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 type of animal belongs to the class of gastropods (gastropods), a type of mollusk. The word snail comes from the Old Slavonic “ulit” - hollow because of its house (shell), which is empty without the animal.

Snail - description and characteristics

The snail's body consists of a head, legs, visceral sac, and mantle fold. The mollusk moves 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.

Small snails can move by beating their cilia.

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

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

Also inside the mantle are:

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

There is a special hole for air to enter the breathing organs. 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:

• Periostracum is a thin layer covering the outside of the structure. It consists of a protein - conchiolin.
• Ostracum is a calcium carbonate middle layer wrapped in conchiolin.
• Hypostracum (mother-of-pearl) – a layer located inside. It consists of calcium carbonate plates coated with conchiolin.

The shell is an integral part of the snail's body. The external skeleton of a 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. Surface – smooth or with growths. The turns in the spiral are located from left to right, but there are very rare cases when it is the other way around. Dimensions and colors can vary.

Some snails have a reduced shell - a calcareous plate inside the mantle. These are mainly slugs, which 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 different shapes.

Vegetarian snails have small teeth, while predatory snails have large teeth in the shape of a pike or hook. The number of teeth in a snail can reach 25,000. Basically, the radula includes 120 rows, each with 100 teeth = 12,000.

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

Snails live in nature and feed on animal food. These species are distinguished by drill-shaped teeth. It can drill into the oyster's shell or other hard protective shells, which helps the mollusk get to the meat.

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

The unique properties of this substance are today widely used in cosmetology as an anti-aging, sunscreen, and moisturizer.

Mucin regulates mineralization processes and shell creation. Mucus is divided into two types:

• The first type helps the mollusk move by moisturizing 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 and mineral salts, which have restorative and 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 and the Barents Sea.

Snails feel great in Europe, Africa, Australia, and 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 snail’s body to dry out, otherwise the animal may die.

Everything a snail eats depends on its habitat. The nutrition of the mollusk is surprising in its diversity, it can be:

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

Land mollusks happily eat leaves, berries, fruits, vegetables, bark, and grass. Young ones prefer fresher food, but with age their preferences change, and the old snail begins to feed on rotten plants.

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

In order to grind food well, the mollusk's teeth 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.

You can feed snails in an aquarium:

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

To ensure that the aquarium is not left without all vegetation, it is best to take control of the number of mollusks. A moderate amount of snails is good for the algae as it eats up all the rot on it and cleans 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 your pet’s diet; he should not be given human food. You also need to put newspapers away, because the snail eats them with great pleasure, but rarely survives after such a feast.

You can include the diet:

• plantain;
• legumes;
• cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes, bell peppers;
• green;
• 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 snail’s habitat.

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, cross-fertilization occurs.

Freshwater snails lay eggs in capsules, and land snails lay eggs in dug holes. The mollusk can lay up to 85 pieces at a time. Eggs mature within 28 days and can have different colors:

• transparent;
• green;
• white;
• pink.

The development of this snail takes place without stages of transformation. Having passed the required period of maturation, a fully formed individual with a transparent shell is born, which hardens over time and acquires its own 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.

Eggs are laid in a special cocoon with a lid, which dissolves as the larvae develop. For the safety of future offspring, the outer row of eggs is not filled, this allows the predator to be left without lunch.

The development of gastropods occurs with transformations from an egg into a 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 embryo stays in the mother's body until it is fully mature and only then is it born.

Snail diseases

Snails may suffer from the following diseases:

• Broken sink, holes, cracks. In this case, the animal should receive the maximum amount of calcium, rest, high humidity and the right temperature.
• Shell lamination. This process can occur against the background of improper maintenance, stress, and poor heredity.
• White plaque on the sink. The problem arises against the backdrop of poor conditions, such as age-related changes, or it could be simple abrasion.
• Burns. They can be thermal or chemical. In this case, the snail hides in its shell and hardly moves. You can alleviate the condition by increasing humidity and increasing the amount of juicy vegetables and fruits in your diet.
• Poisoning. Occurs due to poor quality nutrition.
• Self-chewing. The snail begins to eat itself due to calcium deficiency, stress or heredity.
• Organ prolapse.

Enemies in the wild

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

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

For land snails, the following are dangerous:

• moles;
• blackbirds;
• wild boars;
• lizards;
• hedgehogs

Freshwater mollusks should be afraid of:

• trout;
• storks;
• frogs;
• herons.

Snails are slow and careful, which helps them protect themselves from enemies. They avoid highly lit areas and stay deep in the substrate.

