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Achatina snails: how to care for them. How to provide snails with proper care? Achatina care

Breeding domestic land snails in our time is available to both people who professionally deal with mollusks and beginners.

True, in pet stores you can rarely find a consultant who can provide qualified assistance in this matter.

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

Brief description

Giant African snail, or Achatina- this is a new hobby for fans of shellfish, large ones tens of 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 crown of the shell, which distinguishes them from their counterparts of other subspecies. They are highly fertile; one clutch can contain up to 500 eggs, similar to tiny chicken eggs.
Achatina is considered the largest land snail, has a yellow shell brown, the pattern on the shell is zigzag. The mollusk has a soft body, black or gray 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. Let's look at the main advantages of snails as pets:

  1. These creatures are easy to care for and do not create noise.
  2. They're not intrusive, and you don't have to ask people you know to babysit when you're away.
  3. Achatina can live without you for two weeks.
  4. They reproduce successfully in captivity.
  5. Snails at good care can live up to 10 years.

Choosing and arranging housing

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

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

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 adding fertilizers or pure peat (but it can create a very acidic environment).

The soil is necessary 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; there is no need to add pieces of wood and bark to the soil. It is allowed to sprinkle a little loose sand or hazelnut shells, or the core walnut. Walnut shells are more convenient than regular soil; they do not get dirty, so you will need to clean the container less often.
However, in such a substrate flies can appear, which are harmless to the pet, but will fly throughout the house.

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

Lighting

A terrarium with this mollusk does not require any additional lighting fixtures. The light intensity does not in any way affect the life 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. Lighting of the terrarium is needed more by the owner than by the mollusk.

Important!If you decide to illuminate your pet’s house, take the lighting device outside the aquarium, because if the lamp is inside, a snail may crawl onto 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 accustomed to living at high temperatures. The air in your terrarium will need to be warmed up to 20-28 °C. At this temperature, Achatina feels normal and is 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.

Humidity

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

Additional accessories

In order to entertain Achatina, they use decorations for the terrarium. These can be pieces of wood, moss, non-sharp fragments of clay pots, which will serve as a shelter for the pet and as a decoration for the landscape. You need to make sure that all these decorations are clean and safe.

Sometimes Achatina owners plant living plants in terrariums. They look beautiful and unusual in the snail's house. However, when watering plants, you need to make sure that the substrate is not over-moistened. If you are going to plant plants in a container, give preference to those with small fibers. 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 can be fed, for example, once every few days. Small snails need to be fed once a day. These shellfish are vegetarians, for this reason they need to be provided with as much green food as possible. plant foods. They should be fed only with approved foods, combined with foods that your particular Achatina loves.

Diet

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

The following foods can be included in their diet:

  • cucumbers;
  • zucchini;
  • apples;
  • spinach;
  • corn;
  • lettuce and tree leaves (not bitter);
  • berries;
  • mango;
  • banana pulp.
A snail can love something, but refuse something completely. If you need to fill your diet with carbohydrates, add oatmeal, dry unleavened cookies, durum wheat bread, and 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 with clean water. 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 rapid growth and the development of shellfish, they need a source of calcium carbonate and vitamins. You can put a piece of chalk in the terrarium and sprinkle some eggshells. The chalk in the terrarium should be natural, since it is factory made chemically, will be ignored by the clam. You can purchase vitamin and mineral mixtures at pet stores; complexes made for reptiles are suitable.

Cleaning the terrarium

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

The snails themselves don’t mind taking a swim either. This needs to be done warm boiled water, carefully, under a gentle stream and without completely immersing the animal in the water.
Thus, caring for Achatina snails at home does not require much effort.

Did you know?Snails can carry a load on their shell 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 a piece of your pet's shell breaks 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. The regeneration processes in your pet’s body should begin on their own, so the mollusk will survive if the infection does not enter the body. New fabrics will heal the chipped sink over time.

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

How long do they live at home?

Is it possible to pick it up?

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

African giant snails - perfect pet for busy or lazy people who can forget about yt for a while. They are quite unpretentious in care and maintenance. You can leave them unattended for a couple of weeks without worrying about them. And if you keep them well, Achatina will be your pet for many years.

