Achatina snails are classified as the most dangerous pests of agricultural crops. In today's material we will look at their care and maintenance at home. Interestingly, in the UK they even created a law prohibiting the release or throwing of these gastropods onto the streets.

Achatina snails - characteristics

These large-sized individuals grow up to 10 cm in shell length. But there are also overgrown specimens that reach 20 cm in shell length. The shell format is canonical, twisting in the form of a counterclockwise spiral.

Over the course of the life cycle, the color of the shell changes several times. This directly depends on what Achatina eats, how it is cared for, and in what conditions it is kept. Basically, the pigmentation varies from yellowish to brownish-red tones.

1. You must purchase a snail for home keeping from trusted breeders or pet stores. You shouldn’t get a pet that is given away for nothing just to get rid of it.

2. Before bringing a new family member into your home, learn everything about his preferences. Achatina snails, the care and maintenance of which we are studying today, require a large-sized terrarium and appropriate equipment. At home, you will have to install lighting, provide ventilation and the availability of accessories.

3. The ideal option is to purchase an African Achatina with a pedigree and relevant documentation. This way you will be confident in the health of your pet.

4. It is important to understand that private owners involved in snail breeding (in most cases, “random”) are not competent in this matter. They do not reject shellfish, but sell them all. Moreover, they are not aware of the condition of the snails, so they can easily sell you a sick animal.

5. Before purchasing, conduct a visual inspection of the sink. It must be free of chips, congenital deformations and cracks. If the shell is uniform, this is a great sign. We recommend buying Achatina that is 2-3 months old.

Achatina snails - contents

1. Choosing a suitable home for the mollusk is the main task. It is an aquarium or other large glass container with unrounded edges. Be sure to have a lid and ventilation.

2. Achatina snails will live longer if they are immediately provided with the correct care and maintenance. Practice shows that at home it is more rational to install a horizontal terrarium with a volume of 12 liters or more. based on one snail.

3. These pets are tropical, so they need heating and maintaining a stable temperature in their home. Optimal values ​​are 26-28 degrees. To do this, purchase a thermal mat or thermal cord and install it inside. Also make sure you have a thermometer.

4. The terrarium should be illuminated, but it is not necessary to leave the lighting on at night. Install the home so that the sun's rays do not fall on it. At the same time, the location area should be well lit. Do not place the aquarium near heating radiators.

5. The bottom of the tank is lined with coconut substrate or other soil that retains moisture. The bedding layer is no more than 7 cm. If the snails are small, the bottom is lined with cabbage leaves. A saucer with purified water will not be amiss, because Achatina loves to swim.

6. The tank is washed every week. But you need to know how to care for Achatina snail eggs, since if there is a clutch, cleaning is carried out without water (regular dry cleaning).

7. Achatina snails have a soft body, which makes care and maintenance difficult. At home, install accessories with smooth edges in the aquarium; food-grade plastic and houses based on it have proven themselves well.

8. Fans of domestic African snails recommend planting cat grass and lettuce leaves in their house. Achatina will be delighted with such bait. In addition, add tree bark or driftwood without jagged edges.

Feeding Achatina snails

The basic part of the menu is devoted to salad leaves, tops, herbs, fruits, vegetables, shoots, etc.

Products allowed for Achatina:

• carrot;
• pulp of pumpkin/cucumber/mango/apples/pears;
• avocado;
• melon, watermelon;
• spinach leaves;
• strawberries, raspberries, pitted cherries, plums;
• banana, pineapple;
• peas, young corn kernels;
• zucchini;
• cabbage leaves;
• tomato;
• apricot.

Products prohibited for Achatina:

• food from the table;
• smoked meats;
• homemade pickles;
• sausages;
• fried foods;
• sweets;
• spices;
• sour foods;
• citruses.

Important!

It is periodically necessary to feed the mollusk with minerals (especially calcium) to strengthen the shell and general development.

Rules for feeding Achatina snails

1. Grown-up Achatina snails often neglect some products in favor of others, which makes care and maintenance much more difficult. At home, hard fruits/vegetables are passed through a grater (processor, blender), soft ones are chopped into cubes. Food should be at room temperature.

