Just a few years ago, domestic snails were associated exclusively with pests or delicacies on the festive table. Today, such mollusks can often be found as pets. Such a choice is well justified. A snail at home will not take up much meta and require special care. In a word, domestic snails are cute and harmless creatures. It should also be noted that keeping snails at home will not greatly affect your financial wealth and will not take much time. You can safely leave your pets at home unattended, while you yourself go on a trip. In addition, even a small child can cope with a domestic snail.

Some owners claim that snails become attached to their owners with prolonged contact, and they simply will not “communicate” with strangers to the pet. A hand snail does not hide in its protective shell from fear and allows the owner to stroke and pick up. The most sociable and not shy representatives of this species are considered to be large (Achatina reticulata).
In order to ensure proper care, you will definitely need a terrarium. In extreme cases, you can use other non-toxic containers with a lid and a ventilation hole. In addition to the snail container, you will also need:

• Priming. A good option would be to use moss or coconut substrate.
• Be sure to need several plates for food.
• It is necessary to control the current temperature in the terrarium with a thermometer. And to control the level of humidity, use a hydrometer.
• Although pet snails do not require daily care, you will need a sponge to wash your pet's sink.
• Atomizer filled with clean, settled water.

Note! The sponge must never come into contact with detergents.

In their natural habitat, snails prefer subtropical climates. This suggests that in a home terrarium you also need to adhere to certain temperatures that are closest to the conditions described.

Of course, for many varieties of snails, ordinary room temperature (23-25 ​​degrees) will be quite acceptable, but in order to maintain excessively heat-loving individuals, you need to think about additional heating of the pets' homes.

One of the main criteria for a comfortable life of any snail is the required humidity coefficient. In a terrarium, this factor is achieved through daily spraying procedures with filtered water using a spray bottle and is maintained by the presence of soil and a pool. Humidity in the terrarium should be between 75 and 90%.
If the snail experiences a lack of moisture, then some changes in its activity occur. Interest in food also disappears, and the snail itself can completely or partially sink into the ground.

snail care

The care and maintenance of domestic snails means daily cleaning of all food debris, as well as mollusk excrement. If the soil in the terrarium is very dirty, then it is better to change it to fresh. Before this, it is necessary to treat the terrarium with hot water without the use of various detergents.

Over the past few years, many new varieties of snails have been identified in Russia, which have significant differences. We are talking about the color and shape of the mollusk shell itself.

As you may have guessed, keeping different types of snails in one container is highly discouraged. This is all due to the usual climatic conditions of a particular species of individuals. Even if you "settle" together two snails that are similar in acceptable temperature conditions, then sooner or later one of the individuals will experience discomfort from cohabitation, which will eventually result in stress. Subsequently, this may result in a complete refusal to eat one of the individuals.

Nutrition

If we talk about the diet of snails, then they prefer vegetables, fruits and greens. The most preferred for snail nutrition are:

• carrot,
• apples,
• zucchini,
• cucumbers,
• salad.

If you want your mollusc to always be awake and not experience a slowdown in growth, then you need to diversify your diet as much as possible. This is due to the addiction of snails to food, and if you do not change the pet's diet, as a result, the snail will refuse other food, and its growth will slow down significantly.

Do not forget that calcium-rich foods must be added along with the main meal. Here, for example, boiled eggs or chicken would be an excellent option.
Calcium is needed by all varieties of snails without exception. Thanks to this component, your pet will build up its shell, thereby strengthening it. Feed powdered or lumpy chalk, crushed eggshells or cuttlefish shell can be used as a source of calcium.

Bathing

It is possible to consider and enjoy all the beauty of a domestic snail only during the bathing procedure. Even the most modest and shy individual will relax and appear from his shell.

In order to buy a snail, you need to put it on your palm and bring it to a small stream of slightly warm water. Avoid contact of the pet with the sink or bathtub, make sure that the mollusk does not come into contact with traces of detergents. Remember, domestic snails are extremely sensitive to chemicals. Bathing is a great way to connect with your pet and make friends. It is best to bathe the snail several times a week.