Proper care of Achatina snails at home - important topic for lovers of exotic pets. These African beauties are considered the largest of mollusks, have a shell up to 25 cm in size, a heart, kidney, lung, brain and have conditioned reflexes. They are unpretentious, but some conditions must be met when caring for them.

Achatina - contents

African Achatina snails are land snails; care and maintenance at home do not require much trouble. Many aquarists consider them ideal domesticated pets. Achatinas do not smell, do not bite, do not cause pain, do not require communication or walking, even on vacation or a business trip you don’t have to worry about them - the snail can easily live alone for a week or two.


What is needed to keep Achatina snails?

For the unassuming Achatina, when kept at home, you will need a transparent container. Suitable vessel:

  • made of plastic;
  • made of plexiglass;
  • old glass aquarium.

In order for the mollusk to feel comfortable, the volume of the container must be at least 10 liters; if a family of snails lives in it, this means more. For admission fresh air The terrarium should be equipped with top covers with small holes through which the inhabitant cannot escape. Caring for Achatina snails at home - how to fill the container:

  1. The bottom is covered with a layer of substrate 10 cm high; floral or pure peat is suitable. You can add sand, hazelnut shells or walnut cores to it. The substrate is needed so that the snail can burrow into the ground - they love to do this and lay there. The compost needs to be moistened a little from a spray bottle every day.
  2. Additionally, you can put large stones, driftwood, coconut halves in the aquarium - the snails will hide in them. Green vegetation (ferns, ivy) will decorate the living area and become useful food for the inhabitants.
  3. Place in a vessel plastic feeder with low edges and a drinking bowl made of a plastic lid.

Temperature for keeping Achatina snails

When cared for and kept at home, African Achatina will feel comfortable at a temperature of 20-30°C and a humidity of 80-95%. Such conditions are close to their natural environment. The activity of the mollusk depends on sunlight, humidity and ambient temperature. They go for walks mainly at night or during rainy periods. If gastropods climb up the walls, it means there is high humidity in their house; if they hide in the ground, it means it’s very dry. The container must not be installed under straight sun rays and near heating devices.

Caring for Achatina at home

When caring for unpretentious domestic Achatina snails, in addition to maintaining optimal temperature and humidity, they require cleaning the aquarium, balanced feeding, and care during the period of breeding mollusks. Close attention should be given to the pet’s shell - it protects it from diseases and external damage. When caring for Achatina snails at home, you can give them water treatments:

  1. Place a bath of cool water in the terrarium; there should not be much liquid in it in depth.
  2. Occasionally give your pets a warm shower, holding them in your hand over the sink for about 3 minutes.

Caring for Achatina snails at home - cleaning the terrarium:

  1. The container is cleaned 2-3 times every 3 months.
  2. Cleaning includes washing it completely and replacing the substrate.
  3. If the walls of the aquarium are covered with mucus (it is left by crawling gastropods) or an unpleasant odor is heard from it, an unscheduled cleaning needs to be done.

Caring for Achatina in winter

The giant Achatina snail requires care and maintenance in winter special attention. During the cold season, at low temperatures and insufficient humidity in the terrarium, the mollusk can go into suspended animation - hibernation, while covering its shell with a protective film. Many breeders do not recommend allowing Achatina to hibernate for more than 2 months, otherwise the individuals may die.

For young animals, suspended animation is generally harmful - they there is a period active growth and you need to constantly eat well. To wake up your pet, it is recommended to hold it under running warm water or simply sprinkle it. After a few minutes, he himself will break the protective film and appear in the light. To prevent the snail from hibernating, the home must have the recommended temperature and humidity.


Achatina – sink care

Large Achatina snails need special shell care; you need to pay attention to the following points:

  1. For good growth and development, the mollusk must receive a sufficient amount of calcium. Otherwise, your pet may begin to have problems with the shell - it will begin to peel off, become fragile, and the snail itself will never reach the gigantic size for which it is so famous. The inhabitant also needs calcium if she is pregnant or her shell is damaged. Chalk ground into powder is used as a top dressing. eggshells or sepia - a mineral stone for birds.
  2. Another common problem is chips and cracks in the sink. Sometimes a mollusk crawling along the upper edge of the house falls down, which can lead to injury to the shell. In this case, it is necessary to treat the damaged area antiseptic and place the pet in a separate vessel so that it does not rub against its relatives (Achatina loves to do this).