How long does a snail live? Lifespan

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

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

In captivity, a snail lives as long as it was initially given. The main thing for this is to follow all the rules of keeping and feed your pet correctly.

The snail has more than 110,000 species, the habitat of 2,000 of them is the territory of 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 to the poison of this mollusk has not yet been found.

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

The smallest mollusk is Angustopila dominikae. Its size is 0.8 mm. For example: 4 such 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 and gill.

A large-sized land snail whose habitat 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.

Color ranges 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 outside 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 and 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 can tolerate low temperatures down to -7°C, but not more than 10 hours.

The grape snail has been bred at home for a long time. Today, special snail farms are opening in some countries.

Gastropod meat consists of:

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

It also contains a number of essential minerals and vitamins.

The 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.

The grape snail is bred at home in special terrariums, instead of other exotic, but not always safe, animals. Mollusks are hermaphrodites, therefore, for breeding, it is enough to have heterosexual individuals of sexual maturity.

At home, the grape snail feeds on plant foods. They can be fed vegetables and fruits. The gastropod has a good appetite, so you need to make sure that it always has food.

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

You can prepare the clam as follows:

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

The snails are poured with cold water and, after boiling, cooked for about 7 minutes. It is washed, dried, the shell is removed, and 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 chopped garlic + parsley + salt, ground black pepper + 800 g of softened butter. Stir thoroughly.

The shell is filled with the prepared oil and the prepared snail, and heated in the oven before serving.

Gastropod coil is a freshwater snail that lives in bodies of water with lush vegetation and a slight current. The mollusk survives even in very polluted waters with minimal oxygen content.

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

Color - from brick color to deep red. The gastropod can move its shell down along 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.

The coils are:

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

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

Garden gastropod is a big pest in garden plots, which their owners actively fight against. The snail happily eats fresh crops and spoils young leaves and shoots, sometimes causing irreparable harm.

But there are also benefits from these shellfish. 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 shadows during the day and emerging from it in the evening for food.

This mollusk is not whimsical and is very often 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. The bright, variegated color is individual for each individual and is not repeated, making each gastropod exclusive. Keeping such an animal is not difficult.

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

The Neretina snail is divided into four types:

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

The mollusk was born in Africa, where it lives in all available bodies of water. Neretina is not whimsical; it can easily survive for a certain period without feeding, eating 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 powder form, and ground chicken egg shells in your diet.

For a long time, the mollusk was distributed only on the African continent, 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. The mollusk does not survive in the natural conditions of Russia; here it is kept at home in special terrariums.

The Achatina shell of the specimen 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 a female, that is, the African snail Achatina, which is a hermaphrodite.

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

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

The Helena mollusk is a freshwater species native to Southeast Asia. Gastropods do not have a very good reputation, since they periodically eat their relatives. Aquarium owners most often keep this species of gastropod to exterminate other snails.

Helena has a positive attitude towards running water, but at the same time they do well in artificial reservoirs, lakes and aquariums. The substrate chosen is sand or silt.

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

At home, gastropods feed on the same small-sized 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 regular fish food, krill, and frozen shrimp.

Helenas are heterosexual animals and reproduce well in captivity. Mating between a male and 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.

As aquarists note, 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 that 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 lack of their own house forces them to seek shelter from the sun, winds, and cold.

The mollusk is active at night, when the heat subsides and gentle coolness sets in. A relative of the snail overwinters deep in the soil.

The slug moves with the help of the sole, which contracts in waves; for more comfortable sliding, a copious amount of mucus is released. In search of food, despite its slowness, the individual is ready to cover considerable 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, and hatched chicks. The feeding process occurs with the help of the radula, which is studded with teeth.

The hermaphrodite reproduces once a year; it lays up to 40 eggs. For many gardeners, a slug 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 in order to detach itself from its partner. Over time, the organ recovers.

Bitinia

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

Luzhanka

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

The Luzhanka snail is a viviparous mollusk.

Gastropods live in all regions of Europe except the northern regions.

Buccinum (trumpet player)

A large sea snail, with a shell reaching 24 cm diagonally and 17 cm vertically. Color – light brown. The surface is embossed or smooth.

The mollusk is a predator and paralyzes its prey with poisonous saliva. Lives only in northern oceans with cool water.

Ampularia

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

Fiza

The Physa snail, measuring within 2 centimeters, is popular among experienced aquarists. The special shape of the shell helps the mollusk hide in the most secluded places.