If you are looking for a pet that does not need supernatural care, then the snail is what you need. Such an animal will be a great friend for any small child. What's more, you won't have to worry about excessive noise or bad smell. There is no particular need to worry about the financial side of such an acquisition. Such a pet is extremely cheap and profitable to maintain, which is also important in our time.

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One of the most ideal pets is snails. They do not cause allergies, do not make noise and do not exude an unpleasant odor. Getting used to a person, the snail becomes completely tame and no longer
afraid of attention: does not hide in the sink and allows all sorts of touches. They are very unpretentious, which makes caring for them a feasible task even for a child.

The greatest activity of snails is noted in the morning and evening, which allows you to admire them in your free hours. Their smooth movements help relieve stress and produce an overall calming effect.
Terrarium. The first thing you need to purchase is a container where the snail will live.

Basic requirements for a terrarium:

• non-toxic material;
• the presence of a tight-fitting lid;
• the presence of ventilation holes;
• sufficient volume (10 liters per snail).

The size of the snail also depends on the size of the terrarium. . With enough space, the snail will grow much larger.
The soil can be earth or various substrates (for example, coconut), as well as various types of moss (preferably sphagnum). A layer 6-8 cm thick is optimal.

Snails are subtropical inhabitants, so they need a warm and humid climate. To always monitor the state of temperature and humidity inside the terrarium, you can not do without a thermometer and hydrometer. The most acceptable temperature for keeping snails ranges from 23 to 25 degrees, but if your snails are more heat-loving species, then, in this case, additional heating of the terrarium will be required. Different types of snails should be kept separately due to differences in housing conditions and preferences. You can maintain the required humidity by spraying daily (or better twice a day) purified water, which is absorbed by the soil and provides sufficient dampness. It's important to keep a balance. If the mollusks spend almost the whole day on the walls of the terrarium, then the soil moisture is excessive. If the snails burrow into the ground and are motionless most of the time, then the ground is not moist enough. It is very important to observe these conditions so that the snail does not lose its appetite and does not become less active.

Every day it is required to clean the terrarium from the remnants of food and waste products of snails. The soil should be changed as it gets dirty, which, in turn, depends on the number of snails in the terrarium and the frequency of feeding. On average, the soil is changed once a month. After cleaning the old soil, it is recommended to wash the container with warm water without detergents.

Feeding

Feed snails three times a week . Domestic snails feed mainly on vegetables, fruits and herbs. Their favorite foods are zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce and apples. The diet of snails should be as diverse as possible so as not to be addictive, and apathy. In no case should you give them anything spicy, salty or fried.

In addition to the main products, snails require additional bait: grain mixture, protein (boiled egg or boiled chicken), lump chalk (or powdered, both of them are sources of calcium), eggshell. All of the above can be added to the main menu or left in a separate container. The strength of their shell depends on the presence of calcium in the diet of snails.

Fresh fruits and vegetables spoil rather quickly, so it's important to clean up leftovers before they start to rot.
Scientists confirm that snails have a long-term memory and are able to remember the location of food sources and return to this place again and again. Therefore, you should try to place bowls of food in the same place.

Bathing

It is necessary to clean the shells of snails from plaque that occurs in the process of living in an artificial environment. In no case should you lower your pet into a sink or bath, the skin of snails is very sensitive to any detergents remaining on the surface of plumbing. It is worth putting the mollusk on your hand and bringing it under a not strong stream of slightly warm water. To clean the snail shell, it is better to use a soft sponge that has never come into contact with detergents before.
In the process of bathing, the snail gets used to the owner. Frequent water procedures will allow the pet to make friends with a person and adapt to a new environment. Snails love water, so you need to bathe them once a week, but if this happens more often, it will only be better.

It is worth putting a bath of water for pets in the terrarium so that they can swim on their own at any time. The depth of such a bath should not exceed 3-5 centimeters. It is recommended to strengthen the bath to avoid accidentally turning it over, in case the snail wants to burrow into the ground next to the bath.

reproduction

Snails are hermaphrodites . Only in the process of courtship do they decide who will play the role of the female and who will play the role of the male. Scientists have not yet figured out by what criteria the distribution is carried out. The breeding process itself takes about an hour. The female lays eggs, on average, from 150 to 200 pieces. And, depending on the type of snails, after two to three months, transparent cubs are born. It is not worth washing an aquarium with eggs on the walls, so as not to damage the masonry, therefore, wet cleaning should be abandoned for a certain period, but the soil must still be changed regularly.