Achatina eggs - care

When caring for Achatina snails at home, you need to know that these mollusks are hermaphrodites. Each individual has both female and male reproductive organs and, upon reaching the age of 6-7 months, they can reproduce. To produce offspring, a pair of adult individuals is placed in a separate vessel for a week. Achatina are hyperfertile; they bury eggs in the ground approximately 2 weeks after mating. At one time, a clutch can contain 50-400 eggs. Their size is 4-5 mm, they resemble chicken in shape.

Many breeders care for the Achatina clutch in a separate container. They transfer them with a plastic spoon into a separate transparent vessel and sprinkle them with a 1-2 cm layer of soil so that the ever-digging adults do not harm the offspring. The substrate and the walls of the vessel must be irrigated daily, and the container must be covered with a lid. Egg development occurs at a temperature of 25-27°C and a humidity of 70%; it is important not to allow changes in the values ​​of these indicators.

Newborn Achatina snails - care

African newborn Achatina snails, whose clutches were cared for in comfortable temperature conditions, are born a month after fertilization. The shell of eggs becomes thin, all the calcium from it is used to form the baby’s shell. During the birth process, the mollusk separates and tries to get out of the ground. In this case, it is advisable to dig up the soil around the masonry to help the newborns get out. During the first few days, the snails eat the remains of their shell.

Little Achatina - care

Basic principles of caring for small Achatina:

  1. A temporary home for newborn snails can be an 8-10 liter food container; they do not need a spacious home.
  2. The lid of the container must have holes to allow air to enter.
  3. For the first few months, it is best to place a thermometer and hygrometer in the container. The optimal temperature for keeping small Achatina is 25-27°C, humidity is 65-70%.
  4. An incandescent lamp will help maintain the desired temperature, and a spray bottle will help maintain humidity.
  5. For small Achatina, cabbage and lettuce foliage serves as soil. If they live in a terrarium with a substrate, then preference should be given to flower soil and coconut shavings. Moss, sand, sawdust and stones are prohibited.
  6. It is better to place the container with babies on a shelf or bookshelf, rather than on a window.

What can you feed Achatina snails?

When caring for African Achatina snails at home, it is important to feed them correctly and in a timely manner so that the mollusk grows healthy and does not get sick. Their diet should consist of plant foods, mineral supplements and animal protein. Achatina – proper nutrition and care:

  1. Basic diet: lettuce, dandelion, plantain leaves; various greens; shoots of vegetables and grains.
  2. Vegetables: cucumbers, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, peas.
  3. Fruits and berries: apples, pears, watermelons, melons, bananas, apricots, plums, strawberries, raspberries, cherries.
  4. Proteins: puree from meat products, fish food, meat and bone meal, boiled egg.
  5. Mineral feeding: feed chalk, eggshells, small shrimps, special mixtures for reptiles, sepia.

There are a number of foods that should not be given to snails. Mortal danger for them it represents salt. It is necessary to ensure that in its pure form and in large quantities it was not included in their diet. It is prohibited to give gastropods spices, sweet, smoked, spicy or sour foods, fried food. From pasta raw potatoes You should also avoid citrus fruits; the latter do not have a very good effect on your pet’s shell.

What to feed Achatina in winter?

In the cold season, the diet of shellfish should not be meager. Winter food consists of: oatmeal, wheat bran, bread soaked in milk. The menu is supplemented with bananas, beets, and carrots. Most breeders grow snails on windowsills green grass what they sell in veterinary stores for cats. Many people do not know whether Achatina can be fed canned food. The answer is no, salt is bad for your pet’s health. It is better to replace pickled vegetables with frozen ones from the supermarket, defrosting them before feeding;

What to feed small Achatina snails?