2. Provide your pet with access to purified water. It is used for drinking and bathing. Therefore, the bowl should be heavy, stable, without sharp corners. The water is changed 2-3 times a day.

3. As for the feeding period, adult mollusks are given food in the evenings once a day. The young should feed whenever they wish, be it morning or night. Therefore, make sure you have enough food and water. But always clean up leftovers after your meal.

4. There is no need to separate a bowl for food. You can use a thick lettuce/cabbage leaf as a tray. If Achatina didn’t eat everything, then don’t forget to remove the leftovers.

Achatina snails - care

1. It is necessary to clean your home as soon as it becomes dirty. Washing or dry cleaning (if there is masonry) should be done once a week. The walls are washed every day, the same goes for the lid.

2. Achatina snails are susceptible to odors; this causes difficulties in terms of care and maintenance. When performing hygiene at home, you should not use typical household chemicals and soda. All manipulations are carried out with warm water and a sponge.

3. Prepare in advance a place to store devices that are used when cleaning the terrarium. Keep them separate from household cleaning products, detergents, soaps, etc.

4. Mollusks love to swim, so they should place a bowl of water inside their home. It is recommended to take Achatina in your hands at frequent intervals and hold it under warm running water. The pressure should be weak, and the procedure should last no more than 3 minutes.

Health and diseases of Achatina snails

Achatina can get sick for a variety of reasons, including:

• use of low-quality soil;
• lack of ventilation or, on the contrary, the presence of drafts;
• the proximity of Achatina to other species of mollusks;
• lack of calcium and protein;
• violation of maintenance rules (crowded housing, etc.);
• lack of proper cleaning.

1. Achatina snails can get sick, like all living creatures. With proper care and maintenance this will not happen. Still, anything can happen. Monitor your pet at home. If he is sick, you will notice a lack of appetite and lethargy. Mucus discharge may be thick or excessive. The shell delaminates.

2. The biggest danger is that the clam falls out of the shell. The reason for this is the negative impact of bacteria, fungi and other pathogenic microflora, carcinogens, as well as genetics. As a result, the pet suddenly dies.

3. To prevent this from happening, it is important to choose high-quality food and correctly prepare the diet. Systematically clean the terrarium and take full care of the snail. If you handle the mollusk carelessly, you can damage its shell.

4. If you notice a minor crack on the sink, you can repair it with epoxy glue. Along with this, provide your pet with an adjusted menu enriched with calcium in a decent amount. The mollusk will recover quickly. To prevent him from getting sick, avoid unsanitary conditions.

Reproduction of Achatina snails

1. Achatina snails are a hermaphrodite species. Individuals have male and female sexual organs. With proper care and maintenance, incubation lasts up to 2 months. At home, this period depends on the species characteristics.

2. Exotic pets are extremely fertile. For this reason, most owners simply wash away the clutches of eggs in order to somehow control the number of gastropods. If you want to get healthy offspring, clean carefully.

3. Humidity indicators in the terrarium deserve special attention. After the young are born, they need to be separated from the adults. Lettuce leaves are best suited as a substrate.

4. It is worth knowing how to care for small Achatina snails after they are born. The offspring should be fed with liquid porridge with the addition of grated carrots. Such nutrition activates growth processes and strengthening of the shell.

Achatina snails are very popular. Gastropods are common as pets and are used in the world of cosmetology. Thanks to therapeutic mucus, various skin defects can be eliminated.

Nowadays, not only the familiar dogs, cats or aquarium fish, but also such exotic animals as Achatina snails, become pets. These cute, unusual aquatic inhabitants can become a true friend, but subject to proper maintenance and care, which, in fact, will be discussed in our article.

General information about Achatina

Achatina snails are quite unique representatives of the aquatic world. This can be proven by the following facts about them:

• this type of snail is considered the largest among the others, and their maximum length can reach up to 25 cm;
• life expectancy on average is 8 to 9 years with careful and proper care;
• Achatina have a unique ability to distinguish the owner from other people, they quickly become attached to a person and consider him their friend;
• their shell can be colored in black-brown, marsh, brown and yellow shades.

Achatina - the largest snails

How to choose a snail in a pet store?

