feature of which is white coloring. However, their size is smaller than that of snails with a different color. What will be the color of the shell in mollusks, largely depends on the diet that the owner provides to the pets. adults have a shell with a greenish tinge.

The peculiarity of these creatures is that they have visual organs on their horns. The Achatina snail does not see further than 1 cm. However, even from a distance of 1.5 m, she can smell her favorite cabbage or lettuce.

The weight of each individual is 0.3-0.45 kg. These creatures are quite funny and are particularly observant. They remember their owner quite quickly and in the future they can distinguish him from other people. Usually people buy Achatina snails from breeders in their home. Rarely they are bought in pet stores. One of the features of these molluscs is that they lay many eggs. Due to their high fecundity, owners often give these mollusks away for free.

Snail at home: how to keep?

In nature, the main habitat of these creatures are: the countries of Asia, Tanzania and Kenya. In these countries, the temperature regime is at a comfortable level for shellfish. At the same time, the local flora acts as an excellent base for the nutrition of these snails.

If you have brought an Achatina snail at home, then you need to create comfortable conditions for it so that it develops well. To do this, you will have to fulfill the following conditions:

• buy a terrarium
• fill it with a quality substrate;
• give snails the right food;
• observe all hygiene rules.

In some cases, Achatina snails can even be let out for a walk around their own home. However, before allowing this to your pet, you must carefully examine the area along which he will make his walk. There should be no obstacles or dirt on the walking area. Other points that can harm the skin of the mollusk should also be absent.

Temperature regime

For Achatins, the hot tropics are their homeland, therefore, when caring for them, it is necessary to provide a suitable temperature for pets in the terrarium. It should constantly be in the range from 20 to 28 C . To achieve the desired temperature, you should not place the terrarium directly near the battery or heater. This can lead to overdrying of the substrate. You also need to pay attention to the fact that the rays of the sun do not fall on the individuals, as this can lead to the appearance of a temperature contrast, which is undesirable for these creatures.

If we talk about the winter period, then to maintain the desired temperature in the terrarium, you should use special heating lamps that are used to care for reptiles.

Light for these mollusks does not really matter, so you do not need to extend daylight hours for them. However, be sure to remove the light sources outside the terrarium to prevent your pets from crawling on the lamps.

Humidity level

These creatures in nature live in the equatorial jungle, so the humid environment along with the temperature must be suitable. In order to ensure this, it is necessary to spray the walls of the terrarium several times a day, as well as moisten the litter using a spray bottle of water. For the normal existence of mollusks, the humidity in the terrarium should be at the level of 75-85%. In some cases, for example if you keep an albopictu snail, the humidity level should not fall below 90%. What humidity will be most suitable for your pet depends largely on what kind of snail lives in your home.

In an effort to provide the humidity necessary for pets, it is necessary not to overdo it with spraying moisture, since in this case there is a high risk of turning the habitat of individuals into a swamp. In order to understand whether the current level of humidity for the molluscs is appropriate, attention must be paid to their behavior. If Achatinas begin to climb higher on the walls of the terrarium, they are constantly on them, then this is a signal for the owner that the environment in the terrarium is very humid. If they burrow into the ground or hide under the covers, then this indicates that the humidity level is very low and should be increased.

For mollusks of this species, there is no need to create any special structure. You just need to use an aquarium without water or take a container made of transparent plastic. If you plan to place 4 individuals in your terrarium, then you need to prepare an aquarium with a capacity of 20 liters or a special box for them. Since snails have the ability to crawl on absolutely any surface, you must remember to cover their home with a lid. Should be done in advance holes so that the pets in the terrarium have good air circulation.

To make their living in a new dwelling comfortable, it is necessary to lay soil on the bottom in which they can burrow if necessary. The ideal bedding for Achatina snails is a coconut or orchid substrate. If you have adults in your terrarium, then you can fill the substrate with a layer of 5 cm. For young mollusks, 2-3 cm will be enough. The combination of coarse loose sand with non-acidic soil is the best bedding option for snails.

If you want to to make the terrarium that contains snails look attractive to your guests, you need to put inside the plants. The choice should be made in favor of fern or ivy. You can also use:

• non-rotting wood pieces;
• terracotta shards.

In this case, the habitat of your pets will acquire sophistication and look original. In addition, such a design of the terrarium will be useful for the creatures themselves, since the air in the terrarium will be saturated with oxygen, and their diet will be more varied.