  1. The first few days after birth, a few lettuce leaves generously sprinkled with eggshells or chalk are enough for them.
  2. After a week, chopped greens, grated vegetables, calcium and grain mixtures, ground in a coffee grinder, should be added to the baby’s diet.
  3. They need minerals to grow and form a beautiful and strong shell. Vegetable protein will help the formation of a healthy mollusk faster.
  4. From the second week of life, you can add animal protein to the menu.
  5. Starting from one month old Grated fruits and vegetables are replaced with cubes.

How many times should I feed Achatina?

If an African Achatina lives in the house, it must be fed and cared for correctly. better in the evening, because these mollusks are nocturnal creatures and in the evening they become active. For adults, one feeding per day is enough; it is allowed to give them food every other day. Young animals need to have 24/7 access to food. Food should not be placed on the ground so that it does not mix with the substrate and spoil or become moldy. For food you need to use a bowl or extreme case- lettuce leaf.


Achatina snails

As a rule, when we see an aquarium, we don’t even think that anyone other than fish and other aquatic inhabitants could live in it... However, fans of exotic pets never cease to amaze with their imagination and... keep snails in the house.

It is these domestic snails – Achatina – that we invite you to talk about today. Who knows, perhaps after reading this publication you will realize that you have dreamed of an Achatina snail all your life. Our article will tell you about the features of keeping this pet, and the advantages of this choice. So, stay with us, we guarantee you that we will surprise you today...

Who are Achatina snails?

Achatina snails or giant African snails (they are tens of times larger than ordinary snails) are a new hobby for shellfish fans, who are pleased that these creatures can be kept at home. Such snails are usually classified as belonging to the family Arhahatinidae, which includes several genera. The family itself unites more than 60 various types, including representatives of the genus Achatina and Arhahatina.

Types of snails Achatina

Representatives of the genus Arhahatin can be considered more primitive than the representatives of the genus themselves Achatina. They have rounded shape, the blunted crown of its shell. And, the length of such a shell in the largest representative of this genus can reach 12 centimeters in length. The shell itself has a characteristic yellow stripe, which is located inside the mouth protrusion. The body of the mollusk is brown or brown in color. Arachachitines can also be smaller in size, if they have a lilac-colored mouth and a dark stripe along the body of the mollusk - then this is in front of you Arhahatina degneri.

The Achatina snails themselves are similar in appearance to the Achatina snails, but the top of their shell is elongated and pointed. It is noteworthy that Achatina is distinguished by extraordinary fertility. So, in one clutch there can be up to 500 eggs, which look like chicken eggs, but only in miniature. Achatina Achatina It is considered the largest land snail and has a yellow-brown shell with a zigzag pattern on its surface. The body of the mollusk is soft, gray or black with small white tubercles. There is evidence that

the heaviest specimen of such a snail weighed 450 grams, and the length of its shell was as much as 37 centimeters.

You may not be able to grow such a giant Achatina at home, but the snail will delight you with its large size. Achatina and snail are similar in appearance to Achatina Achatina fulica, however, the tubercles on her body are more pronounced than those of the previous species.

These are the types of Achatina snails (as a rule, sellers do not particularly bother to specify which genus is in front of you, and use one general name for all snails of this species - Achatina) you can find in a pet store.

Which snail from the genus Achatina is best to get?

Even though there is sufficient quantity species of such snails from the genus Achatina and Akhakhatina - the conditions for their maintenance are almost the same, therefore, When choosing such mollusks for the role of a pet, you should be guided by aesthetic preferences - the color of the shell, the size of the snail itself...

Benefits of keeping Achatina snails

The structure of the Achatina snail

Many breeders of such snails (it happens!) claim that they have an ideal pet- Achatina snail. Firstly, these creatures are not whimsical in matters of care. Secondly, they are not “talkative”; thirdly, they do not impose their company on you. Fourthly, if you need to leave for duty or go on vacation, you do not need to pester your friends with a request that they look after your pet. Your snail will live quietly without you for a week or two.

There are many other advantages of choosing a snail as a pet, but we will tell you about them in the following paragraphs of this publication.