Before buying a snail, it is important to carefully study as much information as possible about it, about the norms and rules of care, etc. If you want to buy a healthy and cheerful pet, then pay attention to the following selection criteria:

• never buy snails from private breeders; it is best to do this in a specialized pet store;
• when choosing a pet, take a closer look at its behavior, how active it is, how interested it is in food, as well as its external condition (there should be no scratches, stains, etc. on the shell);
• inquire about the origin of a particular snail, find out its place of birth, variety, and also ask sellers to provide the relevant documents; if they are not available, then it is best to purchase a pet from a trusted pet store.

Necessary for care

If you have decided to have an Achatina snail at home, then you need to take care of purchasing accessories and items that will be useful for caring for your new pet. These include:

• aquarium;
• feeder and drinker;
• lamp for heating an aquarium;
• mini-pool;
• plants, moss, driftwood;
• spray;
• house.

Aquarium

An aquarium for a snail is not just a home, but also a habitat that will maintain its overall health. When arranging it, you should take into account the needs of Achatina, the aesthetic appearance, as well as the correct location of the aquarium. Remember that one animal requires a terrarium with a capacity of 10 liters or more, which is needed for free movement. Otherwise, your pet will begin to suffer from lack of space and may simply die. For 2, 3 or more snails, a volume of 15 liters is perfect, that is, the more Achatina you plan to put in one aquarium, the more space they need. If we talk about the material from which the aquarium should be made, then it is best to make your choice in favor of plastic or organic glass, since their surfaces cool and heat up quite slowly. In this case, the snail will not be exposed to sudden temperature changes.

aquarium

Feeder and drinker

A snail feeder usually looks like an ordinary bowl, which is suspended on special suction cups from the walls of the aquarium or placed on its bottom. The sippy cup is a small saucer in which the water is changed daily. It is best that these accessories are made of soft plastic to avoid injury to the snail shell.

feeder

Aquarium heating lamp

Achatina are tropical inhabitants, so the temperature in the aquarium should be between +20 and +27 degrees Celsius. Under no circumstances should you place a terrarium with snails near an indoor radiator to avoid drying out the air in the aquarium. Direct sunlight is extremely dangerous, as it can expose your pet to sudden temperature changes, which is undesirable for its health. In order to maintain a natural climate in an aquarium with Achatina, you can use a special heating lamp. Snails are absolutely not sensitive to light, so such a light source will not cause them any harm. But, do not forget to take the lamp outside the terrarium so that the snail cannot crawl onto it.

Mini pool

Snails love water very much, so be sure to install a small container of water in the aquarium, which will serve as a kind of pool for your pet. The water must be changed daily and should be at room temperature. Ordinary running water will do; there is no need to boil it.

pool

Plants, moss, driftwood

To create a more lively atmosphere in the aquarium, put in a variety of plants, but best of all are those that the snail can eat, such as green lettuce, oat sprouts, cat grass, ferns, etc. At the bottom you can place small snags of mangrove, oak or alder. You can also add moss to the flooring, which Achatina will like (they love to burrow into it).

moss

driftwood

Spray

A device such as a spray bottle is necessary to humidify the air in the aquarium. Achatina snails prefer a humid environment, so a couple of times a day it is necessary to spray the walls of the aquarium, plants and even the snail shell with fresh running water.

spray

House

Like many other pets, snails need a place of privacy, so prepare a house for your pet, made from a coconut or a flowerpot.

How to feed your pet correctly?

The diet of Achatina snails should consist exclusively of food of plant origin. In nature, these snails often eat agricultural crops, various fruit and berry trees, flowers, etc. Next, we will describe in detail useful and prohibited foods for Achatina snails.

Products included in a properly balanced snail diet:

• hard-boiled chicken eggs;
• tomatoes;
• bananas;
• sweet bell pepper;
• boiled potatoes;
• dairy products;
• bread;
• green;
• berries;
• champignons;
• dry oatmeal;
• food for aquarium fish.

What is prohibited for consumption?

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

• sweet pastries;
• pickles;
• smoked meats;
• roast;
• citrus;
• containing alcohol and any alcoholic products.

