Care and maintenance of snails at home for an uninitiated person looks quite simple and understandable. But in practice, worries with such a pet are no less than with other representatives of wildlife. How can beginners properly keep small and large snails at home? What is the difference between land and water species of beautiful ornamental mollusks? What temperature, humidity, feeding regimen should be observed?

In search of answers to all these questions, novice breeders often choose the trial and error method, they are disappointed in their new pets. You can avoid these consequences if you study in advance all the subtleties of keeping snails of different types. An experienced owner without unnecessary difficulties maintains the health of pets and the environment in their place of residence in optimal condition, and for this he gets real pleasure from communicating with domestic shellfish.

Choosing and arranging an aquarium

When creating a home for domestic snails, it is worth considering the features of their natural habitat. Land individuals require a mollusk or terrarium with a volume of 10 liters per 1 individual. For large exotic species, it is recommended to choose a container at the rate of 15-20 liters per snail.

Aquatic species need the arrangement of a classic aquarium with plants or can be planted in a ready-made tank. For 1-2 individuals, a volume of 5 liters is needed. Snails are not very sensitive to acidity and hardness of water, but react negatively to high levels of phosphates, nitrates and other signs of environmental degradation. The temperature regimes of keeping depend on what conditions are typical for the life of mollusks in nature.

The arrangement of the ulitarium implies the creation of the most safe environment for land snails. It is necessary to create ventilation holes in the container, with the help of which the microclimate will be regulated.

Ventilation doors should not be too large in diameter, otherwise small snails will be able to get out through them.

A special substrate is laid at the bottom of the terrarium - peat, coconut or soil, with a layer thickness of 2 to 10 cm, decorations, plants, bowls and drinkers are immersed inside. A lid is laid on the surface of the container and fixed. A home for snails that are active mainly at night, additional lighting is not needed. For them, a regular change of day and night is much more important. Do not place them in parts of the room with bright artificial lighting.

Temperature and humidity

The best conditions for the life of land snails imply the constant preservation of certain temperature and humidity indicators. Sharp changes in the state of the environment are especially dangerous for mollusks. The best indicators are considered to be + 20-26 degrees Celsius. With a decrease in these indicators, tropical mollusks can hibernate.

Species living in central Russia are able to withstand lower temperatures without any special consequences.

Humidity is also important for snails living in captivity. The atmosphere inside the terrarium should be around 80%. Based on the type of mollusk, these parameters can vary by 10% in both directions. The easiest way to control this data is with the help of special thermometers and hygrometers. Soil moisture should be optimal, because it is in this environment that snails spend most of the day.

What and how to feed?

Snails are fed every other day or every day, depending on the species and age. Young individuals are fed 2-3 times a day. Food should be the most varied and very moderate.

Periodically it is worth changing products so as not to accustom the pet to too monotonous type of food.

The diet of domestic snails usually consists of:

Mineral supplements

They are needed for the entry of calcium into the body, the formation of the shell. Ground eggshells, chalk can act as top dressing, ready-made mixtures can be given.

fresh greens

It makes up the bulk of the diet, including lettuce leaves, young shoots of vegetables. It is useful to give pets dandelion shoots, plantain, wheat germ and other cereals.

Fresh fruits and berries

The juicy pulp of raspberries, strawberries, melons, watermelons, pears and bananas is the best treat for a snail.

vegetables

The pulp of pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, tomato is suitable.

Protein products

Boiled egg white, meat, ready-made feed mixtures are given.

With a balanced diet, you can not worry about the health of your pet.

How to care?

The process of caring for snails at home will not seem difficult even for beginner breeders.

Large pets of exotic species do not require special attention and spend most of their time in the ground.

But this does not mean that they will have to be monitored less than other inhabitants of the terrarium. Among the general rules:

• occasional bathing in warm water;
• complete cleaning and cleaning of the aquarium at least once a week;
• regular bedding change;
• performing emergency cleaning if necessary.

From time to time, snails can hibernate.

You can wake up a snail by holding it for a while under a stream of warm water.

Caring for the sink

The shell of domestic mollusks needs regular care and attention from the breeder. The larger the snail, the more careful the owner will have to be. When cracks, chips, and other damage are detected, it is necessary to increase the volume of mineral supplements, increase the proportion of calcium in the diet. Similar measures are taken when signs of molting, shell delamination are detected. If there is a large crack or chip on the surface, the individual must be deposited separately, to eliminate the risks of additional injury, and to carry out antiseptic treatment.

Bathing

Snails love to swim, but it's important to do it right. To receive water procedures, the mollusk is placed on the palm of your hand and placed under a thin stream of warm water.

You can not put the snail in a cold container with water, allow it to come into contact with household chemicals.

During a properly organized bathing, the pet will relax, show itself in all its glory.

Disease prevention

If safety measures or rules for keeping a domestic snail are violated, pets can get sick. Signs of poor health are stratification of the shell, refusal of food, general lethargy of the mollusk, and abundant secretion of mucus. In order to eliminate possible problems, it is imperative to protect the snail from the neighborhood of larger or aggressive species, poor ventilation, excessive contamination of the container. Snails also get sick with a sharp temperature drop, too close an aquarium, excessive dryness of the substrate. It is worth eliminating the sources of possible discomfort, and then the pets will feel better.

Caring for eggs and small clams

Many snails are viviparous species - their babies are born after eggs mature in the mother's body. But there are also egg-laying species, and their offspring require increased attention to themselves. These types of snails also include Achatina (with the exception of some species) - one of the most popular among land mollusks.

After fertilization, the snail bears eggs for a certain time - for Achatina this period is 6 weeks. After this period, the female digs a hole in the ground and makes a clutch.

After that, it is not recommended to touch the eggs, except when they are scattered around the terrarium. If the masonry is made compactly, when harvesting in the soil, you will notice round elements similar to vitamins, with a fragile outer shell. False eggs are also found - without a strong shell, with a translucent, rather than matte shell color.

A very large clutch is recommended to be divided, some of the embryos to be frozen. You can not throw out the masonry without freezing, otherwise the snails can breed in the most unexpected places. Eggs are not recommended to be left without soil, they need high humidity and a constant temperature in the terrarium. It would be optimal to transfer the masonry to the "children's" aquarium - they simply carefully pry it with a spoon along with the substrate and transfer it, and then cover it with a damp bedding.

It will take about 1 month for the babies to appear. Not all offspring will survive - you need to be prepared for this. If the babies are kept with the mother, after they hatch, she will take care of the hatched children.

They will crawl out of the ground after the egg shell is eaten.

Newborn snails require careful handling. Their shell is quite fragile and can easily crack. Feeding should be carried out in a standard way, offering the young the same food as adults, but with additional mineral supplements to strengthen the shell.

Growing representatives of different species

Domestic snails are represented by a fairly large variety of species, but this does not mean at all that any outdoor molluscs are suitable for captivity. If you want to have a pet, you should give preference to options known and proven. Almost all terrestrial species prefer to burrow into the ground during the daytime, and come to the surface only at night. To properly contain them, you need to consider their compatibility and some other important points.

Decorative domestic snails

Domestic snails should be kept according to their species. Some species can be housed together, but living together will result in interbreeding.

In addition, when large mollusks are combined with smaller ones, cannibalism attacks associated with a lack of food can occur. Experienced breeders recommend not mixing species in a terrarium and separating a compartment for babies in the litaria so that they are not eaten by adult relatives.

Among the popular land and ornamental molluscs for home keeping, these species can be noted.

Achatina (reticulata, fulica, albino albopicta, immaculata)

These African snails are exotic guests in the Russian expanses, but they are very popular and in demand due to their general unpretentiousness, contact and attractive appearance. Achatina are considered a species suitable for "training". They recognize the owner, are able to get used to a certain feeding schedule, love bathing, willingly communicate with the owner.

grape

Small (up to 5-6 cm) snails that easily take root in terrariums. In content, they are as unpretentious as possible, have a variety of shell colors.

Garden

Ordinary earth snails, which cannot be bought at a pet store.

These street mollusks can be collected in the garden on a par with the grape ones found in the southern regions of Russia.

Longevity is considered a distinctive feature of garden snails - they are able to reach the age of 15 years, but on average they live only up to 7-8 years.

Archahatins

Another African species of land snail, inferior to Achatina in decorativeness. The shell of these snails is round, not pointed. The marginate subspecies is considered the largest; it grows up to 16 cm in length.

Karakolus

Tree Cuban snails, recommended for keeping in a vertically oriented aquarium.

They are quite mobile, have saucer shells of bright colors.

It is better to start such pets in flocks, with the obligatory placement of branches and snags inside the terrarium.

Octon subbulins

One of the smallest among domestic snails, reaching no more than 3-5 cm in length when kept in captivity. The colony is able to settle even in a miniature aquarium. Mollusks are unpretentious, and it is quite interesting to watch them. The only inconvenience may be the uncontrolled reproduction of snails.

Megalobulimus or megas

Land South American snails are gigantic in size - the shell length reaches 11 cm. Young snails are dimly colored, in brown tones, have a large body compared to the shell. They are not very prolific in captivity, which compares favorably with Achatina, they prefer to sleep for 2-3 days in the ground, it is not recommended to wake them up during this period.

• ensure regular replacement of food trays;
• several times a week to carry out wet cleaning of the walls of the house;
• bathe your pet periodically.

Freshwater mollusks suitable for home keeping - aquarium snails, can be acquired on purpose or accidentally introduced into the aquarium by transfer with plants or soil.

If numbers are kept low, ground species can loosen the bottom substrate, soften the water, fight green algae and water blooms.

But with uncontrolled reproduction, the snails themselves can become a serious problem in the aquarium.

Among the species suitable for aquarium maintenance, one can distinguish the following.