Features of keeping the Achatina snail at home

So, you decided to have one of these in your home. exotic pet. To do this, you will have to take care to provide him with comfortable living conditions. The snail will not and will not sleep in the same bed with you, therefore, you will need to purchase a special house for it (container, aquarium,) in which it will live. You will also need other accessories, which we will tell you about.

Container for Achatina snail

As a home for the snail, you can purchase a terrarium made of plastic, plexiglass, or use an aquarium that you have left over from the fish. True, consider the fact that

For a medium-sized snail, in order for it to feel comfortable, a volume of space of at least 3 liters is required. Accordingly, if you are planning to have a family of snails, then the aquarium should be large.

Don’t forget that both the aquarium and the terrarium are equipped with special lids with small holes (the holes should be such that your Achatina cannot escape through them).

Container filler

The bottom of the snail's house - be it a terrarium or an aquarium (without water) - must be lined with a layer of substrate. It is better to take flower compost without additional fertilizers, or pure peat (however, it is worth remembering that it creates a too acidic environment). This is necessary so that your snail can burrow into this layer of filler - they love to do this, especially in daytime days. Make sure the substrate is constantly moist. If you overdry it, the snail will have to moisten it with its own mucus and in the process of this action it will inevitably get dirty, and the glass of its terrarium will also “decorate” its marks. Therefore, moisten the substrate layer yourself - then it will be easier for the snail and more pleasant for you. But what cannot be used as a substrate layer is clay and fatty loams; it is also not recommended to add pieces of bark or wood to such a substrate. You can also sprinkle loose sand or line the bottom with hazelnut shells or walnut cores.

By the way, Achatina themselves love sand - for them it is natural environment habitat in which they become unusually animated and... begin to multiply intensively, laying eggs. That's just it, with practical side point of view - sand is not very convenient, as the snails get dirty on it and stain the glass of the terrarium.

Oh, here you go nutshell- in this regard, it is much more convenient, however, if you do not clean the snail’s house too often, then flies can appear in such a substrate, which do not harm the snails, but fly throughout the apartment.

Remember, no matter what filler you choose, its layer must be at least 4 centimeters.

How to clean a terrarium

Depending on the type of filler in such a terrarium, cleaning procedures are carried out 2-3 times every 3-4 months. Cleaning the terrarium includes washing it completely (without using chemicals, use ordinary baking soda as a cleaning powder), and replacing the substrate layer. If you notice that the walls of the terrarium are covered with mucus, which is left by crawling snails, or an unpleasant odor emanates from the terrarium, carry out an unscheduled cleaning of the snails’ habitat.

Lighting for a terrarium with snails

Additionally, there is no need to install any lighting fixtures in the terrarium in order to create special lighting for snails. Because light intensity does not particularly affect the life processes of mollusks. For them, only the alternation of day and night is important, since these creatures are still more active at night, while during the day they prefer to hide in a layer of substrate away from prying eyes and rest. In this case, lighting is necessary more for you, and not for the mollusks. However, even if you decide to illuminate the life of your pets, be sure to take the lighting device outside the container, since if the lighting is inside, a snail may crawl in and damage the system itself - a short circuit may occur with fatal for your pet.

Temperature for a terrarium with snails

Since you have a tropical animal in your home that is accustomed to high temperatures, be prepared for the fact that the air in the terrarium will need to be “heated” to 20-28 degrees above zero. At this temperature, the snails feel familiar and behave actively. However, you should not try to heat the air in the terrarium using direct sunlight or heating devices located near the terrarium. This idea will not end well, and the mollusk may suffer from the temperature contrast in your home.

Additional accessories for a terrarium with snails

In order to have a little fun for your snail and decorate the interior of the terrarium, you can put pieces of wood, moss, and splinters (not sharp) from clay flower pots inside. All this will become not only a decoration of the “landscape”, but also a shelter for your pet. However, make sure that all these items that you place inside the terrarium are clean and safe.