Basic Achatina care consists of a large number of tasks that must be completed at specific times. After all, without timely hygiene procedures, feeding, etc., your pet can become seriously ill and die. Below we will give useful tips to help you care for your Achatina snail.

Basic care requirements

So, in order to provide the snail with proper care, you must perform the following procedures:

• Maintain humidity in the aquarium daily by sprinkling clean water over all its contents using a spray bottle;
• It is best to determine feeding Achatina at night, since it is at this time that the snails become active, and young individuals are fed every day, and those who are older are fed approximately once every 3 days;
• Don’t forget about cleanliness in the aquarium; to do this, do a general cleaning every month, changing the bedding, plants and other components;
• the water in the mini-pool should be changed weekly;
• the drinking bowl and feeder are washed daily;
• If you decide to pick up a snail, do it as carefully as possible, since its shell is very fragile and can crack with any awkward movement.

How to care for Achatina babies?

Newborn snails will not cause any problems in terms of care. The hatching of small Achatina should be expected 21 days after the female becomes pregnant. From 10 to 15 snails can be born at one time, so the aquarium should be spacious. The rules of care are exactly the same as for adults, and the “mother snail” is able to independently take care of her babies. This type of snail is considered hyper-fertile, therefore, if you are not going to purposefully breed them, then it is best to place the individuals in different aquariums.

Possible health problems in Achatina

Achatina are rather weak mollusks in terms of health. Often, snails of this type may suffer from the following:

How are Achatina snails used in cosmetology?

Relatively recently, snails began to be used in cosmetology to rejuvenate the skin, to combat cellulite, and also to reduce varicose veins. It was found that the mucous secretions of Achatina contain certain substances, the properties of which are very similar to antibacterial drugs. Snail mucus also helps rejuvenate the skin of the face and the whole body. Below we will describe in detail each of the above methods.

Rejuvenating massage

The most popular cosmetic procedure involving Achatina snails is massage. It is produced in several stages:

• It is necessary to cleanse the skin by washing with water and soap;
• wash the snail, and thoroughly rinse the abdomen and shell;
• Achatina is installed on the required area of ​​skin, and it begins to slowly move along it, thereby performing a massage;
• when moving, the mollusk leaves a small “path” of its own mucus, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin;
• the procedure takes place within 15-20 minutes, then the snail is removed, allowed to “rest”, and the composition formed on the skin is thoroughly rubbed over its surface, then all steps are repeated again;
• For results to appear, about 12 massage sessions are necessary.

massage

Fight cellulite

The mucous secretions produced by Achatina snails are considered an excellent remedy in the fight against cellulite. It is enough to let the snail “walk” around the problem area 3-4 times a week and after about a couple of months you will notice a huge difference. The duration of the procedure is about 15 minutes.

Varicose veins

People suffering from varicose veins will benefit from a massage with Achatina snails, which has a beneficial effect on venous vessels and relieves swelling. This procedure must be repeated daily in order to improve blood circulation, relieve spasms and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. The average duration of such a massage is 10-15 minutes. The snail is placed on the affected area of ​​skin and left to crawl.

Contraindications

Massage using Achatina snails is considered a non-standard cosmetic procedure, so before performing it, you need to assess the possible harm and risk to your own health. The main thing to do is to make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the mucous secretions that the snail leaves on the skin. Before the session, you should visit a doctor and pass all the necessary tests.

Achatina snails are quite unusual and interesting creatures. Not so long ago they began to be kept at home as pets, but almost instantly Achatina gained popularity. Snails are easy to care for and feed, live long enough, get used to people, and are absolutely harmless. This type of shellfish is also used for cosmetic massage, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the skin.

The Achatina snail belongs to the mollusk family Archachatinidae, which includes representatives of several genera. Achatina are similar to their relatives Archachatina, but they have a more pointed crown of the shell. Achatina is a giant prolific, it can produce 100-600 eggs at a time, which have a round shape and a white shell.

African Achatina are one of the largest land mollusks on the planet. They have large shells with a yellow-brown tint and a dark pattern. The body is brown or dark, soft and tuberous. The largest specimen weighed up to 600 grams and had a shell length of almost 40 cm.