Small snails are best kept without soil, on lettuce or cabbage leaves. Feeding babies is grated carrots and finely chopped greens. Avoid soft foods.
Long absence. With insufficient nutrition, low temperature and humidity, snails burrow into the ground and hibernate. During such periods, shellfish can lose up to half their weight. Before the holidays, you can put the terrarium in a cooler place and stop giving food. Sleeping snails will easily endure a long absence of the owner.
Waking up a sleeping mollusk is not at all difficult. It is enough to return the living conditions to normal, and slightly moisten the mouth of the shell.

Interesting and original pets Achatina snails become pets in many families. These creatures have gained their distribution in East Africa, and now they can be found in the homes of any country in the world. They have earned their popularity with their exotic appearance and undemanding care.

Growing conditions

Despite the unpretentiousness of snails, certain conditions must be created for their maintenance.

Terrarium

As a terrarium for a snail, a plastic or glass container is suitable. The container must have a massive well-reinforced lid with holes. Achatina belong to land mollusks, and therefore it is not necessary to fill the selected container with water.

The volume of the aquarium is chosen at the rate of 10 liters per individual, for an adult snail you will need a terrarium 40 cm long, 25 cm wide and 25 cm high. Both giant species and small snails can gnaw through even dense material, so boxes are not suitable as a house.

The aquarium should be clean, there should be no turbidity on the walls:

• through the dull walls of the pet will not be visible;
• access to light will be difficult.

That's why all walls must be transparent. Inside, you need to organize a feeding place and a drinking bowl, put a pool, equip a shelter - they can be, for example, a ceramic pot or a coconut shell.

When arranging the terrarium, try to avoid too hard and sharp objects, as they can injure the Achatina. Moss, shards, bark can be used as decorations, it is allowed to plant plants.

substrate

The filler is vital for the African snail. For the mollusk, soft loose soil should be selected, which does not contain sharp fragments. The amount of substrate poured is calculated by the dimensions of the snail: it is important that it can completely burrow. Usually, a layer of 5-7 cm is enough for an adult Achatina; for a young compact snail, you do not need to fill up a lot of soil, otherwise it will suffocate. The most popular varieties of soil are considered to be several options.

• Coconut substrate. This filler retains moisture for a long time. Before filling the aquarium with it, the substrate is sprinkled with boiling water, then cooled, washed, dried and placed on the bottom of the terrarium.
• Riding clean peat. If this type of filler is used, then the acidity should remain at the level of 5-7.
• Sand. Snails like this type of soil, but particles can scratch, injure the shell, and leave damage on the walls of the terrarium. Experienced breeders combine coarse loose sand with non-acidic soil.
• Compost. This is a good option if it does not contain fertilizer, however, snail owners note that when using this species, fruit flies can appear in the terrarium and in the house.

Sawdust, pebbles, shells are unacceptable for use, even classic soil will not work, as it may contain fertilizers and other dangerous components. It is allowed to use synthetic winterizer shelters, and lay moss or dry foliage on top.

Temperature regime

This is a heat-loving animal, the recommended temperature for its maintenance is + 24 ... 28 degrees Celsius. To maintain the regime, you can use thermal mats, thermal cords, lighting devices. When cold, Achatina becomes lethargic and may even hibernate. Overheating is also dangerous. To control the temperature, do not forget to get a thermometer.

Do not leave the terrarium near the battery or other heating devices, so that the humidity indicators do not decrease and the soil does not dry out. As well as keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight.

Humidity

Humidity is the most important indicator for keeping snails. IN Achatina feel uncomfortable in arid conditions, they burrow into the substrate or take refuge in the shell. In order not to cause discomfort to your pet, organize a small pool in the terrarium.