Apulia

A large mollusk found naturally in rivers in the United States. It stands out for its large size, quite popular among aquarists.

Batman

A snail that can live in salt water. Considered one of the best algae glass cleaners.

Brief description of African snails

The African snail Achatina lives in the tropics and subtropics of our planet. Scientists have identified more than 60 varieties of these exotic animals. Domestic species include fulica and reticulata. The body of Achatina is soft, the pointed shell of some mollusks reaches 30 cm.

Representatives of this species can be of the following colors:

• black-brown;
• marsh;
• brown with dark stripes;
• other colors.

There is also an albino species, which has a white color and is smaller.

The color of the shell depends on the diet. In an adult snail, it usually acquires a greenish tint. On the shell there is a pattern in the form of zigzag and spiral lines.

The visual organs are on the horns. Achatina sees no further than 1 cm, but the aroma of your favorite cabbage or adored salad can be smelled at a distance of 1.5 m. An individual weighs from 0.3 to 0.45 kg.

Achatina are very funny. These exotic animals are very observant. They quickly remember their owner, get used to him and subsequently distinguish him from other people.

Usually gastropods are purchased from breeders, less often in pet stores. Sometimes they are given away for free due to the excessive fertility of shellfish.

Terrarium equipment for the Achatina snail

Care and maintenance of Achatina snails are not difficult. First you need to buy special equipment and accessories. In our conditions, representatives of this species are kept in terrariums. Another option for keeping gastropods is an aquarium without water or some kind of glass box. The container can be made not only of glass, but also of plastic (preferably, because traces of mucus are too noticeable on the glass). For young animals, a small plastic box is suitable, in which small animals are usually transported.

One individual requires approximately 5 liters of capacity. The more free space, the better - the future size of the mollusk depends on it.

The dwelling of pets should be equipped with a lid with small holes for fresh air to enter. In addition, this way the pet will not be able to escape.

At the bottom of the terrarium should be soil without any fertilizer. Ordinary garden soil has a minus - dirty glass of the aquarium and the gastropod itself. It is better to use pure peat or a special substrate (for example, orchid), which can be bought at a pet store. Keep this substrate out of your pet's food.

It is not recommended to use soil mixtures from flower shops, as they contain various fertilizers and even pesticides. It is also forbidden to sprinkle the bottom of the terrarium with cat litter, as these granules have strong moisture-absorbing properties.

Achatina are very fond of burrowing into the substrate with a shell, so it is desirable that the litter is deep, approximately 4–7 cm. Clear the ground of stones, otherwise they may injure the delicate body and shell.

It is necessary to equip the dwelling of pets with snags and shards from clay pots, under which they will hide. You can also put moss on the bottom of the container (you can buy it at a pet store or plant store). It is recommended to plant plants in the ground that are covered with small villi: ivy or fern. Over time, plantings will have to be updated, as Achatina eat greens with pleasure. You can place several small artificial plants in the container - this will create a pleasant atmosphere.

A plastic tray with low edges can serve as a feeder. It should not be too deep, easy to remove and wash. Great idea - plastic saucers and plates from the doll's kitchen set. Instead of a drinker, you can use plastic caps.

So, the accessories necessary for arranging the house of the African Achatina snail are:

• fragments of clay pottery;
• driftwood;
• moss, ivy, fern;
• artificial plants;
• feeder;
• drinking bath.

It is recommended to clean up the house once every 1.5-2 months. What needs to be done? Wash the container with environmentally friendly detergents. Replace the earth bedding or disinfect the soil: ignite it in an oven at 180 ° C for 12 minutes - this will rid the earth of insects and their larvae.

Before you let your pet out for a walk around the apartment - look around! The room should not have pointed objects, various obstacles, dirty areas, drafts. It is also not recommended to walk the gastropod for a long time, so as not to harm him.

Climatic conditions for keeping Achatina at home

It is very important to keep shellfish properly. It is necessary to create conditions similar to natural ones. Be sure to purchase a thermometer to monitor the microclimate inside the home. + 20-25 ° С is the optimal temperature for keeping African snails.

If the gastropods climb up the walls, then there is high humidity in the terrarium. If they hide in the ground, it means that their house is too dry.

Mollusks should not be exposed to direct sunlight. It is also contraindicated to place the container next to the battery or heater, as this threatens to dry out the soil. In winter, use special lamps that are used when caring for reptiles. They need to be installed outside the container.

Increased dryness is very harmful to the gastropod shell. Spray the bedding and snails periodically with water using a spray bottle. But do it very moderately so that the pet's home does not turn into a swamp.

With the onset of cold days, representatives of the species fall into suspended animation. To wake up a pet, the dwelling must have high humidity and warmth (+ 28 ° C). On a sleeping mollusk should be sprinkled with warm water.

How to feed Achatina snails?

Achatina feeds mainly on plant foods. In the wild, it can even harm agricultural crops, trees, and flowers. In addition, Achatina is a natural orderly, eating the rotting remains of plants, insects, and animal excrement. Regardless, feed your pets clean and fresh food.

The Achatina menu at home should be varied. The mollusk most of all loves fresh cucumber, apple, lettuce.

The main list of what Achatina evidence eats:

• boiled eggs;
• carrot;
• tomatoes;
• banana;
• Bulgarian sweet pepper;
• Boiled potatoes);
• porridge (boiled);
• milk;
• sour cream;
• bread soaked in milk.

In the summer, give your pets more greens, clover, dandelion leaves, berries, pieces of fruit and vegetables. Snails can be treated with mushrooms and dry oatmeal flakes. They are happy to gobble up dry food for aquarium fish or cat food. And since representatives of this species do not disdain to eat carrion, they will like bone meal and mashed meat.

Achatina with a deficiency in the body of calcium can attack their relatives and gnaw their shell. In this case, the following components should be immediately added to the diet of snails:

• sepia (bone or cuttlefish comb);
• special additives for reptiles;
• fodder chalk (to crush their main feed);
• daphnia (small shrimp);
• crushed shell rock;
• eggshell crushed to dust;
• cottage cheese;
• fresh cheese;
• pumpkin seeds;
• porridge and grain mixture (ground on a coffee grinder).

Saturate your pets with the above mentioned foods and supplements that are essential for their life.

Feeding is preferably done in the evening, as snails are more active at night. Babies are fed every day, and guarded - only 2-3 times a week.

The Achatina snail, which eats a lot and variously, becomes very large. Because of this, she can hardly fit in her mollusk. The owners should not worry: if this happens, the snail will limit itself in food and its growth will stop.

Be sure to give your pets clean, fresh water. It is very important not only for quenching thirst, but also for the production of mucus. In addition, it is recommended to spray the container with water daily so that the walls of the home and pet items are moistened.

It is contraindicated to feed Achatina snails with the following products:

• flour;
• sweet;
• salty;
• pickled;
• fried;
• smoked;
• sour;
• alcohol-containing;
• potato eyes.

From such food, mollusks can wither and even die.

It is strictly contraindicated to give salt to gastropods! Be sure to read the ingredient list on the food packaging. Even in a small amount, salt is detrimental to the mollusk.

Make sure that there are no pieces of food left in the container after feeding the pets, as it will rot. Another important point - although the waste products of the mollusk have no smell, but over time they emit charm. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the walls of the terrarium from the mucus of crawling gastropods.

Hygiene procedures, bathing

Gastropods of this subspecies love to take water treatments. Put in a terrarium a small bath with filtered and non-cold water, where the pets will splash. If there are young animals in the container, then there should be little water in the bath (in terms of depth).

Give your pets warm showers from time to time. How to do it? Hold your pet in your hand over the sink. Direct a gentle jet of warm water at it. The duration of the procedure is no more than three minutes. The mollusk perceives such bathing with great enthusiasm - it stretches to its full length and tries to substitute all parts of the body under the jets of water.

Reproduction, care for small Achatina

Interestingly, achatina is a hermaphrodite! She has both male and female reproductive organs. The duration of the incubation period is 28–56 days, depending on the type of gastropods and the conditions in which they are kept.

Achatina hyperfertile! If the owners of Achatina do not want the pets to breed, it is worth planting them in different places or simply washing off the eggs that have appeared. If the owners want the pupils to give offspring, they should be extremely careful in cleaning their home so as not to damage the eggs. And most importantly - monitor the humidity of the air.

Newborn snails are separated from adults. It is advisable to put lettuce leaves under the kids, so they do not suffocate in a loose substrate. Make a layer of soil less than 3 cm. It is recommended to give small Achatina liquid porridge and mashed carrots so that their shell strengthens.

Please note: until the snails are 1.5 years old, they should not be allowed to breed.

How long do Achatina snails live?

By the year, representatives of the species reach sexual maturity. Achatina grow all his life, but after the second year of life, the rate of their development slows down. On average, they live up to 7-8 years. Proper care will help the mollusk live for 10 years.

You should know that the enemies of the gastropod include:

• birds;
• mice;
• lizards;
• frogs;
• toads;
• beetles;
• centipedes;
• African snail gonaxis.

However, the most common problem that breeders face is cracked and chipped shells. Sometimes a mollusk crawling along the upper edge of the terrarium falls down and hits sharp or hard objects. Often such “flights” lead to shell injuries. In this case, you need to treat the damaged area with an antiseptic and remove the injured mollusk from its relatives (snails like to rub against each other).

So that your pupils do not get sick, you should not hold them in your hands too often: the skin of the gastropods is delicate, vulnerable, and it is also prone to infection with microbes. Don't forget about it.

So, if you decide to start a terrarium with African snails and provide them with proper care and maintenance, do your best to equip the house according to the requirements of the pet, feed him the right food and carefully monitor his behavior and health.