Gastropods feed on living algae. The presence of lungs allows the body to exist without water. It is recommended to control the population of this type of snail, as it reproduces very quickly.

The mollusk is a good aquarium cleaner from plaque and bacterial films on the walls. Use hard water with a temperature of at least 21 degrees.

Tylomelania

Tilomelania is a bright mollusk that will decorate any aquarium. It requires special care, 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 be any color, the surface can be smooth or with spikes. It is best to make water for clams soft and highly acidic.

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

Melania

The Melania clam 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 – gray-green. Conical shell. Melania is an omnivore.

Pagoda (brothia)

This mollusk requires sufficient oxygen in the water and prefers sand in the form of soil. It feeds on algae and fish food. The pagoda has a very short lifespan - only six months.

Marisa

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

• For the snail to live, you need to prepare:
• terrarium;
• plastic container;
• aquarium;
• house for rodents.
• The container for a mollusk, in the worst case, should not be less than 10 liters per individual, in the best - 20 liters.
• To prevent your pet from running away, you need to make sure the lid is tight.
• To allow oxygen to enter, it is recommended to make several holes in the lid.
• You should pay more attention to the height of the aquarium than to its width.
• It is best to hide snail housing from bright light, and electric lighting can be excluded.
• The soil can be:
• soil 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.
• Don’t forget to put drinking water in a small container and change it constantly.
• If you do not care for the mollusk correctly, it may die or go into hibernation.
• The terrarium must be kept clean regularly.

Proper feeding of a snail is the key to 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 love bananas very much, but if you give them often, they stop eating other food and demand only this delicacy.
• You should not offer clams 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 very quickly become tame and get used to their owner.

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

• Snail meat is very healthy 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 shellfish meat is one and a half times higher than in a chicken egg.
• Snail meat is recommended for dietary purposes.
• Shellfish does not cause allergies.
• In ancient times, snails were actively used for therapeutic purposes.
• In modern medicine, mollusk mucus is used to treat silicosis, bronchitis, and whooping cough. Since the special composition has the property of gluing cells with bacteria. Our grandmothers would sit a snail on a piece of lump sugar and wait for it to become covered with mucus, after which they would give it to the patient to eat.
• The mucus content of the snail allows it to independently restore its shell.
• In cosmetology, ordinary mucus has become the basis for many anti-aging, regenerating, antioxidant products.
• Snails are also used to make effective masks.
• Mucus-based drugs are used to combat stretch marks, acne, scars, warts, and age spots.

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

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

Achatina snails are unusual and incredibly interesting pets. From East African countries they spread throughout the world. It turns out that they not only grow up to 25 cm, but also lead an active lifestyle, are curious and are able to reach high speeds. Caring for them is as easy as shelling pears, just know the rules described in the article.

Achatina snails: contents

If the Achatina snail has attracted your attention and you decide to get yourself such a pet, then along with it you will need:

Container where the snail will live

This could be an aquarium, terrarium or container, glass or plastic. Be sure to have a tight-fitting lid with small holes for ventilation. This is because the snail will escape from any open container at the first opportunity.

The volume per individual is 3 liters. For 3–5 snails, select a “house” with a capacity of 20–30 liters.

Substrate

Snails need a layer of substrate of 4–10 cm, into which they can burrow while resting and where they will lay eggs. For this purpose, at home they use:

• soil for flowers without fertilizers;
• peat;
• coconut substrate;
• loose sand;
• nut shells.

Any of the substrates requires moisture, so you can experiment here. The overall humidity level in the container should be 60-70%.

If it is insufficient, the Achatina snail will hide in its shell for a long time and refuse to show itself outside. With high humidity, the pet spends all its time on the walls of the container.

Lighting

A light source is not needed in a container with snails. They should not be placed in direct sunlight. Otherwise, Achatina navigates the change of night and day on its own. During daylight hours, pets will hide in secluded corners, and at night they will behave more animatedly.

Temperature

Since Achatina snails are an African species, it is important for them to live warm. The optimal temperature for their life is 20–28 °C.

Sudden temperature changes are harmful for snails, so containers with them should not be placed near heaters. A thermometer is placed in the container to make it convenient to monitor the temperature of your pets.

Decorations

To make the snail feel comfortable, build a secluded corner for it to rest from a flower pot or half a coconut.

The container will be decorated with living plants (ferns, ivy), pieces of moss, and twigs. The decor should be soft, so stones and ceramics are not suitable. Snails can damage their shells on their surface.