Any container can serve as the basis. The main thing is that it be heavy, and the snail could not turn it over. And also to maintain humidity, you need to spray the terrarium and its bottom with water a couple of times a day. The recommended humidity for most species is 70-85%, for albopict - 90%.

Lighting

The visual organ of snails is located on the antennae, and therefore these animals are very sensitive to light. To prevent the pet from going blind, it is impossible to use powerful bright lamps for lighting. And also it is not allowed to put the terrarium on the south window, where ultraviolet rays fall. Use weak lighting fixtures, be sure to turn off the lights at night.

Subtleties of feeding

The main diet of snails is plant foods. Cucumbers, lettuce, apples are Achatina's favorite delicacies.

This creature does not disdain street grasses - clover, dandelion, leaves. Carrots, corn, zucchini will also be useful. As an additional treat, you can offer bran or oatmeal to the snail. The most important component of the menu should be foods high in calcium. So, an excellent source of this element can be eggshells or fodder chalk. Do not refuse feeding with special additives and vitamins for reptiles.

Offer your snail only thoroughly washed ground foods. Young individuals are fed every evening, and in the morning the remaining fragments of food are removed.

Adult snails need to be fed a couple of times a week.

For the correct maintenance of Achatina, the owner must take care not only of food, but also of water for his pet. Without liquid, it is impossible to secrete the secretion of liquid, which is so necessary for the snail to live. That's why in the terrarium there should always be a small container with water, it is customary to change the water every two days.

How should an aquarium be cleaned?

General cleaning in the terrarium is carried out once a month. Cleaning is done step by step:

1. the aquarium is cleaned of old filler;
2. the container is thoroughly washed with running water and dried well;
3. then fill the container with a new substrate;
4. moisten the substrate by spraying with water from a spray bottle.

Hygiene

As already mentioned, it is desirable to put a pool in the terrarium. Here the snail will perform water procedures. Do not fill the container too high, especially if small snails live in the terrarium. Mollusks are able to move under water, but the young can drown due to absent-mindedness. The water in the pool should be at room temperature, it needs to be changed every day.

Periodically, Achatina needs a shower. For this, ablution with warm water over a tap is suitable. The snail at the time of the shower procedure is held in the palm of your hand. The entire manipulation lasts a maximum of 3 minutes.

Rules for winter care

Due to the unavailability of fresh fruits and vegetables, the snail menu in winter becomes poor. A decrease in temperature and a lack of humidity affect the state of Achatina, so many of them hibernate. This is not a dangerous phenomenon for the animal, however, an inexperienced owner may be frightened by noticing that the pet has not shown signs of life for two months.

To avoid this phenomenon, it is important to continue to follow all the rules for keeping and caring for the snail: maintain a diet, maintain temperature and humidity indicators.

It’s good if you manage to grow greens for your pet on your own at home in the winter. In the cold months, feeding with oatmeal, bran, low-fat dairy products, wholemeal bread soaked in water is allowed.

How to care for eggs and babies?

Each owner who decided to breed Achatina snails, should know a few facts about breeding and caring for eggs and young.

• Achatina has both male and female genital organs, that is, it belongs to hermaphrodites. Incubation time varies depending on the species.
• Pregnancy can be determined by the egg sac that formed next to the breathing hole a couple of weeks after crossing. A pregnant snail lays eggs within two days, burrowing into the ground. At one time, 200-400 eggs are obtained, however, not all of them are viable. Cubs hatch 2-4 weeks after laying.
• Achatina are very prolific animals, and often the owner has to wash off some of the eggs in order to control the number of individuals. Sometimes this happens by accident, so be careful when cleaning the terrarium.
• As soon as the first cubs emerge from the eggs, transplant them from adults into a separate terrarium with lettuce leaves.
• The first food for offspring can be liquid porridge, supplemented with grated carrots. These products contribute to the full growth and strengthening of the shell.

Hibernation and awakening

An animal may hibernate for the following reasons:

• sudden temperature changes;
• a stressful situation, for example, changing the terrarium, diet, substrate;
• cold snap;
• moisture deficiency.