Proper care of Achatina snails at home is an important topic for lovers of exotic pets. These African beauties are considered the largest of the molluscs, 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 - content

African Achatina snails are terrestrial, care and maintenance at home do not require increased hassle. Many aquarists consider them ideal domesticated pets. Achatina do not smell, do not bite, do not cause allergies, do not require communication and walking, even on vacation or a business trip you do not have to worry about them - the snail will easily live alone for a week or two.

What is needed to keep Achatina snails?

For unpretentious Achatina, when kept at home, you will need a transparent container. Suitable Vessel:

• from plastic;
• from plexiglass;
• old glass aquarium.

To make the mollusk feel comfortable, the volume of the container must be at least 10 liters, if a family of snails lives in it, it means more. For fresh air to enter, the terrarium must be equipped with top covers with small holes through which the occupant 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, flower compost 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, lay their eggs there. Compost should be moistened a little with a spray bottle daily.
2. Additionally, large stones, snags, halves of coconut can be placed in the aquarium - snails will hide in them. Green vegetation (fern, ivy) will decorate the living area and become useful food for the inhabitants.
3. A plastic feeder with low edges and a drinker made of a plastic cap are placed in the vessel.

Temperature for keeping snails Achatina

African Achatina, when cared for and kept at home, will feel comfortable at a temperature of 20-30 ° C and a humidity of 80-95%. Similar conditions are close to their natural environment. Mollusk activity depends on sunlight, humidity and ambient temperature. They go for walks mainly at night or during the rainy season. If the gastropods climb up the walls, it means that their house has high humidity, they hide in the ground - it is very dry. The container must not be installed in direct sunlight and near heating devices.

Unpretentious domestic Achatina snails during care, in addition to maintaining optimal temperature and humidity, require cleaning the aquarium, balanced feeding, care during the breeding of mollusks. Close attention should be paid to the pet's shell - it is his protection from diseases and external damage. When caring for Achatina snails at home, you can arrange water procedures for them:

1. Place a bath with non-cold water in the terrarium, there should not be much liquid in it in depth.
2. Occasionally give 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 in 3 months.
2. Cleaning includes a complete wash and replacement of the substrate.
3. If the walls of the aquarium are covered with mucus (it is left by crawling gastropods) or an unpleasant smell is heard from it, an unscheduled cleaning is necessary.

Achatina care in winter

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

For young animals, suspended animation is generally harmful - they have a period of active growth and need to constantly eat well. To wake up a pet, it is recommended to hold it under a stream of warm water or just sprinkle it. In a few minutes, he himself will crack the protective film and show himself into the light. In order for the snail not to hibernate, the recommended temperature and humidity must be in the dwelling.

Achatina - shell care

Large Achatina snails need special care for the shell, 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, the pet may start having problems with the shell - it will begin to exfoliate, become fragile, and the snail itself will not 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, powdered eggshells or sepia, a mineral stone for birds, are used as top dressing.


2. Another common problem is chipped and cracked shells. Sometimes a mollusk crawling along the upper edge of the house falls down, which can lead to shell injury. In this case, it is necessary to treat the damaged area with an antiseptic and put the pet in a separate vessel so that it does not rub against its relatives (Achatina like 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 genital organs and, having reached the age of 6-7 months, they can reproduce. To produce offspring, a pair of adults are placed in a separate vessel for a week. Achatina are hyper-fertile, they bury their eggs in the ground approximately 2 weeks after mating. A clutch can contain 50-400 eggs at a time. Their size is 4-5 mm, they resemble chicken ones in shape.

Many breeders care for Achatina masonry in a separate container. They shift them with a plastic spoon into a separate transparent vessel and sprinkle with a 1-2 cm layer of soil so that the adults who are always digging do not harm the offspring. The substrate and walls of the vessel must be irrigated daily, the container should be closed with a lid. The development of eggs occurs at a temperature of 25-27 ° C and a humidity of 70%, it is important to avoid fluctuations in the values ​​of these indicators.

Newborn Achatina snails - care

African newborn Achatina snails, the clutches of which were cared for in comfortable temperature conditions, are born a month after fertilization. The egg shell becomes thin, all the calcium from it goes to the formation of the shell of babies. In the process of birth, the mollusk separates and tries to get out of the ground. In this case, it is advisable to dig the soil around the masonry to help the newborns get out. For the first few days, snails finish eating the remains of their shells.

Little Achatina - care

The basic principles of caring for Achatina small:

1. A food container of 8-10 liters can become a temporary home for newborn snails; they do not need a spacious dwelling.
2. There must be holes in the lid of the container so that air can get inside.
3. In the first few months, it is best to place a thermometer and hygrometer in the container. The optimum 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 gun will help maintain the humidity.
5. For small Achatina, cabbage and lettuce leaves serve as soil. If they live in a terrarium with a substrate, then preference should be given to flower soil, coconut flakes. Moss, sand, sawdust and stones are prohibited.
6. It is better to put the container with the kids on a shelf or bookshelf, and not on the 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. Diet basis: lettuce, dandelion, plantain leaves; various greens; shoots of vegetables and cereals.
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: mashed meat products, fish food, meat and bone meal, boiled egg.
5. Mineral supplement: feed chalk, eggshell, small shrimp, special reptile mixes, sepia.

There are a number of foods that are forbidden to give to snails. Salt poses a mortal danger to them. It is necessary to ensure that in its pure form and in large quantities it does not get into their diet. It is forbidden to give gastropods spices, sweet, smoked, spicy or sour foods, fried foods. Pasta, raw potatoes and citrus fruits should also be discarded, the latter do not have a very good effect on the pet shell.

How to feed Achatina in winter?

In the cold season, the diet of shellfish should not be scarce. Winter food consists of: oatmeal, wheat bran, bread soaked in milk. Complement the menu with bananas, beets, carrots. Most snail breeders grow green grass on their window sills, which they sell in cat veterinary shops. Many people do not know if it is possible to feed Achatina with canned products. The answer is no, salt has a bad effect on the health of the pet. Pickled vegetables are best replaced with frozen ones from the supermarket, defrosting them before feeding;

How to feed small snails Achatina?

1. For the first few days after birth, a few lettuce leaves sprinkled liberally 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 kids' diet.
3. They need minerals for growth and the formation of a beautiful and strong shell. Vegetable protein will help to form a healthy shellfish faster.
4. From the second week of life, animal protein can be added to the menu.
5. Starting from the age of one month, grated fruits and vegetables are replaced with sticks.

How many times to feed Achatina?

If an African Achatina lives in the house, nutrition and care for it must be done correctly. It is better to feed snails 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 be provided with round-the-clock access to food. Food should not be placed on the ground, so that it does not mix with the substrate and does not deteriorate, does not become moldy. For food, you need to use a bowl or, in extreme cases, a lettuce leaf.

womanadvice.ru

The Achatina snail is a gigantic snail found naturally in parts of the Republic of Kenya, Tanzania and parts of Asia.

Body structure:

• Pharynx.
• Salivary gland.
• Intestines.
• Liver.
• Anal opening.
• Heart.
• Bud.
• Nerve knots.
• Oviduct.
• Flagellum.
• Protein gland.
• Sex hole.

They are funny, do not require special attention from the owner, and keeping them at home consists only in proper nutrition and selection of suitable food.

The snail has a large brown shell. But its color changes depending on the food. These mollusks move quickly. In 1 minute, a snail covers a distance of 1 centimeter.

Content rules:

1. Ideally snails placed in a square or rectangular terrarium. But if not, then use an aquarium or container.

   The terrarium is selected based on the number of "inhabitants". For one land snail, you will need a terrarium of at least 10 liters.

   The terrarium must be covered with a lid. This is done so that the land snail does not crawl out of it.

2. The lighting is dimmed. If you make a bright light, then the inhabitant of the terrarium will go blind.
3. The soil is made from a soft substrate: hazelnut shells, fallen leaves, forest cover moss, sphagnum moss.

   Also suitable earth, neutralized peat, coco substrate. The minimum layer of soil is 10 centimeters. The snail lays eggs in the soil.

Do not use sand or sawdust to line the bottom. They damage the shell.

4. Presence aeration (oxygen saturation).
5. Temperature varies from 27 to 28 degrees Celsius.

Care rules:

1. Daily spray the soil in the terrarium.
2. Priming changes 2 times a week.
3. Once a week the walls and bottom of the pet's habitat are cleaned with a brush.
4. Once a month Achatina needs to be bathed. The pet bathes with pleasure.

   To do this, take the snail in your hand and support it under a stream of warm water, then carefully clean the shell with a brush from dirt.

The terrarium is decorated with fresh and artificial flowers. Remember that fresh flowers are quickly eaten by pets, so it is better to use decorative ones.

Place a container of water to maintain a normal level of humidity inside the container. Achatina love to swim in containers with water. There must be a house.

The terrarium must not be placed in a place with direct sunlight. Ultraviolet has a negative effect on shellfish.

How to feed Achatina snails?

Achatina picky creatures. You can even not feed them for 2-3 weeks, but in this case the snail will fall into hibernation (a state in which life processes slow down).

What do Achatina eat:

• Apples.
• Pears.
• Apricots.
• Grape.
• Melon.
• Bananas.
• Watermelon.
• Papaya.
• Avocado.
• Pineapples.
• Sweet cherry.
• Cucumbers.
• Tomatoes.
• Carrot.
• Corn.
• Dill.
• Petrushka.
• Spinach.
• Celery.
• Dandelion leaves.
• Bread.
• Milk.
• Hercules.
• Boiled eggs.
• Crushed nuts.

To improve the color of the Achatina shell, they are fed carrots, pumpkins, sweet peppers, tomatoes, nettle leaves and plantain.

Reproduction: how to care for eggs?

Snails are hermaphrodites. They reach sexual maturity only after 7 months. Reproduction begins with mating dances. Achatina circle around each other.