The most common domestic Achatina is Achatina fulica. These African land molluscs are found in many tropical countries and cause damage to fruit-bearing plants. Achatina are characterized by a variegated shell pattern, the color of which depends on the diet. The color of the soft part of the body is similar to Archachatina, but the fulica has more pronounced tubercles. Achatina fulica is more common in pet stores because they are easy to keep and eat a lot of things.

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What do you need to keep a snail?

The best “house” where Achatina snails will receive care is a glass aquarium or aquaterrarium. For one adult snail, choose the tank that is as free as possible. To keep several pets at once, you will need a container of 20 liters 3. The terrarium should have a lid with holes for air circulation. The holes should not be wide so that the animal does not escape.

Keeping a large snail at home is impossible without a soil substrate. Achatina likes to sleep during the day, burying itself in a layer of soil. There is an opinion that flower soil containing peat will be useful. But land with a high peat content creates life in an acidic environment, which is harmful to animals. The ground covering must be moistened once a day with water from a spray bottle, otherwise the snails themselves will begin to secrete a large amount of mucus.

As a result, the mollusks will become smeared in dirt and contaminate the glass. There is no need to use clay or fatty loams as a substrate, as well as pieces of rotten wooden bark. The optimal solution is to pour loose sand onto the bottom of the aquarium instead of soil with peat. Sometimes it is replaced with hazelnut and walnut shells. But the delicate skin of mollusks can be injured. A good option for bedding is coconut substrate.

Domestic snails must be kept in clean conditions. The soil should be cleaned once a week, and completely replaced with cleaning of the terrarium - once every 3-12 months. But the more often you take care of your pet’s home, the better. The waste products, despite the absence of odor, will still begin to emit rot, and the walls of the tank will be covered with the mucus of crawling snails.

In conditions of full lighting, snails feel comfortable. But they do not require artificial light sources. Alternating day-night mode is sufficient. Domestic mollusks are active at night and sleep during the day. If you consider it necessary to install lighting to better see animals, then the lighting fixtures should be external.

Watch a video that explains how to keep Achatina snails.

At home, the temperature should be constant. It is necessary that the air temperature is comfortable for tropical African snails. A temperature from 22 to 28 o C will be most optimal. It is not recommended to install the aquaterrarium near a room radiator, in places exposed to direct sunlight, so as not to create a temperature difference.

As for accessories, you can put moss and samples of clay ceramics in a container with soil. You can plant plants in the ground, then ones that would prevent the substrate from becoming waterlogged. It is better to choose species that are covered with small fibers. Snails tend to eat plants, so you will have to replant them from time to time. The best option is fern or ivy.

Feeding. Reproduction of Achatina snails

Feeding should occur once a day for young snails, and once every few days for mature ones. African snails eat plant foods. They love lettuce, dandelion, grapes, cucumbers, and apples. They also eat spinach, corn, zucchini, mango, avocado, bananas, and melon at home. However, the snail can eat some of the listed products, and refuse some altogether. You should not often give oranges or grapes, watermelon with seeds. Some pets eat carrots and cabbage. Healthy carbohydrate foods for shellfish would be oatmeal flakes and bran.

During the first years of life, snails grow quickly. To keep their shell strong, food supplements are necessary. Calcium carbonate is beneficial for strengthening and growing the shell. Crushed eggshells or a piece of chalk should be present in the aquarium. Vitamin and mineral complexes for shellfish can be purchased in stores.

Do snails need water? Despite the constant moisture of the soil, a separate container with water should be in the aquarium. While the snail is small, the container should not be deep so that the pet does not drown. Water is useful for normalizing mucus production. Some snails allow you to pull yourself together and bathe them in a bath of warm water. They love water and are not afraid of it.

In captivity, Achatina easily reproduces from the age of 6 months. Some copies come to play later. Incubation lasts 1-2 months. If the soil thickness is low, they will refuse to reproduce. For laying, you need soil 7 cm deep, where the snail could lay eggs. Don't be surprised if your pet produces offspring throughout the year. From the age of one year, sperm are formed in the mollusk, and later - eggs. The African snail is a hermaphrodite, although two snails can also interbreed. If you have several pets, it is better to place them in different aquariums.

Look how Achatina reproduces.