Most often, owners observe this phenomenon in winter. Before deep sleep, the pet is covered with a special film called epiphragm. In general, there is nothing dangerous in hibernation, but if the snail continues to sleep for more than two months, then it will lose an irreplaceable part of the moisture, and this can already destroy Achatina. Due to the loss of moisture, the mollusk decreases in size and burrows deeper into the shell, the body becomes more and more liquid.

Sometimes the owners deliberately introduce the snail into a state of sleep, for example, during the holidays, when there is no one to look after the animal. For this, the mollusk is placed in a container with a dry substrate, the aquarium is not moistened, the animal is not fed. Under such conditions, the snail will fall asleep. Young individuals are forbidden to hibernate, otherwise it will negatively affect the growth and development of Achatina.

If the snail sleeps for more than two months, then the owner is forced to wake her up.

The easiest way is to place the pet under a stream of warm water. Feeling moisture, the snail will look out of the shell, and then it must immediately be left in the terrarium with its usual conditions. Next, the pet is sprayed with water.

If the cause of hibernation was a violation of the temperature regime, then it is necessary to return the previous indicators. And also in this case, you need to change the soil and bathe the snail in water with a decoction of chamomile (+36 degrees) and milk. If the mollusk does not wake up, the procedure is repeated every two days until it looks out of the shell.

Having noticed that the animal is preparing for hibernation, it is important to prevent this phenomenon. The following measures will serve as prevention:

• add high-calcium ingredients to the menu;
• wash the snail regularly, keep the terrarium clean;
• keep an eye on the air temperature and humidity in the aquarium.

Possible problems

A problem in keeping a pet can be its illness. In general, these are animals with fairly good health, but such a misfortune as a disease does not always bypass them. The following symptoms indicate the disease:

• snail passivity;
• loss of appetite;
• blockage of the entrance to the sink;
• excessively thick mucus;
• stratification of the shell;
• whistling and hissing, which Achatina emits during pain.

Sometimes it becomes a problem shell injury. The snail may fall, or the distracted owner may accidentally crush it with something, as a result of which the integrity of the shell is violated. Minor defects can be treated with an antiseptic, large breaks and cracks are eliminated with epoxy glue.

If such a misfortune happened to a pet, then it is important to remove it from other individuals while the shell is healing, since these creatures like to rub against each other with shells.

To prevent injury to the shell, it is important to observe the following rules:

• always handle the snail with clean and damp hands, but do not use soap, cream or other hygiene products beforehand;
• do not forcibly tear the pet off the wall of the aquarium and do not squeeze it between your fingers so as not to injure the shell and damage the internal organs;
• take the snail not by the shell, but by the sole.

Sometimes the problem becomes determining the death of a pet. Not all owners are able to recognize that the animal has died and continue to care for it. If, when touched, the snail does not instinctively draw its head and body into the shell, then this indicates its death. The same applies to the situation when the shell is sealed for a long time, and the snail cannot be awakened.

Snails as pets have long supplanted turtles and even fish. These are the most unpretentious pets, the best way out for busy people and those who are ready to let something unusual into their lives.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

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Snails: pros and cons

Exotic pets do not require significant time and financial costs. Taking care of snails is simple and not troublesome: you need to feed only 3 times a week, wash the aquarium every 2 weeks and change the soil once a month. In nutrition, they are unpretentious: they eat vegetables, fruits, grass. You do not have to think about what to feed them: food from the refrigerator is quite suitable. If there is a crispy lettuce leaf for dessert, this is a real delicacy for a snail!

Gastropods usually live in aquariums equipped with a lid with holes or a slot: so that the pet does not suffocate and crawl out along the wall. Begonia soil or coconut substrate is suitable as bedding. You can lay out the ulitarium with moss, add branches with lichen, plant plants, for example, cat grass, arrange a reservoir from a saucer. If you went for moss in the nearest planting or in the forest, then before placing it in the aquarium, you need to process it in a special way.

A couple of times a day, it is advisable to spray the soil and walls of the ulitarium from a spray bottle. If you notice that your pet is sitting on the wall all the time, then there is too much water, and he is uncomfortable in wet ground. If it is clogged in the sink, then, on the contrary, it is too dry.