Breeding process:

1. Contact with copulatory organs.
2. The incubation period is from 7 to 14 days.
3. Laying 100 to 400 eggs in the ground.
4. After 21 days, small snails hatch. The length of their body is from 3 to 5 centimeters.

Use in cosmetology: benefit or harm?

Today, molluscs are actively used in cosmetology. Scientists have found that Achatina mucus contains a lot of allantoin, elastin, collagen, peptides, glycolic acid and arahan sulfate.

Table: benefit

Usually the mucus of snails is not harmful. It is not recommended to use them in cosmetology for people with hypersensitivity, an allergic tendency.

In cosmetology, the massage procedure is very popular. The snail is washed and planted on the person's face for a certain time.

Massage helps:

1. Narrow pores.
2. Get rid of mimic wrinkles.
3. Get rid of bags under the eyes.
4. Prevent peeling of the skin.
5. Increase the elasticity of the skin of the face.

Varieties

Over 60 varieties of Achatina live on the territory of the African continent. At home, it is customary to keep only a few species.

Kinds:

1. Fulik.
2. Reticulum.
3. Immaculate.
4. Albopicta.
5. Iradelie.
6. Brown.
7. Tiger.
8. Zanzibarica.
9. Standard.
10. Panther.
11. White albino.

Children are interested in naming Achatins, taking care of them. In reality, the snails are much more beautiful and larger than in the photo. They have a more pronounced color and a longer body.

Achatina snails are popular not only in real life, but in computer life. Today there is one game ARK: Survival Evolved, where these mollusks are the main characters.

womens7.com

Characteristics of Achatina

The average shell length of adult snails, as a rule, does not exceed 50-100 mm, but some specimens are larger, exceeding 20 cm. The snail shell is conical in shape, most often characteristically twisted precisely counterclockwise.

Age Achatina are characterized by a shell that has about seven to nine turns. The basic color of the shell is directly dependent on the characteristics of the environment, as well as the diet, but most often has reddish-brown stripes and yellowish hues.

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Before purchasing, you need to find out the features of caring for a snail and take an interest in the diet of a mollusk, its maintenance and care, and also take into account the main nuances:

• it is not recommended to purchase homemade Achatina from your hands, so it is advisable to visit a pet store and observe the behavior, food preferences and general health of the snail;
• it is important to inspect the terrarium and its equipment, taking into account the volume of the dwelling and its lighting, the presence of a vent and other accessories;
• African Achatina must have a good pedigree, recorded in special registration documentation.

It should be remembered that private individuals who are non-professional farmers of land gastropods do not cull and try to sell snails in large quantities, as well as sell clutches and do not have competence in matters of care or maintenance. Quite often, such people are not able to provide complete information about their mollusks and do not care at all about the health of the animal.

Important! Particular attention should be paid to the appearance of the mollusk. The shell of the snail should not be cracked, and its uniformity is a good sign. It is best to purchase Achatina over the age of two months.

The breeders or keepers grow snails competently and are fully competent in keeping them. Professionals do not seek benefits from the sale of snails, therefore, if necessary, they are able to provide comprehensive information about the origin and pedigree of the mollusk. Breeders make timely rejection, but the laying for breeding is never realized.

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Terrarium device, filling

Any glass or plastic container that has a lid with special small ventilation holes can be used as a dwelling for a mollusk. As practice shows, preference should be given to a horizontal type terrarium, and the volume of such a container for one adult cannot be less than ten liters.

Particular attention is paid to the heating of the terrarium for growing a tropical pet.. A heat-loving creature should be provided with a comfortable and stable temperature regime at the level of 26-28 ° C, regardless of the season. It is preferable to use special external devices for heating the snail's home in the form of thermal cords or thermal mats that are safe to use. It is important to prevent not only the freezing of the animal, but also its overheating, so it is advisable to place a thermometer in the terrarium.

It will also be interesting:

• African snail Achatina
• How to feed Achatina snails
• Grape snail (Helix romatia)

The lighting of the terrarium is also important, but additional illumination at night is not mandatory. It should be prevented from hitting the sun's rays on the mollusk, so the terrarium should not be installed on the window sill of a south-facing window.

As a filling for a dwelling, it is required to choose the right type of soil, for which it is desirable to use a coconut substrate that retains moisture well. The thickness of the soil is selected in accordance with the size of the pet. Before backfilling, the briquette is poured with boiling water, after which it is cooled, washed and dried. As a completely worthy filling option, you can also use riding clean peat with a pH level in the range of 5-7.

Important! It is necessary to place a terrarium with a giant snail in a place where there is no negative effect on the animal of a draft or direct sunlight, as well as excess heat from heating devices.

Additional accessories for the snail include high-quality drinkers and feeders made from environmentally friendly and soft materials, as well as a pool and a small house. Food plastics have proven themselves very well. Do not use sharp or dangerous, too hard objects in the terrarium that can cause damage to the body or shell of a domestic mollusk. Experienced owners of such pets recommend planting lettuce crops or special cat grass in the house for Achatina. Twigs, picturesque snags or traditional tree bark will become a real decoration for the landscape.

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The correct diet of the Achatina snail

The basis of the diet of Achatina is represented by lettuce, a variety of greens, shoots of cereals and vegetables, as well as tops. The diet of mollusks should also include products presented:

• cucumber and pumpkin pulp;
• spinach;
• zucchini;
• carrot;
• cobs of young corn;
• peas;
• tomatoes;
• cabbage;
• apple and pear pulp;
• watermelon and melon;
• bananas;
• apricots;
• avocado;
• mango;
• pineapples;
• cherry;
• plum;
• raspberries;
• strawberries.

Adult gastropods can be a bit fussy when it comes to nutrition, so they often prefer certain foods while completely neglecting others. In any case, soft fruits and vegetables are cut into slices, and hard ones are grated or ground in a kitchen blender until pureed. Any food given to the snail must be brought to room temperature.

It is forbidden to give your pet products from the common table, spices and fried foods, sweet and sour, as well as smoked and spicy foods. Natural acids found in citrus fruits, including lemons, tangerines, and oranges, are dangerous to snails. It is very important to provide the gastropod mollusk with a special mineral supplement containing a sufficient amount of calcium.

It is interesting! Pure water is especially important for the gastropod mollusk, which Achatina not only drink, but also very actively use for water procedures. Water must be changed daily.

It is advisable to feed adult domestic snails in the evening, once a day. Small and young individuals should be provided with round-the-clock and unhindered access to food and water. Food is given in a special bowl or on a tray, which may well be a cabbage or lettuce leaf. Uneaten food is removed from the terrarium.

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Achatina care

Such exotic pets do not require special care. Cleaning in the terrarium must be done as it gets dirty, and general cleaning is carried out at least a couple of times a month. Hygienic cleaning of the walls of the terrarium and the inside of the lid is carried out on a daily basis.

It is absolutely impossible to use traditional chemical cleaning powders and other products for cleaning, therefore, experienced owners of domestic snails are advised to use hot water and soft rags or an ordinary dish sponge for this purpose.

Important! Please note that any equipment used in cleaning the terrarium must be stored separately.

Gastropods are very fond of taking regular water treatments. Of course, for such exotic pets, for hygienic purposes, it is quite enough to install a shallow pool inside the terrarium, but it is very desirable to periodically arrange a warm shower for the snail, holding the animal on your hand over an ordinary sink. The jet of water directed at the snail should not be too strong and without fail warm. The total duration of this procedure is no more than three minutes.

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Health, disease and prevention

The main causes of snail diseases are most often represented by:

• improper keeping, including hypothermia or overheating of the animal, the use of too close a terrarium, the use of dry or waterlogged soil;
• low-calorie diet with insufficient amounts of protein and calcium;
• rare cleaning in the terrarium, the accumulation of rotting food debris and excrement;
• improper ventilation and poor-quality soil;
• violations of the neighborhood of different species and subspecies of domestic snails.

The main signs of illness in a pet are lethargy, complete or partial refusal of food, clogging of the entrance to the sink, excessive or thick mucous secretions, and pronounced stratification of the shell. Of particular danger is the loss of the gastropod mollusk from the shell, which may be caused by genetic predispositions or prolonged exposure to carcinogens, the influence of bacteria, infections and fungi. The result of such a pathology, as a rule, is the rapid death of the snail. In order to prevent such diseases, it is recommended to competently approach the process of choosing the main feed and supplements of animal origin.

Important! Particular importance is attached to the observance of preventive measures, including the control of the cleanliness of the terrarium, the observance of the correct diet and the full care of the domestic mollusk.

Careless handling of domestic molluscs can cause domestic damage and damage to the integrity of the shell. Damage that is not too large is most often repaired with epoxy glue, after which the animal must be provided with a diet enriched with calcium.

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Reproduction at home

Achatina belong to the category of hermaphrodite animals, therefore they have both male and female genital organs for reproduction. The total duration of the incubation period ranges from 28 to 56 days, which depends on the species characteristics of the gastropods, as well as the conditions of their home maintenance. It should be noted that Achatinas are extremely prolific, so many owners, in order to curb uncontrolled reproduction, simply wash off the excess egg clutches that have appeared.

To obtain healthy offspring, it must be remembered that during the incubation period, all cleaning activities are carried out with particular care, and increased attention should be paid to monitoring and stabilizing the air humidity inside the terrarium. After hatching, all newborn snails are separated from adults.

Instead of a substrate in the home, it is best to use lettuce leaves. The smallest Achatina are fed with liquid porridge with the addition of grated carrots, which helps to strengthen their shell, and also activates growth processes very well. Among other things, it must be remembered that until the age of one and a half years, domestic gastropods should not be allowed to breed.