Achatina snails: care at home

How to care for snails? It should be noted that these pets are among the most not picky. Even if you completely forget about Achatina for a month, it will go into suspended animation and live off the accumulated resources, waiting for its owner.

But this, of course, is an extreme option. Normal care includes the following components:

Nutrition

What do snails eat? The answer is simple - a variety of plant foods. Their favorite foods are cucumbers, lettuce and apples. They will not refuse clover, dandelions, fresh leaves, bananas, pumpkins, corn, zucchini, and carrots. Bran and oat flakes are a great addition to your diet.

In addition, the snail needs calcium compounds to form its shell. It will not be possible to feed it with artificial sources of this element, so a supply of crushed eggshells and chalk is needed. Vitamins and minerals for reptiles are also suitable for Achatina.

The feeding rules are:

• vegetables are washed with water and finely chopped;
• Food is left for young snails every evening, and the remains are removed in the morning;
• adults are fed 2 times a week.

Water

The secretion of mucus and the life of snails are impossible without water. Therefore it is important:

• ensure optimal humidity in the container;
• leave a small container with fresh water in it, which is changed every 2-3 days;
• Once a month, gently bathe the snail.

Cleaning the container

Once a month, Akhatina’s home undergoes a general cleaning:

1. Throw away the old layer of substrate.
2. Wash the container with a damp cloth without using detergents.
3. Dry it.
4. Fill in a new substrate and moisten it.

Reproduction

When caring for such unusual pets, you should know how snails reproduce. These wonderful creatures are hermaphrodites and, in the presence of several individuals aged from one to one and a half years, lay eggs in the substrate layer. They are translucent or white in color and are very visible on the ground.

If you do not plan to breed Achatina, then the masonry should be frozen or boiled. Once released, snails become pests, so it's best to be careful.

The snail can and should be picked up. Do this carefully, lightly moistening your palm with water. There is no need to squeeze it - let your pet explore you at its own discretion.

Moist and clean, with a strong shell and active - this is a healthy Achatina snail, which will live with you for up to ten years.

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

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

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

Brief description

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

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

Achatina snails have an elongated and pointed crown of the shell, which distinguishes them from their counterparts of other subspecies. They are highly fertile; one clutch can contain up to 500 eggs, similar to tiny chicken eggs.
Achatina is considered the largest land snail, has a yellow-brown shell, and a zigzag pattern on the shell. The mollusk has a soft body, black or gray in color with small white tubercles.

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

Benefits of keeping Achatina

The Achatina snail, according to mollusk breeders, is an ideal pet. Let's look at the main advantages of snails as pets:

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

Choosing and arranging housing

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

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

Substrate

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

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

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

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

Lighting

A terrarium with this mollusk does not require any additional lighting fixtures. The light intensity does not in any way affect the life activity of mollusks. For them, the regular alternation of day and night is more important, since their main activity occurs at night, while during the day they like to hide in a layer of soil away from prying eyes and rest. Lighting of the terrarium is needed more by the owner than by the mollusk.

Important!If you decide to illuminate your pet’s house, take the lighting device outside the aquarium, because if the lamp is inside, a snail may crawl onto it and damage the system, a short circuit may also occur and your pet may die.

Temperature

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

Humidity

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

Additional accessories

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

Sometimes Achatina owners plant living plants in terrariums. They look beautiful and unusual in the snail's house. However, when watering plants, you need to make sure that the substrate is not over-moistened. If you are going to plant plants in a container, give preference to those with small fibers. Try not to plant ferns and ivy; although these plants look beautiful, they will be quickly eaten by Achatina.

Care and feeding

The larger the Achatina, the less often it can be fed, for example, once every few days. Small snails need to be fed once a day. These mollusks are vegetarians, for this reason they need to be provided with as much green plant food as possible. They should be fed only with approved foods, combining them with foods that your particular Achatina loves.

Diet

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

The following foods can be included in their diet:

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

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

What not to feed

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

Water

Achatina not only eats, but also drinks 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 rapid growth and development of mollusks, they need a source of calcium carbonate and vitamins. You can put a piece of chalk in the terrarium and sprinkle some eggshells. The chalk in the terrarium should be natural, since factory-made, chemically produced chalk will be ignored by the mollusk. You can purchase vitamin and mineral mixtures at pet stores; complexes made for reptiles are suitable.

Cleaning the terrarium

The procedure for cleaning the terrarium, depending on its filler, is carried out several times every three months. Cleaning the container consists of completely washing 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 don’t mind taking a swim either. This should be done with warm boiled water, carefully, under a gentle stream and without completely immersing the animal in the water.
Thus, caring for Achatina snails at home does not require much effort.