You need to understand that the activity of the inhabitants of the ulitarium depends on proper care. Basically, earth snails are nocturnal, and during daylight hours they prefer to sit motionless on glass or burrow into the ground.

b "> Achatina snail care

The largest and most popular of the domestic molluscs are Achatina, they are also African giant snails. Specimens with a shell of more than 20 cm in length are known, and the body of Achatina can reach up to 30 cm. If you want to grow a large mollusk, you should take care of a spacious aquarium: the smallest volume per inhabitant is 10 liters. Achatina are very fond of swimming, so they need a bath. The filler layer should be 4-6 cm, no less - Achatina likes to burrow into it.

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Usually Achatina has a gray-brown body and a spiral shell with stripes of red-brown hues. But there are albino Achatinas: their shells are lighter, the pattern looks more contrast, and the body is milky white.

Achatina is also used for cosmetic purposes: for an exotic massage, during which molluscs crawl over the patient's face. The secret of Achatina contains substances that are beneficial for the skin, which moisturize and nourish the skin, and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Achatina nutrition

It is preferable to give these snails a variety of food, more often hard than soft. You need to make sure that your pet's diet contains enough calcium-containing foods to build a shell and a single chitinous tooth with which the mollusk scrapes food.

d"> Reproduction Achatina

Achatina reaches puberty at the age of six months to one and a half years. Each individual has both female and male reproductive organs, but cases of self-fertilization are extremely rare. Most often, a mating partner is needed. Achatina stores partner's sperm for up to two years and can make 5-6 clutches per year.

Other types of domestic earth snails

Fans of watching mollusks often get caracolus - this is a Cuban tree snail with a bright, bizarre shell, because of which it is called a saucer snail. Caracolus live in flocks, so you need to put at least 5 individuals in the aquarium. In their house there must be branches and snags.

Miniature land snails, octon subbulins, are suitable for monitoring the vital activity of an entire colony. Pros: very unpretentious in nutrition and care, the colony requires very little space. Cons: high breeding rate and small size (maximum 3-5 cm in captivity).

The grape snail is popular for home maintenance. It is almost impossible to find it in stores, so, basically, it is simply brought from the street. Most tips on keeping Achatina are also suitable for caring for any land molluscs, including wild ones. In the feed, it is better to give preference to the leaves of grapes, dandelion, burdock and fresh vegetables. Watching ordinary garden dwellers is no less interesting than watching their exotic counterparts.

Aquarium snails

Very often, snail eggs enter the aquarium by accident, with plants or soil. The main thing is to maintain their numbers and ensure that these clams from uninvited guests become assistants to the aquarist.

Popular types of aquarium snail

• ampulyaria - this American freshwater mollusk is found in almost every aquarium and is remarkable mainly for its rather large size;
• The horned freshwater snail is popular for its striking black and yellow striped shell with prominent horn-like growths. Moreover, its “horns” are quite effective protection against human importunity: if you take a mollusk in your hands, then the injection will be quite painful;
• helena is a freshwater predator, she is bred to eat other snails;
• batman is an excellent glass cleaner, suitable for salt water aquariums;
• devil's thorn - distinguished by a magnificent conical shell. It is preferable to keep in an aquarium with salt water, in the company of relatives and without fish, otherwise the mollusk will constantly hide in the ground;
• mariza - the owner of a beautiful round shell, has a peaceful character and gets along well with many types of fish, but is whimsical to the conditions of detention.

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For aquarium snails, which are with the fish, do not need special care: they feed on leftover food, waste and algae. The main thing is to monitor their numbers and keep one large or a couple of small snails for five or six liters of water.

Snails: pros and cons

The domestic snail is still perceived as exotic, but for a person who values ​​time and order, it can become an ideal pet. Of course, the snail will not be a walking companion, will not meet you from work, will not bring slippers. But she does not require special attention, she is not offended if the owner did not play with her, did not stroke her, did not give her her favorite chair. At the same time, the owners of domestic snails unanimously claim that their pets not only recognize “their person”, but feel cared for, and, sitting on a familiar palm, look really happy.