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simple-fauna.ru

Achatina - giant African land snails

The natural habitat of Achatina is in East Africa, but representatives of this species can also be found in many European countries. African Achatinas have gained popularity as terrarium pets and are also bred for human consumption. In many countries with a warm climate, including Spain, they are serious pests of crops.

They live in places where it is warm enough, damp and there is constant access to food. They thrive in tropical climates.

African snails can live at home, it is not difficult for them to create an optimal local climate in a terrarium.

The size depends on the species - Achatina is the largest snail in the world, its shell grows up to 200 mm, and its weight can be 400-500 grams. At home, slugs also reach large sizes - adults can have a carapace length of 70 to 170 mm and a width of 30 to 80 mm.

Achatina care at home

These clams prefer warm, humid areas, especially places around bodies of water. Terrarium
must maintain a temperature of 20-30 ° C and an air humidity of about 80-95% (specific parameters depend on the subspecies). For more demanding species, a device for additional heating is needed, for example, heating elements placed on the outside of the terrarium.

Mollusk activity depends on ambient temperature, sunlight and humidity. In the cold season, they are active around the clock. In the hot season, they are active mainly at night or during rain.

They can become inactive for many reasons: lack of humidity, low temperatures, and diseases. Such an Achatina is closed in a shell with a limestone cap.

The average life expectancy of an animal is from 3 to 5 years, but there are individuals who live up to 9 years.

Nutrition

How to care for snails at home? Their nutrition should be taken very seriously so that they receive all the elements necessary for their life. This phytophage feeds on various plant species. Achatina feels the taste of food and her diet should be varied.

What do snails eat at home?

They use fragments of various plants, as well as special additives:

• beans;
• pumpkin;
• vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, celery and parsley, zucchini and zucchini;
• fruits and berries: apples, pears, plums, bananas, blackberries, raspberries, grapes and strawberries;
• watermelon, melon;
• you can give her an additional boiled egg;
• soaked dog and cat food (such additives are used once a week, not more often);
• dry mix should consist of oatmeal, dry granular food for rodents, dry food in the form of flakes for fish, dry skimmed milk, wheat bran;
• sometimes they eat baby biscuits and baby rice porridge.

All food must be fresh - without rot and mold, they must be thoroughly washed. Given the fact that fruits and vegetables are often sprayed with snail repellant during cultivation, it is best to peel them before serving them to your pet.

For ease of cleaning the terrarium, it is better to put food in a bowl. Some people also give their pets a cup of water.

Achatina must be carefully looked after.

They need a continuous supply of calcium, special preparations can be purchased at pet stores. You can give the so-called calcium phosphate, fodder chalk - sprinkle everything that we feed pets with this powder.

The lack of minerals causes characteristic behavior in snails associated with scraping and eating the upper layer of the shells of other animals. Subsequently, such a broken and weakened part may burst, and as a result, pathogenic microorganisms may penetrate through the cracks or internal organs protrude. In adults that lay eggs, the demand for minerals is even greater.

What foods are undesirable to give

Do not give Achatina parts of plants such as:

• lettuce, spinach;
• onion and garlic;
• radish;
• chicory;
• cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli - due to the oxalates they contain, which, by binding calcium, can disrupt the functioning of the body, which leads to slow growth and cracking of the shell;
• citrus fruits (oranges, kiwi, grapefruit).

How to keep snails at home - arranging a terrarium

The terrarium should allow the slug to move freely and burrow into the substrate. Its height should not exceed 40 cm, as young terrestrial individuals can crawl along the top of the terrarium and sometimes fall.

The lid of the terrarium must be well fixed because, due to the fact that, due to the surprisingly large muscle strength, it can be moved by snails. In the terrarium, you should not use any elements made of copper, since this metal, in combination with mucus, reacts.

The most important element of the terrarium is the substrate - acidic peat, which can be purchased at pet stores. It must be sterilized in the oven the day before placing the pet bed. The height of the substrate layer should correspond to the height of the shells of the largest snails, because it serves them for burrowing. On average, it is about 10-15 cm. The base should be constantly wet, but not flooded, for this purpose it is sprayed with water once a day, preferably boiled.

To increase the walking area, you can place decorative plant roots in the terrarium. You can also add a small tradescantia to enhance the look of your home. However, do not be surprised if the plant is soon eaten. As a decoration and a very dietary ingredient in the diet, you can buy potted weed in stores.

The terrarium cannot stand in direct sunlight. You do not need additional lighting, only diffused daylight will be enough. If for aesthetic reasons you decide to add light, then it should be a low-power fluorescent lamp, separated from the rest of the terrarium so that Achatina cannot get on its surface. An alternative would be lighting located outside the terrarium.

One or two house snails?

These animals have sexual dimorphism, that is, there is no difference between the sexes. This means that each individual is both a boy and a girl at the same time. If you get two Achatina, then sooner or later they will both lay eggs. The number of eggs depends on the species - from tens to hundreds of pieces from one individual. The incubation period and breeding of young animals does not cause difficulties, but you must decide how you will then keep such a number of pets.

Additional facts about Achatina:

• Achatina should not be released into the wild, they need care. They are not resistant to diseases carried by snails in our climatic conditions. On the outside, they won't be able to survive the winter.
• Their mucus contains allantoin, a bacteriostatic substance, on the basis of which preparations are made for those suffering from asthma and tuberculosis.
• Mucus also contains collagen, elastin and glycolic acid, which provide tissue regeneration and accelerate wound healing.
• These are edible shellfish.
• The simplest species in cultivation is Achatina Fulica. They do well at home at room temperature, eat little and grow very quickly.
• In some countries, the cultivation of Achatina is prohibited because they cause huge losses in crop production.
• During World War II in the tropics, Achatina were a rapidly renewing food source for soldiers.
• This pet can bite or rather scratch. However, its bite is almost invisible.
• In the United States and other countries where the climate is optimal for the reproduction in nature of this genus of mollusks, their breeding is illegal.
• The animal grows throughout its life, but grows faster when young and if it has access to a large amount of food.
• The average travel speed is 1 mm/s.

If you decide to have an unusual pet - go for it! Perhaps snail breeding will become your favorite hobby for many years to come.

mjusli.ru

African exotic

“Lovely”, “touching”, “tender” - such epithets are often endowed with Achatina, amazing creatures from the African continent. These giant snails are becoming more and more popular among unusual pet lovers.

As an agricultural pest, Achatina damages some plant crops, among which it prefers sugar cane. Fortunately, in the climatic conditions of Russia, this snail does not survive. Here it is contained in the terrariums of exotic lovers. Breeds easily, while it is often distributed free of charge, since everyone who starts it soon has a problem - what to do with the young replenishment.

Keeping Achatina snails at home

The Achatina snail kept at home is also can grow up to 20 cm like its wild counterparts. An adult animal has a conical shell of 7-9 turns, the color of which depends both on the inherited traits and on the menu of the mollusk. Most often, the surface of the shell is covered with stripes of brown in different shades. Found among these snails and albinos.

At the bottom of the terrarium, it is necessary to pour a layer of soil 5–10 cm thick, which can be used as a coconut substrate, now sold in many pet stores. You can also pour a layer of peat, which is often found in flower shops, but you need to consult with the seller so that there is no fertilizer in it. Priming needs some moisture: this will ensure optimal humidity in the terrarium. In addition, the presence of soil will also prevent Achatina from breaking when it falls from the walls or "ceiling" of the terrarium.

dometod.ru

Short description

Giant African snail, or Achatina- this is a new hobby for shellfish fans, large snails are dozens of times larger than ordinary ones (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.

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 a regular glass aquarium for fish. 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.

An aquarium or 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.

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 relax. The lighting of the terrarium is more necessary for the owner than for the mollusk.

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 replacing 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.

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.

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Description and varieties of Achatina

Giant snails have a soft, gray or black body with small white tubercles, their shell is mostly yellow-brown with black stripes, and the pattern on it is zigzag. When the mollusks mature, their shell gains 7 or 8 turns and acquires a greenish tint. Achatina differ from their counterparts in the crown of the shell, which has an elongated and pointed shape. The length of the molluscs can be about 30 cm.

In nature, there are more than 60 species of these royal snails, but there is a variety that is completely different from the others, it is called albino. These gastropods are slow growing, do not meet the standard due to their small size, and their shell and body are white in color.

The most common decorative types of Achatina:

Name and photo	Description
Fulika	The most popular species for home maintenance, which is characterized by unpretentious care and nutrition. The length of the snails is about 20, the color of the shell can be red and brown
Lemon (iradeli)	This variety is small in size, the largest individuals are no more than 7 cm long. The shell has an unusual lemon color
Achatina vulgaris (tiger)	This species of calm and friendly gastropods in captivity can reach a length of 22 cm. The shell is colored yellow and orange with dark stripes.
Achatina immaculata	These are voracious and active molluscs, adults reach a length of about 18 cm. The shell can have a variety of colors (walnut, beige, black)

Achatina do not exude an unpleasant odor, do not bite and do not cause allergic reactions. They do not require walking and can live without care for about 2 weeks. Huge clams are able to benefit their owners. Achatina is used for cosmetic face and body care. When snails crawl on the skin, they secrete a mucus that has regenerative and antioxidant properties.

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Breeding preparation

In the Achatina snail, reproduction occurs only if the aquarium or terrarium meets certain requirements. Despite the fact that Achatina are hermaphrodites, in order to mate they need a partner. To breed, a pair of Achatina needs to be moved to a separate container.

To breed healthy and full-fledged offspring, you need to create the following living conditions for mollusks:

• the size of the aquarium must be at least 15 liters;
• no temperature fluctuations, it should stay around 27–28 degrees;
• it is recommended to cover the bottom of the aquarium with moist coconut soil 100 mm thick;
• pregnant Achatina, as well as after laying eggs, add calcium to food;
• The terrarium must be kept clean.