It happens that a snail brings a “surprise”: more than 100 eggs, which have practically nowhere to put. A compromise and humane solution is to give the fry away for free. There have been cases of getting rid of masonry when the owner took it to nature or to the street in winter. But the opposite reaction can occur - in nature, Achatina are pests. In some countries, on a legislative basis, it is prohibited to keep them at home, much less breed them.

Snail diseases

If you have several snails, you may periodically notice how they scratch each other's shells, causing pits to form. This bad habit can be overcome if you lubricate the sink with a non-harmful, but “tasteless” product. In this case, consult your veterinarian so as not to risk it.

There are owners who often prefer to pick up snails by digging up the soil during the day. Firstly, at this time of day, pets prefer to sleep rather than get stressed. Secondly, you can damage the snail. The snail is active in the evening, and then it will happily go into your hands. It is not recommended to pick up the snail by the last spiral of the shell, the damaged part of the body. To correctly take a mollusk, you should moisten its leg with water, place your finger under it, and hold the shell with your other hand.

Keeping a giant Achatina at home is a great opportunity to please yourself. These animals are unpretentious and are not afraid of human hands. If you are going on a trip, they can be left alone for a few days. During a long trip of the owner, the snails can hibernate, hiding in the shell and clogging it. During this time they will live off the body's resources, but after waking up they will be very hungry. They wake up after a “shower” with warm water. Anabiosis (hibernation) also occurs when the snail is too cold or there is too much moisture in the aquarium, simulating the rainy season.

Caring for Achatina snails at home is very simple and does not require significant expenses. You will be interested in reading the article if you want to have a pet and don’t know where to choose, how to care for and feed it.

Such a pet will not create much trouble for the owner

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

Most lovers of this type of mollusk are convinced that their pets are very loyal to their owners and do not like to communicate with strangers again. Keeping and caring for Achatina snails is quite simple; they do not require a lot of time, effort and, most importantly, money. African snails belong to the Archatina family; there are many varieties of them. In their homeland they are considered pests; in a short period of time, one large individual can destroy a reed bush. In our area, “huge” snails are a variety of pets.

Achitins are one of the quietest and calmest household residents.

Before purchasing an Achatina, you should prepare all the “conveniences” for it; there are not so many of them. Only special conditions will help the land mollusk lead an active way of life, for such creatures.

How to keep Achatina snails at home

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

Large snails do not create noise or unpleasant odor

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

• Choosing a terrarium. You need to decide on the volume and material from which the new house will be made before you purchase the mollusk. One individual should require from 10 to 20 liters, so the “housing” should be spacious, preferably transparent with ventilation and a heavy lid. The terrarium should be closed at all times, as your pet may crawl out and it will not be easy to find it.
• Lighting is an equally important detail; it should not be very bright, as Achatina can go blind. Her visual apparatus is very sensitive, because... located on the antennae.
• The soil for Achatina snails is selected to be soft and loose, without sharp and small particles that can injure the pet’s delicate body or damage the shell. It is best to use coconut shavings, and soil is prohibited as it contains fertilizers and sawdust, which have sharp edges. The thickness of the flooring should be the size of a snail’s house so that it can freely burrow into it.
• An important point is the temperature, both in the room and in the house itself. African Achatina love a warm climate in which they actively move; if the temperature drops below 24 degrees, they may hibernate or slow down when moving, become lethargic and apathetic.
• Although these snails are not aquatic creatures, the humidity in their home must be constant. You can place a small container of water in the terrarium, which should be heavy so that Achatina cannot turn it over. Or you can constantly wet the walls of the house and the soil, and also bathe the pet itself. When the air is dry, the snail will often hide in its shell.
• You need to clean the terrarium weekly, but change the substrate as it gets dirty.

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

Proper care will ensure your pets have a long life and create comfortable conditions for reproduction or solitary existence. A livestock specialist can tell you in more detail how to keep Achatina snails at home.

How long do Achatina snails live at home?

With the correct content of Achatina, their life expectancy can be 6 years. If you look after them more carefully, constantly feed them, treat them, give them vitamins, maintain the temperature and cleanliness in the terrarium, you can live up to 9 years. In captivity, their lifespan is about 5 years, or maybe less, since these land animals are considered terrible pests and easily destroy entire fields with crops, so in many countries they are actively exterminated.