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

Diseases: prevention and treatment

Snails are very tenacious, but in any case you need to know how to help them. If a piece of your pet's shell breaks off, this is not a reason to panic. Lubricate the edges of the broken part of the sink with an antiseptic, make sure that the pet is in a clean and comfortable place. The regeneration processes in your pet’s body should begin on their own, so the mollusk will survive if the infection does not enter the body. New fabrics will heal the chipped sink over time.

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

How long do they live at home?

Is it possible to pick it up?

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

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

What association did many people have with snails until recently? They were talked about as pests or French delicacies, and many people were disgusted by them. But there was no question that they could once become beloved pets. Why do most people currently prefer them? It's very simple - these mollusks have a great advantage over many pets.

What are the benefits of snails as pets?

These harmless creatures don't make any noise and they smell absolutely nothing. A person cannot develop an allergy from them. They require very little space in the apartment, which attracts many. They don't require a lot of expense to care for them. This is an ideal pet for people who, due to their work, have to be away from home for a long time. Even a child will not find it difficult to take care of them.

Many owners of these animals attribute to them fantastic abilities that have not been proven by science. They claim that they easily recognize their owners and avoid any contact with strangers. If a domestic snail gets used to a person, it does not hide in its shell, and may even allow its soft body to be stroked.

How to care for land snails? In order for such an exotic pet to be comfortable, a terrarium or something like that is needed. An important condition is that the material from which the house for a domestic snail is made should in no case be toxic. A cover and ventilation holes are required.

Besides the terrarium you will also need:

Priming. This can be ordinary soil, coconut substrate or moss;

A couple of plates for food;

1. A bathtub made of soft materials that will not harm the snail shell if the pet might fall while bathing;

A thermometer with which you can control the temperature in the snail’s house;

2. Personal sponges for cleaning your pet's terrarium and sink, which have never been touched by detergent;

Spray. The water in it must be clean and settled

How to care for a snail?

At its core, it is a creature that inhabits the subtropics. Therefore, the snail’s house should have a constantly warm and slightly humid climate. Most snails prefer regular room temperature of 23-25 ​​degrees. But some of them sometimes feel cold at this temperature, so they may need an additional room heater.

In order for your pet snail to feel perfectly comfortable, requires a certain humidity. This is one of the main conditions for its habitat. It is easy to achieve with daily spraying from a spray bottle, the presence of soil and a bath for the snail. If this pet has problems with appetite, the snail has become lethargic and inactive, and has buried itself deep in the ground, then there are some problems with moisture. The situation must be corrected immediately, otherwise the snail may die.

Cleanliness is also an important condition for the favorable existence of this pet. In the terrarium, be sure to remove food debris and excrement once a day. It is necessary to wash the animal’s house with a damp sponge without detergent; changing the soil depends on the degree of contamination.

In the last decade there has been a large number of different types snails They differ significantly from each other not only in size and color, but also in the shape of the shell and body. These different species should not be placed in the same terrarium. Firstly, not all snails are suitable for certain conditions. Secondly, even if they require the same humidity and temperature, they cannot always tolerate each other’s company. Such an undesirable proximity can lead to pet stress, poor appetite and growth.

Snail nutrition

The diet of this mollusk mainly includes vegetables, fruits and greens. A special treat for them are apples, cucumbers, carrots and zucchini. Caring for land pets requires knowledge of their habits. Most of them very quickly get used to monotonous food and don’t want to eat anything else. This slows down their growth and full development. To prevent this from happening, mollusks need a varied diet. The use of spicy, salty and fried foods in the menu is strictly prohibited.

Land mollusks that are indispensable in food are calcium, grain mixture and animal protein. If all this is present in the pets' menu, they will be beautiful, healthy and with a strong shell. Crushed eggshells are perfect, which can be sprinkled on the snail’s juicy food or simply left in a separate container in the terrarium. Powdered or lump chalk is also a source of calcium. Thanks to him, the snail shell becomes beautiful and strong. Feeding these mollusks is a pleasure. You can watch them eat for hours, which is quite interesting and entertaining.

They get great pleasure from swimming. This is probably their favorite activity. It is during bathing that you can see all their charm and beauty and chat with them to your heart’s content. During water procedures, these mollusks become more open and do not even make attempts to hide in their shell. For bathing you will need a weak stream of lukewarm water.