As a top dressing containing calcium, the following is used:

• chalk stone;
• mineral stone;
• sepia;
• small shellfish.

snail sex

The question of determining the sex of an individual is of interest to each breeder, as mentioned earlier, they have no gender difference, it is impossible to determine the sex and divide the snails into male and female. Achatina cannot reproduce alone, without a partner, a companion is needed for mating. The eldest individual of a large size becomes the female. This is due to the fact that pregnancy requires a lot of physical strength, therefore, the strongest representatives are selected in order to ensure healthy offspring.

Stimulation of reproduction

Stimulation of the mollusk to reproduction consists primarily in the organization of all the necessary conditions related to the preparation for mating. The terrarium should be thoroughly washed and cleaned, if the soil is dry and its thickness does not reach 10 cm, then it should be replaced. The soil must be clean. Artificial reservoirs should be temporarily removed from the terrarium. It is also important to make sure that only healthy Achatina mate.

What Achatina snails can not be mated

It is forbidden to pair:

• shellfish from one clutch;
• snails that grow fast.

Mating of individuals from the same clutch can cause various mutations and deviations in the development of future offspring.

If it is noticed that the mollusk and shell are actively growing and increasing in size, then mating should be postponed. This process can take place up to the age of 1 year.

Reproduction Achatina

Reproduction of Achatina snails is possible only with the onset of puberty. An individual is considered an adult from the moment it reaches the age of 6 months, Achatina is ready for mating after the appearance of a small tubercle on the neck, which is the reproductive organ of snails.

Immediately after the mating process, the time of pregnancy officially begins, during this period the gastropod mollusk lays eggs. Pregnancy is different for every female. The eggs of Achatina snails are opened on average from 1–2 months. Hatching caviar of Achatina can be seen if you look into the spiracle of Achatina.

There are recorded cases when the pregnancy of a snail ends in childbirth, as a result of which the Achatina give birth to viable small mollusks.

The future offspring of the mollusk is buried in the ground, often for these purposes the Achatina prepare a hole in advance where they lay their eggs. Akhata snails are capable of breeding all year round, in some places in small groups or together.

Pregnancy negatively affects the female, she should be fed with high quality, adding various top dressings.

What do Achatina snail eggs look like?

After Achatina has laid eggs, aquarists can observe their appearance and further development. The laying of Achatina is outwardly similar to fish caviar, for which it received its second name, since snails lay eggs in heaps. Initially, caviar is a dense and elastic mucus, but soft to the touch. In the process of incubation, the eggs of snails become harder and by the time they hatch, a shell appears. Eggshell masonry has green and brown hues.

There are cases of laying false eggs when they do not have a shell and have a transparent color. The shape of the caviar is always rounded. The size of Achatina eggs varies from 5 to 7 mm, sometimes less. Achatina hatch at home in a short time, from 17 to 24 hours, so all the offspring can hatch in one day. The number of eggs can reach 300 pieces, but, as a rule, no more than 100 snails hatch into the light. The number of deferred offspring of Achatina differs from the cubs born into the world. Newborn snails require quality care, just like a pregnant gastropod.

extra eggs

A gastropod is capable of laying more eggs than the breeder needs, so that Achatina does not give birth to unnecessary mollusks, certain measures must be taken. It is important to freeze extra eggs in the refrigerator in order to stop the vital processes in them, otherwise even in the bin you can find hatched Achatina.

How to care for Achatina eggs

Small Achatina require minimal care from the breeder. But it is necessary to take care of the laying of eggs and monitor environmental indicators regularly.

If the snail laid its eggs in the hole without sprinkling it with soil, then you need to carefully sprinkle the eggs yourself.

It is important to ensure that the soil is moist, if necessary, add water in a small amount, but there should be no liquid under the masonry. The most favorable temperature for egg ripening will be 28 degrees, just as before, sudden changes should not be allowed.

It is forbidden to touch the masonry with your hands. An exception may be the situation when the snail laid it on the territory of the terrarium, then it is necessary to carefully transfer the future offspring into one hole with the help of some object. The temperature of a person's hands can harm.

A newborn mollusk grows very slowly and during this time the parents take care of their offspring. The baby's shell is delicate and should be handled with care.

How to feed small snails Achatina

Immediately after birth, the mollusks are inside the substrate for several days, only then they crawl out to the surface, doing it gradually. At first, babies eat eggshells from their own eggs, as well as false eggs. Further, small mollusks are recommended to be fed in the same way as an adult. Feeding should be frequent and regular, and access to food should be constant.

Conclusion

Breeding Achatina snails requires certain knowledge so as not to harm the offspring. When breeding and growing Achatina, it is enough to follow these rules, then new snails will be born healthy and will delight you for a long time!

Exotic lovers are increasingly getting snails as pets. And why not, inexpensive, quiet, without garbage - ideal pets.

Usually in the home terrarium there are Achatina, they are also African land snails. You can recognize them by a massive shell of 7-9 turns. Depending on the species, the color can vary from light to dark brown with or without black stripes, spots. The mollusk lives up to 10 years and increases in size throughout its life, growing up to 20 centimeters or more. Achatina are nocturnal, they crawl out of their hiding places about 2 hours after sunset.

Gastropods have a long-term memory, they remember where they found food and what they like best, often return to the same shelter for sleep. Over time, snails remember their owners and even distinguish them from other people.

Snails need a terrarium with a good quality substrate, coconut flakes work best. The height of the soil should be such that the snail can completely burrow into it. The volume of the aquarium per individual is at least 10 liters. From above it is covered with a lid with ventilation holes.

The optimum temperature for a snail is 22-28°C. Additional lighting is not needed, moreover, they are categorically contraindicated in direct sunlight and drafts. To maintain optimal air humidity, once a day, the soil should be sprayed with a spray gun and monitor the behavior of the pet: if the aquarium is too dry, the snail will stay in the sink for a long time, or even close with a lid, and if it is too wet, then it will sit on the walls of the terrarium. Achatina are very fond of swimming, so you can build small baths for them.

Snail care

Caring for an unpretentious pet is simple. The aquarium is cleaned about once a week, removing plaque from the walls with a soft brush. The soil is replaced as it gets dirty and completely changed several times a year. Pets are periodically bathed under a stream of warm water and, if necessary, the sink is cleaned with a brush. After feeding, be sure to remove food debris to prevent the formation of rot and mold in a warm, humid aquarium.

Snail feeding

The diet of a domestic snail includes any fruits and vegetables (except citrus fruits), greens, small daphnia crustaceans, bread and even milk. To build a shell, they need calcium, which means that there should always be chalk or cuttlefish shell in the terrarium. You can also sprinkle the ground with eggshells ground on a coffee grinder. Salt, sugar, spicy and fatty foods are not allowed for snails. Small snails are not recommended to give loose fruits, there were cases when they flew away with their heads buried in a banana and suffocated.

Reproduction of domestic gastropods

By nature, snails are hermaphrodites, but reproduction still requires a partner of the same species. Alone, they can lay eggs, only they will be empty. When the time comes for procreation, the snails approach and exchange seed through a special organ on the cheek. After some time, both snails lay fertilized eggs. Their size and number depends on the type of mollusk.

Video about the types, maintenance, feeding and reproduction of domestic land snails

A snail is a unique living creature that is protected by a shell and can live not only in the wild, but also at home. This species of animal belongs to the class of gastropods (gastropods), the type of molluscs. The word snail comes from the Old Slavonic "snail" - hollow because of its house (shell), which is empty without an animal.

Snail - description and characteristics

The body of a snail consists of a head, a leg, an visceral sac, and a mantle fold. The movement of the mollusk occurs on the sole, which covers the lower part of the leg. This process is the result of muscle contractions that create a kind of wave. To make sliding as comfortable as possible, the epithelium of the limb secretes a lot of mucus.

Snails of small size can move with the help of the beating of cilia.

The visceral sac is located inside the shell in the form of a spiral or cap. In the mantle of snails that live in water, gills are located. This body must be constantly washed by a stream of water, in order to organize this process, the mantle is equipped with:

• inlet siphon through which the liquid enters;
• outlet siphon through which water is removed.

Also inside the mantle are:

• kidney ducts;
• excretory system;
• intestines;
• sexual apparatus;
• lung (for those living on land).

In order for air to enter the respiratory organs, there is a special hole. It is located on the edge of the shell or on the front side of the body.

The head consists of:

• stalks with eyes;
• tentacles (organ of touch);
• oral cavity.

The shell of a snail, like other mollusks, consists of several layers:

• The periostracum is a thin layer that covers the structure from the outside. It is made up of a protein called conchiolin.
• Ostracum is a calcium carbonate middle layer wrapped in conchiolin.
• Hypostracum (mother-of-pearl) - a layer located inside. It includes plates of calcium carbonate coated with conchiolin.

The shell is an integral part of the snail's body. The external skeleton of the mollusk protects it from enemies, external negative factors, and retains moisture.

A snail is born with a shell, only in babies it is thin and transparent.

The shape of the external skeleton: conical, in which all the organs of the mollusk are located asymmetrically or flat spiral. The surface is smooth or with outgrowths. The turns in the helix are arranged from left to right, but there are very rare cases when the opposite is true. Sizes and colors may vary.

Some snails have a reduced shell - this is a calcareous plate inside the mantle. Basically, these are slugs that can be found in any garden.

Teeth

Representatives of gastropods are distinguished by a special organ in the oral cavity - the radula. This organ performs the functions of the tongue and teeth. The radula consists of a cartilaginous plate on which there are several rows of teeth of various shapes.

Vegetarian snails have small teeth, predators have large ones in the form of a pike or gaff. The number of teeth in a cochlea can reach 25,000. Basically, the radula includes 120 rows, each with 100 teeth = 12,000.