Snails are sedentary gastropods. Their habitat can be both land and water. In the wild, these representatives of the fauna very rarely live to "old age", due to the large number of enemies and rapidly changing environmental conditions. However, domestic species can live for several years. To prolong the life of pets, it is important to properly care for snails.

The habitat of snails can be both land and water elements.

The snail, like any other kind of living beings, needs proper maintenance and care. Only in this case, she is able to live a long life and breed. To care for domestic snails, you need to know some of their behavior and preferences.

Setting up an aquarium or terrarium

Depending on the type of mollusk, two methods of keeping can be used: in an aquarium or a terrarium. The first option involves the creation of a container with water in which a slow pet will live and develop comfortably. Another way allows you to equip a dry container and recreate conditions for the snail as close as possible to its natural habitat.

As a "house" for shellfish You can use the following containers:

• glass aquarium;
• Plastic container;
• plexiglass container.

All of them should be transparent and not have even the smallest cracks.

For one large snail, you need at least 10 liters of volume. In a smaller capacity, she will be uncomfortable. When arranging an aquarium, it is important to take into account the fact that some species can easily climb even the most slippery walls. Because of this, it is necessary to provide a closing cover with small holes. It will promote the free flow of air and protect the owners from the escape of the pet.

For one large snail, you need at least 10 liters of volume. In a smaller capacity, she will be uncomfortable.

In order to keep snails at home, you need to choose the right aquarium filler. These can be such materials:

1. Flower compost or peat. One of these substrates is poured into the bottom of the container and evenly distributed. Its layer should be approximately 10 cm in height. As additional materials, walnut cores, hazelnut shells, fine sand can act. The poured substrate will serve as a refuge for the snail. In addition, she can lay eggs there. Any of the selected materials needs constant moisture.
2. Decorative elements. You can additionally put small black stones, beautiful snags into the aquarium, and also decorate the bottom with living vegetation (ivy, striped fern, algae are suitable). Such a decoration will not only help the snail find a secluded place in the container, but will also become an additional source of food.
3. Feeder and drinker (for land species). Both vessels should be of light material and have low rims.

Temperature and humidity

Any kind of molluscs requires proper maintenance. One of its main indicators is maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity. Not only the health of these representatives of the fauna, but also longevity will depend on such factors.

Each type of snail in the aquarium requires special conditions, so it is not recommended to settle them together. For greater comfort of pets, it is necessary to maintain such indicators of temperature and humidity as may be present in their habitat. For most snails, 20 to 30 degrees above zero and 80-90% humidity is sufficient. These values ​​are approximate and may vary not only for each individual species, but also for different ages of the mollusk.

Each type of snail in the aquarium requires special conditions, so it is not recommended to settle them together.

Most snails are nocturnal. The peak of their activity falls on the predawn hours. In addition, mollusks become more mobile in cloudy weather and during rain.

By the behavior of the pet, you can easily determine the optimal humidity. If they try to climb the walls of the aquarium, then you need to lower the existing indicator, in case of burrowing into the ground, increase it.

Daily diet

These representatives of the fauna need a variety of food and its timely supply. Not only life expectancy depends on this, but also the regularity of breeding offspring. You can feed them with the following foods:

1. Daily. The basis of the diet of snails is various fresh herbs and cereals. Vegetable sprouts, lettuce, dandelion, plantain, wheat, rye, barley can be included in this category.
2. Vegetables. Most species of gastropods will not refuse tasty and juicy vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, pumpkins.
3. Berries and fruits. Be sure to give your pets the pulp of pear, apple, banana, melon, plum, watermelon, cherry, raspberry, strawberry.
4. Protein. Snails also need protein, which is contained in a boiled egg, fish food, and meat products.
5. Mineral supplement. Almost all snails suffer from calcium deficiency. From this, they can begin to bite their own shell, which will lead to its destruction and the possible death of the mollusk. To avoid such negative consequences, you need to periodically add eggshells, chalk, small shrimp, special mixtures to their food.

Despite the wide variety of foods, they should be given in moderation. Snails very quickly get used to any ingredient and may refuse the rest. Frequent dietary changes can help prevent this from happening.

Despite the wide variety of foods, they should be given in moderation.