It's better to hold it in the palm of your hand; it may end up on the sink. detergent residue, which act on the snail like poison. If you do not initially establish contact with the animal, the best way to do this is to bathe her. Thus, the snail quickly gets used to humans. You should do this once or twice a week. But many owners do this much more often. They are pleased to observe the genuine joy and delight of their pet.

Mollusks are most active in the morning and evening. It is at this time of day that all household members are at home and can enjoy watching these cute creatures. Many people compare these mollusks to aquarium fish. This is exactly the kind of calming therapy that both have. They say that snails can easily relieve stress and calm their owner.

There are several rules that every person who wants to have a land snail as their pet should know:

Conclusion

When thinking about choosing a pet, you shouldn’t think twice. A snail is exactly what you need. Caring for snails is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Picky clam does not require complex care and does not require the constant presence of household members. It is important to feed him properly and provide proper care. Low costs for its maintenance, and in return devotion and calming therapy.

Today, Achatina snails are popular among people. They are kept as pets.

These mollusks look exotic and require minimal care. They are quiet, non-aggressive and funny, able to please the eye and lift your spirits.

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

Clams excellent adapt to captivity. They reach 30 centimeters in length. African Achatina lives on average from 5 to 9 years.

Body structure:

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

Today large snails rank first in popularity among exotic lovers.

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

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

Content rules:

1. Ideally snails placed in a square or rectangular terrarium. But if you don’t have one, 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 turn on a bright light, the resident of the terrarium will go blind.
3. The soil is made from a soft substrate: hazelnut shells, fallen leaves, forest cover moss, sphagnum moss.

   Soil, neutralized peat, and coconut substrate are also suitable. The minimum soil layer is 10 centimeters. The snail lays eggs (eggs) in the soil.

Soft soil softens falling of a mollusk from the walls of the terrarium. If the bottom is not covered, the shell will crack when it falls. Because of this, the mollusk dies.

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.

Rules of care:

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 enjoys bathing.

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

The terrarium is decorated with fresh and artificial flowers. Remember that living 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 loves to swim in containers with water. There must be a house.

Important! Do not put Achatina in round terrariums.

The terrarium must not be placed in a place with direct sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation negatively affects shellfish.

What to feed Achatina snails?

Achatina are not picky creatures. You don’t even have to feed them for 2-3 weeks, but in this case the snail will go into suspended animation (a state in which life processes slow down).

In other words, suspended animation is hibernation. If they fall asleep, the only way to wake them up is with water.

What do Achatina eat:

• Apples.
• Pears.
• Apricots.
• Grape.
• Melon.
• Bananas.
• Watermelon.
• Papaya.
• Avocado.
• Pineapples.
• Cherries.
• Cucumbers.
• Tomatoes.
• Carrot.
• Corn.
• Dill.
• Parsley.
• Spinach.
• Celery.
• Dandelion leaves.
• Bread.
• Milk.
• Hercules.
• Boiled eggs.
• Chopped nuts.

Snail nutrition should not be monotonous. Leftover food is always removed to prevent mold and fungal growth.

To improve the color of the shell, Achatina is fed with carrots, pumpkin, sweet peppers, tomatoes, nettle and plantain leaves.

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.

Reproduction process:

1. Contact with copulatory organs.
2. The incubation period is from 7 to 14 days.
3. Laying from 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, mollusks are actively used in cosmetology. Scientists have discovered that Achatina mucus contains a lot of allantoin, elastin, collagen, peptides, glycolic acid and arathan sulfate.

Pay attention! Many components of mucus perfectly rejuvenate human facial skin.

Table: benefits

Snail mucus is usually not harmful. It is not recommended to use them in cosmetology for people with hypersensitivity or allergic tendencies.

Before the procedure With snails, apply some slime to your wrist to test for allergens.

If the skin is covered with red spots, itches and itches, then it is undesirable to use snails.

Massage procedures are very popular in cosmetology. The snail is washed and placed on the person’s face for a certain time.

Massage helps:

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

Varieties

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

Types:

1. Fulika.
2. Reticulata.
3. Immaculata.
4. Albopicta.
5. Iradelie.
6. Brown.
7. Tiger.
8. Zanzibarika.
9. Standard.
10. Panther.
11. White albino.

Snails make great pets for children. Many children love to play with them, and parents do not have to worry that the pet will harm their baby.

Children are interested in calling Achatina names and caring for them. In reality, 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 also in computer life. Today there is one game ARK: Survival Evolved, where these mollusks are the main characters.

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