Poisonous snails mainly have teeth with a cavity through which poison flows from a special gland, paralyzing the victim.

In nature, snails live, which feed on animal food. Such species are distinguished by teeth in the form of a drill. It can drill into the oyster shell or other hard protective shells, which helps the mollusk get to the meat.

Clam mucus is a compound that is very important for the snail. It consists of a complex protein (mucin) and water.

The unique properties of this substance are widely used today in cosmetology as a rejuvenating, sunscreen, moisturizer.

Mucin regulates the processes of mineralization and shell formation. Slime is divided into two types:

• The first type helps the mollusk move by moistening the surface.
• The second type is produced by a special gland, as a response to any stress and mechanical damage to the shell. The main components of such mucus are polysaccharides, mineral salts, which have restorative, regenerating properties.

The snail lives in all climatic conditions on all continents except Antarctica and arid deserts. The mollusk lives in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean and in the cold environment of the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea.

Snails feel great in Europe, Africa, Australia, America. It is found in Asia and Russia. The main condition for the existence of a mollusk is high humidity, which will not allow the body of the snail to dry out, otherwise the animal may die.

Everything that a snail eats depends on its habitat. The nutrition of the mollusk surprises with its diversity, it can be:

• soft part of fresh plants.
• plant remains;
• small relatives;
• worms;
• carrion;
• a fish;
• insects;
• crustaceans.

Land mollusks are happy to eat leaves, berries, fruits, vegetables, bark, grass. The young prefer fresher food, but as they age, their preferences change, and the old snail begins to feed on rotten plants.

Some species eat flies, midges, mosquitoes, carrion. A delicacy for a street snail can be a rotten tree.

To grind food well, the teeth of the mollusk require calcium. Its deficiency leads to the fact that the snail begins to sharpen its shell, which collapses, leaving the body without protection. This leads to dehydration and death.

Snails in the aquarium can be fed:

• fish food;
• aquarium plants;
• algae tablets;
• chopped vegetables.

So that the aquarium is not left without all the vegetation, the number of mollusks is best taken under control. A moderate amount of snails is good for algae, as they eat all the rot on them and clean the aquarium. It is also recommended to grind eggshells in a coffee grinder to replenish calcium in the body of gastropods.

It is worth monitoring the nutrition of the pet, he should not be given human food. And also it is necessary to put newspapers away, because the snail eats them with great pleasure, but after such a feast it rarely survives.

You can include a diet:

• plantain;
• legumes;
• cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes, bell peppers;
• greenery;
• dandelions;
• bananas, watermelon, pears, strawberries, apples.

For land representatives, do not forget to put a bowl of clean water.

Gastropods in most cases are oviparous animals. The process of fertilization and egg laying depends on the habitat of the snail.

Snails with lungs living in fresh waters and on land are hermaphrodites. Such mollusks have both female and male sexual characteristics. In this connection, during mating, fertilization occurs cross.

Freshwater snails lay their eggs in capsules, and land snails in dug holes. At a time, the mollusk is able to lay up to 85 pieces. Eggs ripen within 28 days and may have a different color:

• transparent;
• green;
• White;
• pink.

The development of this snail takes place without stages of transformation. After passing the prescribed ripening period, a formed individual with a transparent shell appears, which eventually hardens and gets its color.

Snails with gills are heterosexual creatures. Males are endowed with a testis and a vas deferens. Female mollusks have an ovary and an oviduct.

Egg laying takes place in a special cocoon with a lid that dissolves at the time of development of the larvae. For the safety of future offspring, the outer row of eggs is not filled, this allows you to leave the predator without lunch.

The development of gastropods takes place with transformations from egg to larva (veliger). With the help of outgrowths with thin cilia, it moves and feeds on small particles of food of plant and protein origin. After a few days, the mollusk forms and sinks to the bottom.

There are unique species of gill snails that do not lay eggs, but go through a gestation cycle. The fetus remains in the mother's body until it is fully mature and only then is born.

Snail diseases

Snails can suffer from the following diseases:

• Broken shell, holes, cracks. In this case, the animal should receive the maximum amount of calcium, rest, high humidity and the correct temperature.
• Shell lamination. This process can occur against the background of improper maintenance, stress, poor heredity.
• White coating on the sink. The problem arises against the background of poor conditions, as an age change or it can be a simple wear.
• Burns. They are thermal, chemical. In this case, the snail hides in the shell and hardly moves. You can alleviate the condition by increasing the humidity and increasing the amount of juicy vegetables and fruits in the diet.
• Poisoning. It happens due to poor quality food.
• Self-gnawing. The snail begins to eat itself due to calcium deficiency, stress or heredity.
• Prolapse of organs.

Enemies in the wild

Gastropods are among the most inconspicuous organisms on earth. But, despite this, the individual has enough enemies:

• sea ​​gobies;
• sardine;
• sea ​​stars;
• mackerel;
• whales;
• herring;
• hermit crabs.

For land snails, the danger is:

• moles;
• thrushes;
• wild boars;
• lizards;
• hedgehogs.

Freshwater clams should be afraid of:

• trout;
• storks;
• frogs;
• herons.

Snails are slow and cautious, which helps them to protect themselves from enemies. They avoid heavily lit areas, and stick to the thickness of the substrate.

How long does a snail live? Lifespan

Snails have good stress resistance, but they do not live more than 25 years. In nature, the mollusk is exposed to constant dangers that significantly shorten the life of the gastropods.

For example, grape snails can live for 20 years, but most often their lifespan does not exceed 8 years.

In captivity, the snail lives as long as it was originally measured out. The main thing for this is to follow all the rules of keeping and properly feed the pet.

The snail has more than 110,000 species; 2,000 of them are found in Russia.

The most poisonous gastropod is the Geographical cone, living in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It produces enough toxins to kill ten people. An antidote for the poison of this mollusk has not yet been found.

The poisonous snail affects its enemies by releasing a cloud of high levels of insulin, which instantly lowers the victim's blood sugar.

The smallest mollusk is Angustopila dominikae. Its size is 0.8 mm. For example: 4 of these snails can easily fit in the eye of a needle.

The Australian trumpeter is recognized as the largest gastropod. The giant snail weighs 18 kg. It belongs to the class of predators, lives at a depth of 30 m in the coastal region of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and eats worms.

Snails are divided according to their place of residence into:

• marine;
• land;
• freshwater.

There are pulmonary, gill.

A large land snail with a habitat that is the European part of our continent. The shell of this species is 50 mm, spirally curved in 5 turns.

The length of the leg is from 35 to 52 mm, and the width is 22 mm.

The color varies from cream to brown with a red tint. The first 3 turns along the entire diameter alternate with light and dark stripes. Small ribs are clearly visible on the outer side of the shell. In the wild, the mollusk lives from 8 to 20 years.

In winter, the snail is at rest for three months, attaching its sole to the substrate, clogging the shell with special mucus. During wintering, the snail loses up to 10% of its weight. After activation, the mollusk recovers within a month and a half.

The grape snail is able to tolerate low temperatures down to -7 ° C, but not more than 10 hours.

Grape snail at home is bred for a long time. To date, special snail farms are opening in some countries.

Meat of gastropods consists of:

• 15% - protein;
• 8% - carbohydrates;
• 35% - fat.

It also contains a number of essential minerals and vitamins.

Grape snail is a delicacy, and in Europe it is eaten as a complete, healthy product. It is also bred for use in cosmetology and the pharmaceutical industry.

Grape snail at home is bred in special terrariums, instead of other exotic, but not always safe animals. Mollusks are hermaphrodites, therefore, it is enough for breeding, heterosexual individuals of sexually mature age.

Grape snail at home eats plant foods. They can be fed vegetables and fruits. The appetite of the gastropod is good, and therefore it is necessary to ensure that he has food all the time.

The grape snail is kept at home in a glass or plastic jar, a box with good ventilation and a large bottom.

You can cook the clams as follows:

• 100 pieces. gastropods;
• 1 liter of white wine;
• 2 carrots;
• 800 g of special snail oil;
• 200 g of vinegar 3%;
• 2 onions;
• thyme, salt, parsley to taste;
• Bay leaf;
• 3 tbsp flour.

Snails are poured with cold water and boiled for about 7 minutes after boiling. It is washed, dried, the shell is removed, the black tip is cut off. The finished product is poured with white wine with the same amount of water, chopped vegetables, seasonings and herbs are added. Salt in a proportion of 10 g per 1 liter. Cook for 3.5 - 4.5 hours, then leave to cool. The sinks are thoroughly washed in a weak soda solution and rinsed in running clean water.

Sauce or special oil for shellfish: 100 grams of grated onion + 2 cloves of minced garlic + parsley + salt, black pepper + 800 g of softened butter. Mix thoroughly.

The shell is filled with ready-made butter and the finished snail, heated in the oven before serving.

The gastropod reel is a freshwater snail that lives in ponds with lush vegetation and little current. The mollusk survives even in very polluted waters with minimal oxygen content.

The shell is a tightly twisted spiral in several turns with a seam visible to the naked eye. This type of snail is now common among aquarium keepers, in which the mollusk grows up to 1 cm in the wild, the size of the gastropod can reach 3.7 cm.

Color - from brick color to rich red. The gastropod coil is able to move like a shell down the surface of the water with the help of air accumulated inside. Sensing danger, the snail releases the remaining oxygen and falls to the bottom.

Coils are:

• horny;
• horny red;
• Far Eastern;
• keeled;
• wrapped.

The coil cleans the aquarium well, eating rotten parts of plants and food residues.

The garden gastropod is a large pest in garden plots, which their owners are actively fighting. The snail eats fresh crops with pleasure and spoils young leaves, shoots, sometimes causing irreparable harm.