Some terrarium owners even manage to plant living plants inside. They look extremely original and create a cozy atmosphere inside the snail’s home. But, make sure that when watering them, you do not over-moisten the soil of the substrate. Also, when choosing plants for planting, give preference to those species whose leaves have small fibers. As for ferns and ivy - although they look beautiful, but... snails will eat such leaves, therefore, you will not get aesthetics from such a green oasis.

Features of caring for Achatina snails at home

What to feed Achatina snails

Achatina snails are vegetarians

The larger the snail, the less often you can feed it(feeding frequency is allowed once every few days). But, if you have small Achatina, they need to be fed daily. True, fortunately for you, these mollusks are vegetarians, therefore, you will need to provide them with the most “green” diet possible, taking into account the permitted foods and combining all this with the personal taste preferences of your Achatina.

Vitamins for Achatina snails

In order for snails to grow well and quickly, they need a source of vitamins and calcium carbonate. Place a piece of chalk in the terrarium or sprinkle some eggshells - the snail will be grateful to you for such care. By the way, chalk must be natural; factory-made chalk obtained chemically will be ignored by her. As for vitamin and mineral mixtures, they can be purchased at a pet store. Complexes that are created specifically for reptiles will suit you.

Do Achatina snails drink water?

Achatina snails not only eat, but also drink, therefore, there should always be a container with fresh and clean water in the terrarium. However, make sure that the container is not too large or deep, as the clam may drown. To humidify the air, it is also recommended to occasionally spray the walls of the terrarium from the inside with water, but you should not be too zealous - the snail is not aquatic, and it will not be comfortable for it to live in a swamp.

When the snail grows up, it will be possible to install a small pool for it - since they really love water, which they need for the processes of mucus secretion.

Domestic Achatina snails are bred either for the sake of observing exotic mollusks, or as live cosmetic product. Their mucus, if the snail is placed on the face or hands, tightens and moisturizes the skin. In any case, in order for your pets to develop well and not get sick, they need to be properly cared for.

How to care for snails - building a house

Achatina naturally does not need a real house, but you will have to take care of a good plastic container. The container must be made of transparent plastic and must have a lid. Using a hot nail, make several holes in the lid. An alternative to a container can be a glass aquarium or terrarium, but also build a lid for it.

For a comfortable stay, one adult snail requires a house with a volume of at least 3 liters. If you are going to keep several Achatina, for example 3 pieces, then you will need a nine-liter container. Snails grow quite slowly, so at first a more modest house will be enough for them. When will the snail reach its goal? maximum size(the length of the shell will be 15-20 cm) then transplant it into a suitable container.

How to care for snails - preparing the substrate

Snails love to burrow into a moist, loose environment, so it is necessary to add a so-called substrate to the bottom of the container. Its layer should be at least 4 cm. Achatina spend the bulk of the day in the substrate and lay their eggs there.

As a substrate you can use:

  • coarse river sand;
  • coconut fiber;
  • chopped walnut membranes;
  • hazelnut shells crushed into large crumbs.

Make sure the substrate is constantly moist, but not wet. Periodically spray it with water from a small household sprayer.


How to care for snails - provide lighting

Achatina mollusks are not at all demanding of light - they will feel great even in a dark corner of the room. But if you want to observe the measured life of snails, then place the container closer to the window, but not in the sun. If they seem to have a lot of light, they will regulate the amount themselves - Achatina will simply burrow into the substrate.


How to care for snails - maintaining the temperature

Unlike light, which snails are not interested in at all, they pay attention to temperature. Provide the snails with an even average daily temperature from +20 to +28 degrees. At a lower temperature, snails may fall asleep, and at a higher temperature, they may die.


How to care for snails - give food

Achatina is not at all picky about food. They will eat anything fresh vegetables and fruits, but only if you get them used to them. Give them cucumbers, apples, melon, scupper, cabbage, apricots, tomatoes, zucchini and whatever else appears on your table. Don’t make the food too small – just cut the vegetables and fruits into slices or large pieces. Snails will climb on bananas and lettuce leaves and gnaw off the parts they like.

Feed as much as they will eat in a day. Each individual snail can eat more or less - you will see this for yourself. The only thing to remember is that while your Achatina is small, they should receive food every day. Adults can go without food for even several weeks.