Keeping Achatina snails at home: feeding

At this point, you should pay attention Special attention. You should not worry about food for shellfish, because these creatures are absolutely picky about it. It should be noted three main products that are the most favorite for these mollusks: apples, fresh cucumbers and lettuce.

However, do not give them only these products. In order for their life to be long and happy, it is necessary to constantly add variety to the menu and give additional carrots, as well as include cabbage leaves in the menu. Snails don't particularly like potatoes. The only exception is the boiled vegetable. In the summer, you can give your pets a variety of fruits and berries. These mollusks also do not disdain vegetables. Among other products Achatina like the following:

• tomatoes;
• legumes;
• zucchini;
• melons;
• champignons;
• boiled eggs.

It should be noted that not all products can be included in the diet of these snails. Shellfish should not be fed fried, sweet, or spicy foods. Its use will lead to the fact that individuals quickly wither and eventually die.

reproduction

Achatina snails reproduce by laying eggs. You should know that domesticated individuals breed quite well. Note that they are hermaphrodites. This means that they can bring offspring even without a heterosexual partner. If you do not want your family of snails to be replenished with new individuals, then the eggs that the snails laid should be washed off. They are miniature chicken eggs. If you are interested to the reproduction of molluscs, it is necessary to carefully clean the terrarium so as not to inadvertently wash off the eggs. And then there can be no question of increasing the colony of your pets.

Small creatures born in the first days of life should be given pureed carrots, as well as cereals that contain calcium. In this case, they will grow healthy, and their shell will be strong.

Conclusion

When there is a desire to have a pet at home, then some people choose a cat, others - a parrot. And some buy Achatina snails. These pets, living in an apartment with their owner, do not create noise . They do not require expensive feed, therefore, everyone can afford to keep Achatins at home. Their care consists in maintaining optimal temperature and humidity conditions in the terrarium, as well as in regular feeding. If all this is provided, then the mollusks will live happily ever after, delighting their owner.

The question that Denis L. asks us is: “What types of snails can be kept at home? What kind of care do they require, what do they eat?

Today, people are increasingly choosing to have snails as pets. We will give some important tips to ensure proper care for such an exotic creature.

Symbol of life

The snail is the embodiment of evolution: this is how, in the form of a spiral twisted like a shell, our ancestors imagined life, treating these mollusks with reverence.

Over time, they switched from reverence to the domestication of especially remarkable species, and now snails have completely settled down in city apartments, earning a reputation as the most unassuming pets.

Once a week, the soil is changed for them, three times a week they are fed, the aquarium is cleaned once every two weeks.

If you forget to give her food due to extreme employment or your own laziness, the snail will calmly hibernate.

These land mollusks have a good memory: if you are gentle with them, they, like children, will go into your arms.

Up to a year, the snail grows in growth: the number of turns on its shell also increases. The life span of this leisurely creature is approximately 6 years.

snails

The larger the mollusk, the more in demand it is in the pet market. And Achatina, African "emigrants", are out of competition here. It is clear that in the Russian climate, accustomed to heat and high humidity, this creature will not survive. But at home he is bred and kept without any problems.

The most famous types of domestic snails:

• Achatina fulica. Eats everything, very slow, height - 20 cm. Prefers solitude.
• Achatina reticulum. More agile, curious and sociable. Grows fast. Eat whatever they give.
• Achatina immaculata. Captivity "spurs" the reproductive abilities of this species: individuals regularly reproduce offspring, and do not forget to grow themselves.
• Common Achatina. Because of the orange shell with stripes, this snail is called the "tiger". In nature, it grows up to 30 cm, at home the shell is more modest - just over 20 cm.

snail care

Usually these gastropods are sent to settle in an aquarium, sometimes in a plastic container. The "snail" is tightly covered to retain moisture, but do not block the air, leaving holes in the lid. The sun should not shine directly on the dwelling of the mollusk.

Achatina needs warmth and moisture. The optimum air temperature is 25-30 degrees Celsius. Several times a day, the mollusk should be sprayed with warm water (preferably from a spray bottle). Adult Achatina themselves are able to take a bath if you do not forget to provide them with a container of water.

Snails in our house (video)

What to feed

Your baby's longevity is closely related to nutrition. Proper food is plant-based. It can be apples, cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, the pet will also not refuse oatmeal. Fish food is also an option. You can feed your pet dried. Most importantly, no pickles and smoked.

And please take care of the sink: add chalk, eggshells, crushed calcium gluconate to your food.

Subject to all conditions, Achatina will please you with a strong shell and longevity.