It is necessary to place soil at the bottom

Now you know how long Achatina snails live at home, everything directly depends on the quality of their maintenance, i.e. it's completely up to you.

What do Achatina snails eat at home?

Achatina must be fed strictly with products from the permissible list

Many lovers of exotic animals, including land mollusks, are interested in the question, what do Achatina snails eat at home? You don’t have to worry too much about this, since they are quite omnivorous. Young animals should be fed daily, but individuals older than 6 months should be fed at intervals of several days.

Pet owners are given the following in their diet:

• Fruits and vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, lettuce and cabbage leaves, apples, bananas and even watermelon rinds are suitable.
• It is imperative to give crushed chalk and egg shells, which are rich in calcium, which is necessary for the strength and growth of the shell.
• Protein foods, any boiled meat, egg whites or even mushrooms.

Types of snails Achatina

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

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

Let's look at the most popular and favorite types:

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

The conditions for their reproduction and living are practically the same. Exotic lovers are mainly interested in their sizes and colors.

African Achatina snails care and maintenance

Houses made of cardboard are not suitable for such snails, because they can escape from them

To breed African Achatina snails, care and maintenance are not considered difficult; even a cracked aquarium is enough for them, since there is no need to fill it with water. In addition to such houses, you can also take plastic containers, but due to the cloudy walls, the pet will be difficult to see, and it will be more difficult to monitor its movements. It is better to immediately discard cardboard products; thin walls are not a barrier for them; they can gnaw a hole.

Giant Achatina snails

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

These pets love bathing in water; it is necessary to wash their legs regularly

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

How do Achatina snails reproduce?

Beginners in breeding land mollusks need to know how Achatina snails reproduce. According to their reproductive system, they are hermaphrodites, that is, they have no sexual differences. They prefer to produce eggs in pairs, especially after cleaning the soil in a practically sterile terrarium. Therefore, if you do not want to add to the family, it is better to keep one individual. An older snail is suitable for the female role, but a young representative of the Achatina can also play the male role.

Achatina snails: reproduction and egg care

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

They reproduce with white eggs that look like capsules.

Clutches of eggs are often placed in groups at the bottom of the aquarium, so that all the offspring are preserved, they should be given due attention in a timely manner. First of all, make sure that the bottom is not too wet or, conversely, dry. Many snail keepers recommend separating the young from the adults once every couple of months, selecting the largest ones; the parents, as a rule, do not harm their offspring.

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

An equally important and interesting question is, how long does it take for Achatina snail eggs to hatch? Individuals often lay eggs for about two days, scattering them along the bottom of the house or grouping them in dark corners. Pecking begins at 1-3 weeks, it all depends on the ambient temperature; the babies that appear are very tiny, only about 5 mm in size. To prevent the offspring from dying, you should monitor the humidity and cleanliness in the place where the eggs are laid.

Achatina snails: benefits and harm to humans

Getting used to people, these pets stop being afraid of them

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

The mollusk can also be dangerous, because... it is a carrier of various bacteria and, if washed poorly, it can cause infection in wounds on the skin. If ingested, an allergic reaction may develop.

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 your pets, it is important to properly care for your snails.

The habitat of snails can be both land and water.

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

Setting up an aquarium or terrarium

Depending on the type of mollusk, you can use two methods of keeping it: in an aquarium or in a terrarium. The first option involves creating a container with water in which the slow-moving pet will live and develop comfortably. Another method allows you to set up a dry container and recreate conditions for the snail that are as close as possible to its natural habitat.

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

• glass aquarium;
• plastic container;
• Plexiglas vessel.

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

For one large snail you need at least 10 liters of volume. It will be uncomfortable for her in a smaller container. When setting up 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 lid with small holes. It will promote free flow of air and protect owners from the pet escaping.

For one large snail you need at least 10 liters of volume. It will be uncomfortable for her in a smaller container.