How to care for snails - don't forget about water

Snails love water very much. And not so much to drink as to bathe in it. Be sure to place a flat saucer at the bottom of the container and pour some water into it. Pour water only for adult snails, because small ones can simply drown in it.

If you wish, you can even wash large snails under running water. Help yourself with a soft sponge - wipe the sink with it.


How to care for snails - feed them with microelements

In order for snails to have strong shells, they must be provided with calcium and vitamins. Special food additives for Achatina you can purchase at any pet store. Instead of store-bought preparations, you can put crushed eggshells and pieces of natural chalk in the container. The kind sold in stores for writing on chalkboards or drawing on asphalt is not suitable.


Even the smallest snail secretes a lot of waste products. You can see them both on the substrate and on the walls of the container. Long sausages not only do not decorate the snail's house, but also threaten to rot. Remove waste products every day. Once a month, remove the snails from the container and wash it hot water with soda, and then add fresh substrate. At the same time, you can bathe the snails.

If another 10-15 years mollusks come from East Africa considered exotic, today keeping Achatina snails as pets is available to almost everyone. Unlike anyone else, possessing their own “extraterrestrial” charm, they won the hearts of millions of people and won the right to be considered true friends of man! The owners call them touching and charming creatures and are simply delighted with their charges!

Achatina snail as a pet

If you are partial to all kinds of exotic things, but are also a fairly busy person, then the giant Achatina snails (Latin: Achatina fulica) can be ideal pets for you. They are undemanding in maintenance and unpretentious in food; they do not need to buy any special food - they are content with vegetables, fruits and eggshells. Of course, you cannot expect the same affection from them as from dogs, and they cannot be trained, but caring for these mollusks is much simpler - they do not make noise, do not require walks, do not take up much space, are hypoallergenic and have absolutely no smell. Another significant advantage of these snails is their sociability. In your own snail's way, of course. They recognize the owner, greet him, crawl out of the shell and reach out to him with their horns, and when they see a stranger, they hide. They don’t mind when the owner takes them in his hands, however, provided that these hands are clean and wet. And the lifespan of giants is impressive - with proper care, snails live up to 7 or even 10 years.

About 100 species of giant snails are known to science, about 20 species are popular among breeders - they differ in the shape and pattern of the shell, as well as the color of the body - from milky white to dark brown. In specialized stores and from the owners of these animals you can purchase from 30 rubles per individual, but it is still better to buy them from professional breeders.

By the way, in some US states keeping Achatina is punishable by five years in prison, and they themselves are destroyed when discovered. Americans are playing it safe: at one time, these cute creatures literally devoured the whole of Florida - from crops to plaster on houses! In our climate, these mollusks wildlife do not survive, therefore there is no danger to the surrounding world.

Achatina have quite impressive appearance. The shell of this largest representative of land mollusks can grow up to 25 cm with a body length of up to 30 cm! Particularly large individuals weigh like a loaf of bread and barely fit in the palm of your hand.

Home for a giant snail

For one snail you need a terrarium (both plastic and glass will do) with a volume of at least 10 liters and with a wall height of at least 40 cm, and it is better, of course, to have more space. The terrarium must be tightly covered with a lid with holes for ventilation, otherwise the snail will easily go on a journey around the apartment. A snail's home can also be made from an ordinary aquarium, even an old one that has leaked - after all, you don't need to pour water into it.

Climate

As a native of Africa, Achatina naturally enjoys warmth. The temperature in the terrarium should be constantly maintained at 26-27°C. For heating, it is better to use external sources such as thermal mats: after all, inside its home, a mollusk crawls on absolutely all surfaces and can easily get burned. Despite the fact that snails are tropical inhabitants, you cannot place a terrarium next to a battery.

A slight decrease in air temperature is not critical for mollusks - without heating in the terrarium at room temperature, Achatina will simply be less active. But if your pet’s home is too cold or too hot, or if sharp changes temperature, it can hide in the shell and go into suspended animation (or simply hibernate). In a sealed shell, it can sleep for up to one and a half months without harm to its health. To wake up your pet, it is usually enough to pour warm water on it. In addition to the temperature being uncomfortable for mollusks, they can hibernate for other reasons, namely: poor quality, poor nutrition, change of soil, acclimatization to a new place, stress, painful condition.