But there are also benefits from these mollusks. They process the remains of vegetation, acting as orderlies.

The garden snail does not have any features that distinguish it from other relatives. She lives on the ground, hiding in the shade during the day, and leaving it in the evening for food.

This mollusk is not whimsical and very often it is kept in aquariums at home. This is the most economical option for breeding snails. The garden snail does not require special care and eats everything that grows in the garden.

A mollusk called Neretina is one of the most popular aquarium snail species. Bright, variegated color is individual for each individual and does not repeat, making each gastropod exclusive. It is not difficult to keep such an animal.

Neretina snail grows up to 3.2 cm, has a flat oval (round) shell, decorated with a variety of patterns with a beautiful, noticeable color. The body of the mollusk is large and dark in color.

Neretina snail is divided into four types:

• zebra - striped color;
• brindle - orange-black stripes;
• olive - color similar to the name;
• horned - the head is characterized by horns-mustache.

The mollusk was born in Africa, where it lives in all available water bodies. Neretina is not whimsical, it easily manages for a certain period without feeding, eating up waste from other inhabitants of the aquarium and rot on the walls.

At home, the snail should be periodically pampered with calcium supplements. You can also include chopped vegetables, fish food in the form of a powder, grated shells from chicken eggs in the diet.

The mollusk was distributed only on the African continent for a long time, but today this snail is often found as a pet.

Achatina giant is distinguished by the largest shell size, which can reach 20 cm and weigh up to 0.5 kg. Under the natural conditions of Russia, the mollusk does not survive; here it is kept at home in special terrariums.

The Akhata shell of an individual has a conical shape, twisted clockwise. The color consists of stripes of brown in different shades. There are also albinos who are completely white. The mollusk feeds on plant foods. By gender, it performs the functions of a male and female, that is, the African Achatina snail, which is a hermaphrodite.

Makes 6 clutches per year, each of which can bring 200 eggs. Achatina lives for about 7 years, but with proper care, this figure can grow to 10.

During the day, the African snail Achatina prefers to sleep and stay awake at night. If you increase the humidity in the aquarium, the mollusk will become active during daylight hours.

Helena mollusk is a freshwater mollusk that lives in the region of Southeast Asia. The gastropod has a not very good reputation, as it periodically eats its relatives. Aquarium keepers most often keep this species of gastropods to exterminate other snails.

Helena has a positive attitude towards running water, but at the same time they feel good in artificial reservoirs, lakes and aquariums. The substrate is chosen sandy or silty.

The individual feeds on live snails, carrion. The shell is conical with pronounced irregularities, can reach 20 mm, the color is yellow with brown stripes. The body is grey-green. Helena snail lives a little, about two years.

At home, the gastropod feeds on the same small mollusks. Large individuals do not suffer, since the helena snail cannot cope with them. The process of eating occurs with the help of a tube on which the mouth is located, it is inserted into the shell of the gastropod and sucks out the body of the gastropod. The individual also feeds on ordinary fish food, krill, and frozen shrimp.

Helens are heterosexual animals and breed well in captivity. Mating between a male and a female can last for hours, quite often other relatives join them and the created group sticks together, continuing the process. The female lays one egg, which develops very slowly.

According to aquarists, the Helena snail can seriously reduce the population of other mollusks, so the number of this individual must be controlled.

Slugs are a snail without a shell, which is completely similar to its relative. Some species have a small inconspicuous shell covered by a mantle.

Basically, the size of the mollusk does not exceed a few centimeters. But, despite this, there are individuals that can reach 32 cm!

Color - gray-brown, chestnut, black, red, yellow, depending on the species. Slugs live on all continents in areas where there is high humidity. The absence of their own house makes them seek shelter from the effects of the sun, winds, and cold.

The mollusk shows activity at night, when the heat subsides and a gentle coolness sets in. A relative of the snail hibernates deep in the soil.

The slug moves with the help of the sole, which contracts in waves, for a more comfortable glide, an abundant amount of mucus is released. In search of food, despite its slowness, the individual is ready to overcome decent distances.

Most mollusks eat plant foods. They eat everything:

• leaves;
• flowers;
• fruit;
• berries;
• mushrooms.

The slug also eats:

• carrion;
• feces;
• lichens.

Predators eat worms, their relatives, newborn mice, hatched chicks. The process of nutrition occurs with the help of a radula dotted with teeth.

Hermaphrodite reproduction occurs once a year, it lays up to 40 eggs. Slug for many gardeners is a pest that must be destroyed. But it is worth noting that this mollusk has the largest male genital organ among its relatives, which, after mating, it can bite off to unstick from its partner. Over time, the body is restored.

Bithynia

A small freshwater mollusk with a smooth spiral shell. Size within 15mm. Color: brown, gray, olive. The life cycle lasts up to 5.5 years. It lives on the American and Eurasian continents.

Luzhanka

A freshwater gastropod with a blunt-conical shell up to 43 mm long and 31 mm wide, curled in several turns. The color depends on the habitat and can be: greenish, brown, red, brown.

The Luzhanka snail is a viviparous mollusk.

Gastropod lives in all regions of Europe, except for the northern regions.

Buccinum (trumpeter)

A large marine snail with a shell measuring 24 cm diagonally and 17 cm vertically. Color - light brown. The surface is embossed or smooth.

The mollusk belongs to predators and paralyzes its prey with poisonous saliva. Lives only in northern oceans with cool water.

ampoule

An aquarium snail that requires special conditions of detention. This mollusk loves to eat a lot, and when there is a shortage of food, it begins to spoil the plants. The size of the gastropod reaches 15.5 cm.

Fiza

The 2-centimeter Fiza snail is popular with experienced aquarists. The special shape of the shell helps the mollusk hide in the most secluded places.

The gastropod feeds on living algae. The presence of lungs allows the physio to exist without water. It is recommended to control the number of this species of snail, since it reproduces very quickly.

The mollusk is a good aquarium cleaner from plaque and bacterial films on the walls. Water will be used hard with a temperature not lower than 21 degrees.

tilomelania

Thylomelania is a colorful mollusk that will decorate any aquarium. Special care is required for him, since the snail eats a lot and does not get along well with its other relatives. The length of the gastropod reaches 13 cm.

The color of the shell can have any color, the surface is smooth or with spikes. Water for the mollusk is best made soft with high acidity.

The snail needs to be fed three times a day. In food, she is not picky, loves a lot of light, requires a lot of space.

Melania

Mollusk Melania is an aquarium snail that reproduces quickly and instantly cleans the aquarium of waste. Gastropod feels comfortable in water with a temperature of 17 to 29 °C. Color is grey-green. Conical shell. Melania is omnivorous.

Pagoda (brotia)

This mollusk requires sufficient oxygen content in the water and prefers sand in the form of soil. Feeds on algae and fish food. The pagoda lives very little - only six months.

Maryse

The large mollusk Maryse is unpretentious in food, she does not need complex care, and she has the ability to rise to the surface of the water and breathe air. Mariza feeds on algae and food for aquarium fish.

• To live a snail, you need to prepare:
• terrarium;
• Plastic container;
• aquarium;
• house for rodents.
• The capacity for the mollusk, in the worst case, should not be less than 10 liters per individual, at best - 20 liters.
• To prevent the pet from running away, you need to take care of a tight cover.
• For oxygen to enter, it is recommended to make several holes in the lid.
• More attention should be paid to the height of the aquarium than to its width.
• Snail housing is best hidden from bright light, and electric lighting can be excluded.
• The soil can be:
• land for flowers;
• peat;
• coconut substrate;
• tree bark;
• sawdust.
• Comfortable water temperature in the aquarium for snails is +25° - +30°.
• For land mollusks, it is necessary to periodically treat their place of residence with fresh water from a spray bottle to maintain normal humidity.
• Do not forget to put drinking water in a small container and change it constantly.
• If you take care of the mollusk incorrectly, he may die or hibernate.
• The terrarium should be regularly kept clean.

Proper feeding of the snail is a guarantee of its health and the ability to live as long as the snail lives in the best possible conditions.

• Almost all snails prefer plant food, for which you can prepare a special tray with low edges.
• Snails are very fond of bananas, but if you give them often, they stop eating other food and require only this delicacy.
• You can not offer a mollusk food containing salt and sugar - this is deadly.
• For a beautiful, healthy shell, you need to feed the snail with calcium.

If snails are properly cared for, they become tame very quickly and get used to their owner.

A snail is not just a resident of an aquarium or a pest in a garden, a mollusk has a lot of useful properties that people have learned to use as efficiently as possible.

• Snail meat is very useful and in many countries it is prepared as a regular dish.
• Mollusk mucus is distinguished by a large number of biologically active substances:
• elastin;
• amino acids;
• collagen;
• vitamins;
• natural antibiotics;
• allantoin.
• The protein content in mollusk meat is one and a half times more than in a chicken egg.
• Snail meat is recommended for dietary nutrition.
• The mollusk does not cause allergies.
• In ancient times, snails were actively used for therapeutic purposes.
• In modern medicine, shellfish mucus is used to treat silicosis, bronchitis, whooping cough. Since a special composition tends to glue cells with bacteria. Our grandmothers planted a snail on a piece of lumpy sugar and waited for it to be covered with mucus, after which they gave it to the sick person to eat it.
• The content of mucus in the snail allows it to independently restore the shell.
• In cosmetology, ordinary mucus has become the basis for many anti-aging, regenerating, antioxidant agents.
• Also with the help of snails make effective masks.
• On the basis of mucus, drugs are produced to combat stretch marks, acne, scars, warts, age spots.

The snail is a unique creature that is the oldest living creature on earth. Therefore, there are a lot of interesting facts in the life of this mollusk:

An ordinary snail can bring many benefits, the main thing is to know about its unique abilities.