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

1. Flower compost or peat. One of these substrates is poured into the bottom of the container and distributed evenly. Its layer should be approximately 10 cm in height. Additional materials may include walnut cores, hazelnut shells, and fine sand. The poured substrate will serve as a refuge for the snail. In addition, she can lay eggs there. Any of the selected materials requires constant moisture.
2. Decorative elements. You can additionally put small black stones, beautiful driftwood in the aquarium, and also decorate the bottom with living vegetation (ivy, striped fern, algae are suitable). Such 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 made of light material and have low edges.

Temperature and humidity

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

Each type of snail in an aquarium requires special conditions, so it is not recommended to house them together. For greater comfort of pets, it is necessary to maintain such temperature and humidity levels as may be present in their habitat. For most snails, 20 to 30 degrees above zero and 80-90% humidity are 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 an aquarium requires special conditions, so it is not recommended to house them together.

Most snails are nocturnal. Their activity peaks in the pre-dawn hours. In addition, mollusks become more mobile in cloudy weather and during rain.

Based on your pet's behavior, you can easily determine the optimal humidity. If they try to climb up the walls of the aquarium, then you need to lower the existing indicator; if they bury themselves in the ground, you need to increase it.

Daily diet

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

1. Daily. The basis of the snails' diet is various fresh greens and grains. This category can include vegetable shoots, lettuce, dandelion, plantain, wheat, rye, and barley.
2. Vegetables. Most species of gastropods will not refuse tasty and juicy vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and pumpkin.
3. Berries and fruits. You should definitely give your pets the pulp of pears, apples, bananas, melons, plums, watermelons, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries.
4. Protein. Snails also need protein, which is found in boiled eggs, fish food, and meat products.
5. Mineral supplement. Almost all snails suffer from calcium deficiency. This can cause them to begin to bite their own shell, which will lead to its destruction and possible death of the mollusk. To avoid such negative consequences, you need to periodically add eggshells, chalk, small shrimp, and 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 changes in diet will help avoid this situation.

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

In addition to healthy foods, there are also harmful ones. They should not be given to snails under any circumstances, as they can cause illness and death. The list of prohibited items 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 winter. At this time, snails need additional feeding: wheat bran, oatmeal, bread soaked in milk, beets, fresh grass. Under no circumstances should you give your pets canned food.

Newly born snail babies require a special diet. 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 herbs, chalk and eggshells. These products will help you develop quickly and form a strong shell.
2. Week-old clams can be fed with grated vegetables and chopped cereal mixtures. In addition, you can gradually introduce vegetable protein and minerals into your 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 mollusk 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 living conditions. This will help protect them from disease and promote 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 requires special care, but For all of them there are several general rules:

1. Periodically, you need to give your pets water treatments (if they live in a dry container). They consist of placing under a warm shower and regular spraying. In addition, you need to place a shallow bowl of water at the bottom of the container.
2. It is important to clean the aquarium from all types of contaminants several times a month.
3. Periodically you need to remove the old litter and replace it with a new one.
4. If severe contamination is detected, it is necessary to carry out an extraordinary cleaning of the mollusk “house”.

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

During 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 avoiding hibernation for too long (more than 2 months), as the snail may die.

For young individuals, this condition is especially harmful. They are actively developing, for which they need constant and regular nutrition. During suspended animation, the mollusk will not receive the required 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.

Taking care of your sink

The main sign of the health of a mollusk is a beautiful shell. Based on its condition, you can determine not only the pet’s well-being, but also the type of disease. To prevent problems from arising, you need to carefully care for your 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 detected, you must immediately change your pet’s diet and include the maximum possible amount of foods containing calcium. This will help the snail recover faster and “repair” the damage.
2. The same steps should be followed if delamination or brittleness occurs.
3. If a shellfish is injured (a chip or large crack in the shell), it is necessary to immediately treat the damaged surface with an antiseptic. In addition, you need to place the 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 to eat, shell separation, and strong mucous discharge. The cause of a pet's illness can be:

1. Sudden temperature changes, as well as overheating or hypothermia.
2. The tightness of the aquarium or terrarium.
3. Using soil that is too dry or wet.
4. Calcium or protein deficiency.
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 troubles with your pet’s health, you need to carry out all care measures on time and feed the snail correctly. If left untreated, even the most innocuous crack in a 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 following 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.