Achatina loves humidity: regularly spray the walls of the aquarium and the soil with water. But don't confuse humidity with dampness: if it gets too wet, the snails will think it's the rainy season and will try to hibernate as well.

Pets do not need a light source - they prefer a nocturnal lifestyle.

Remember that direct sunlight is harmful to Achatina, so in no case should you leave the terrarium in the open sun on a hot summer day.

Priming

The most preferable soil is coconut substrate, garden soil or high-moor peat - it will be convenient for snails to bury themselves in it. All this is sold in flower or gardening stores. Coconut substrate and peat can be changed less often than soil, but they will have to be moistened more often.

Do not skimp on the soil: Achatina should be able to completely burrow into it to sleep. If your pet is already too big for this, you can add special moss to the landscape. Important: garden soil cannot be used with fertilizers!

Feeders and drinkers

Achatina loves water, so they should always have access to clean water, but do not place the container too large. After all, your pet is a land mollusk and does not swim in water. Water can be poured into a plastic jar lid. Do not place feeders and drinkers made of glass, stone and other hard or breakable materials in the terrarium: its inhabitant may not calculate her strength when climbing a steep slope, fall, break her shell and die! You can use plastic bowls for rodents as feeders.

Bathing Achatina

Don’t forget to bathe your pet once a week, or better yet, more often! To do this, you can fill a shallow plate with lukewarm water (no more than 25°C) and send the snail there, or you can simply take it to the sink and bathe it directly under the tap with a stream of warm water. By the way, this is one of the most pleasant moments in caring for the Achatina snail - you will see how she will enjoy the water procedure!

Snails eat, if not everything, then a lot, still preferring plant foods. Any vegetables and fruits, cereals, fresh mushrooms. For greens, shellfish can be given dandelion leaves, plantain, clover, lettuce, and spinach. Tradescantia is highly respected. Sometimes you need to offer meat, poultry, fish, egg white. All food is finely chopped so that the pet can safely swallow it.

It has been noted that Achatina has selectivity for certain types food. This may depend on taste preferences or habituation when feeding the same foods. Usually snails prefer cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, bananas and are not particularly fond of cabbage leaves, beets, chicken and beef.

When feeding clams with brightly colored vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, sweet red peppers), their shells will become beautiful and bright.

After the pet finishes its meal, any remaining food should be removed so as not to contaminate the soil.

Young individuals are fed daily, adults - once every few days. It is better to feed them in the evening.

You should not give your snail sweet, spicy, sour, smoked or fried food. Citrus fruits are also prohibited. Under no circumstances should you offer salty food - salt can kill shellfish.

In addition to food, snails need calcium. A deficiency of this element can lead to curvature and deformation of the shell. In nature, these mollusks obtain calcium by passing soil through them. At home, to replenish Achatina’s body with calcium, chalk (natural or feed) and crushed eggshells are mixed into the soil. For the same purpose, eggshells ground into powder are mixed into the snail’s food. You can also use crushed shell rock.

It is necessary to remove pet waste every day, and general cleaning– once every two weeks.

Precautions when dealing with a snail

When decorating a terrarium, do not use hard or breakable objects - stones, driftwood, glass feeders and drinkers, etc. A snail falling from the lid or wall of the terrarium onto a hard object can cause the mollusk to break its shell. But there should be more soil and moss.

You should pick up your pet by following its body, do not pull the snail by its shell!

Do not knock on the shell or squeeze it; the shell of Achatina is quite fragile.

Do not under any circumstances try to “tear” the snail from any surface by the shell. In this barbaric way, it is easy to injure the body of the mollusk (and then it will die) or push through the shell (and it will end up with an ugly scar). It’s better to wet the Achatina with water and take it under your head with wet fingers - it will easily end up in your hands.

Here, in general, are all the basic wisdom of caring for giant snails. If you have prepared a terrarium, you can safely bring Achatina into the house and start growing and raising this funny mollusk.