In addition to useful products, there are also harmful ones. Under no circumstances should they be given to snails, as they can cause disease and death. The banned list includes:

• any kind of salt;
• spices;
• fried food;
• smoked products;
• sour fruits;
• spicy vegetables;
• flour products;
• citrus;
• potato.

The diet should change with the onset of the winter period. At this time, snails need additional feeding: wheat bran, oatmeal, bread soaked in milk, beets, fresh grass. Under no circumstances should pets be fed canned foods.

For newly born snail babies, a special diet is needed. It will help you gain weight and get stronger as quickly as possible.

Rules for feeding cubs:

1. In the first days after birth, snails need fresh greens, chalk and eggshells. These products will help to develop quickly and form a strong shell.
2. Weekly clams can be fed with grated vegetables and chopped cereal mixtures. In addition, you can gradually introduce vegetable protein and minerals into the diet.
3. After 2 weeks of life, the baby snail is able to eat fish food, boiled eggs and small crustaceans.
4. After a month, the clam can eat the same food as its parents.

snail care

Most gastropods do not require complex care, but will not give up comfort and ideal conditions. This will help protect them from disease and promote a long life.

General rules

When caring for domestic snails, it is very important to know when to stop. Increased attention and care can only harm the mollusk and affect its health. Each individual species needs special care, but for all of them there are several general rules:

1. Periodically, you need to arrange water procedures for pets (if they live in a dry container). They are indoors under a warm shower and regular spraying. In addition, at the bottom of the container you need to put a shallow bowl of water.
2. It is important to clean the aquarium from all kinds of pollution several times a month.
3. Periodically, you need to remove the old bedding and replace it with a new one.
4. In case of detection of strong contamination, it is necessary to carry out an extraordinary cleaning of the "house" of the mollusk.

Increased attention and care can only harm the mollusk and affect its health.

In winter, many types of snails can hibernate. This will only happen if the ambient temperature drops sharply and the humidity decreases significantly. In this state, the mollusk protects its shell with a special film and completely cuts itself off from the outside world. Experts recommend not allowing too long hibernations (more than 2 months), as snail death may occur.

For young individuals, this condition is especially harmful. They are actively developing, for which constant and regular nutrition is needed. During suspended animation, the mollusk will not receive the right amount of nutrients and may get sick. To wake up an individual of any age, it is enough to bring it under a stream of warm water and hold it for several minutes.

Caring for the sink

The main sign of the health of a mollusk is a beautiful shell. By its condition, you can determine not only the well-being of the pet, but also the type of disease. To prevent problems, you need to carefully care for the sink. This is especially important for large species of snails.

Beginners should pay attention to the following points:

1. If any damage to the shell is found, it is necessary to immediately change the pet's diet and include in it the maximum possible amount of foods containing calcium. This will help the snail recover faster and repair the damage.
2. The same actions must be performed when delamination or brittleness appears.
3. In case of injury to the mollusk (chip or large crack in the shell), it is necessary to immediately treat the damaged surface with an antiseptic. In addition, you need to put a sick individual in a separate aquarium so that it does not aggravate its injury.

The main sign of the health of a mollusk is a beautiful shell.

Disease prevention

There are situations when, due to improper care or maintenance, the snail gets sick. This can be determined by her lethargic behavior, refusal of food, stratification of the shell, strong mucous secretions. The cause of a pet's illness can be:

1. A sharp temperature drop, as well as overheating or hypothermia.
2. The tightness of the aquarium or terrarium.
3. Use of too dry or damp earth bedding.
4. Deficiency of calcium or protein.
5. Contamination of the container with food debris and waste products of the mollusk.
6. Insufficient or incorrect ventilation.
7. Neighborhood with other species.

To avoid trouble with the health of your pet, you need to take all care measures in time and properly feed the snail. If no action is taken, even the most harmless crack in the sink can lead to serious illness or death.

Caring for indoor snails is a rather difficult undertaking that requires a significant investment of time and effort. With the right approach to business and compliance with all the recommendations of professionals, you can create the most comfortable conditions for your pet. Thanks to this, he will be able to live a long life.