Where to keep snails at home. How to provide snails with proper care? Apply a thick layer of substrate

Achatina are large snails belonging to the family Achatinidae, which, in turn, includes several genera. In some countries, this type of snail is recognized as a pest, as they easily destroy not only crops, but also buildings. In this way, the mollusk obtains chalk and lime for the construction of shells. However, this is the most popular type of snail for home breeding. Thanks to proper care, snails live for at least 10 years and reach 20–30 cm in size.

Who can have such a pet?

Achatina is perfect for people who lead an active lifestyle or often go on business trips. Caring for these mollusks does not require constant attention, and they can easily go for about a week without food. In this case, the snails simply hide in their shells and hibernate. To wake them up, just moisten Achatina a little with water. However, it is still not worth using this unique ability of these snails too often.

Construction of the terrarium

Usually these snails are kept in ordinary aquariums. In this case, the size of the terrarium is taken into account - at least 10 liters must be provided for one individual. The larger the container, the larger the size the snail will reach. The aquarium must have a lid to prevent shellfish from crawling out. Therefore, for complete gas exchange, special holes are made in it. As a last resort, you can slightly lift the lid of the terrarium, but the gap should not be too large.

Bedding is placed at the bottom of the terrarium. This is a special primer or coconut substrate. It is poured in a layer of no more than 7 cm. For small snails, it is better to lay cabbage leaves at first. It is advisable to create a small bath inside the aquarium, since snails love to swim in water. But it should not be deep, otherwise the mollusk can easily choke. And it must be stable and not tip over. You need to wash the aquarium once a week. If eggs have already been laid in it, then cleaning occurs without water.

This evidence does not require any special temperature or humidity. The conditions of both an ordinary city apartment and a private house are quite suitable for them. Soil moisture can be easily determined by the behavior of snails - if they sit on the walls of the aquarium, it means the soil is too damp. If they constantly hide in shells, this indicates excessive dryness of the soil. When the humidity is normal, the mollusks will hide in the ground at night and crawl on top during the day.

Feeding and hygiene

When it comes to food, Achatina snails are not picky and feed on greens, fruits and vegetables. But in their natural environment they can easily eat meat. Most often, snails are fed with carrots, cabbage or cucumbers, but it is better if the menu is more varied. You should not accustom your clam to one or more specific types of food, otherwise it will subsequently refuse to eat anything else.

Adult snails can easily cope with large pieces of fruit, but babies are better off grating them. It is not recommended to feed clams with soft food, as it will leak and smear. Therefore, such food can be given only for a short time, and then removed. It is better to exclude soft food from the menu of small snails altogether.

It is necessary to feed the snails the following vegetables:

• zucchini;
• pumpkin;
• Champignon;
• cucumbers;
• boiled potatoes;
• tomatoes;
• broccoli;
• cabbage leaves.

It is better to give preference to fruits and berries:

• apricots;
• apples;
• pears;
• bananas;
• strawberries and wild strawberries;
• cherry;
• watermelon and melon;
• grapes, plums, etc.

In addition, snails can perfectly eat peas, oatmeal or beans, both raw and boiled. From time to time you can give Achatina mushrooms, greens, including nettles, dandelions, plantain, flowers of fruit trees, etc. Dairy products, eggs and minced meat will be useful in small quantities.

It is strictly forbidden to feed snails sour, sweet, salty, fried, as well as pasta. We must not forget that shellfish really need a lot of calcium, so it is worth giving them special cereals. There should always be a container of fresh water in the terrarium for drinking, but not too deep, otherwise the snails may drown.

Sometimes Achatina needs to be washed. Many shellfish owners combine this type of bathing with washing the aquarium. These mollusks love water very much, so there will be no difficulties with this procedure. It is better to wash them under a warm shower, making sure that the water pressure is not very strong. Otherwise, the mollusk will simply get scared.

Health

Achatina are exotic mollusks that live in African countries, therefore they are often carriers of various diseases. Therefore, you should be wary of snails imported from hot countries. It is best to purchase domestic, specially bred snails. But you also need to follow the rules of hygiene with them.

As for the health of the Achatina themselves, they are quite delicate creatures. It is not recommended to plant other species of mollusks in the aquarium with them, especially wild grape snails, as they can infect Achatina. There is no need to panic if, for example, a piece of a snail’s shell breaks off. It is enough to lubricate the edges with an antiseptic and wait until the wound heals itself.

Adult snails are capable of reproduction when they reach 7–9 months. And this process does not depend on the time of year. Under favorable conditions, the incubation period lasts several weeks. Then egg laying occurs. One snail can lay up to 400 eggs at a time. The offspring appear in approximately 1–2 weeks. If snails do not reproduce for a long time, it is possible that they do not have enough space. The thickness of the substrate should be at least 3–4 cm. In addition, there are viviparous species of mollusks.

Not everyone knows that Achatina are hermaphrodites, that is, they can act as both mother and father. If you do not plan to breed snails, it is better not to buy a pair. If the eggs do appear, then it is better to carefully pick them up and give them to familiar Achatina owners. It is not recommended to release small snails into nature, as they are quite capable of causing colossal harm to the environment. In some countries, for example, in the UK, there are even administrative penalties for this.

Walks

During the day, Achatina most often sleep, so there is no need to worry if they burrow into the ground or hide in a shell. But how can you play with your pet? Snails are not meant to be disturbed too often. They are very easy to injure, so even handling them should be done carefully. Before placing the snail in your palm, you need to moisten its leg with water and hold its shell while carrying it. You should not pull the mollusk by the shell, as it can be torn off.

They crawl over the skin with pleasure, and you can feel a slight tingling sensation. In addition, the unique cosmetic properties of these snails have long been known. You can let the snail crawl around the apartment, but it is important to monitor it and keep it in sight at all times. Despite the fact that the mollusk moves at a speed of about 1 cm per minute, it is easy to miss. And, most likely, the snail will crawl into a hard-to-reach place and therefore it will be almost impossible to find it.

Achatina is not picky, practically omnivorous and does not require much attention. However, they need to be looked after, handled carefully, and then they will delight the whole family for a long time.

Video: care and maintenance of Achatina snails

Land gastropod mollusk from the subclass of pulmonate snails. Widely distributed in countries with tropical climates, it is a highly invasive species and is a pest of agricultural plants, especially sugar cane. Currently, further expansion of the Achatina range has been stopped due to strict quarantine measures. An ongoing snail infestation in the United States was prevented. In Europe, including Russia, where Achatina survival in nature is impossible, they are often kept as pets.

A terrarium for Achatina can be made from a simple aquarium. The minimum size is 10 liters per snail. The larger the aquarium, the larger your snail will grow. The terrarium must have a lid, because snails can crawl out of it. It is advisable to arrange small holes in the lid for better gas exchange. As a last resort, you can simply lift the lid to create a small gap. You need to put bedding on the bottom of the aquarium. The bedding can be Begonia soil, or ideally a coconut substrate 5-7 cm thick. You can build a small bath with fresh water; Achatina loves to swim. The main thing is that the depth of the bath does not allow the snail to choke. In general, Achatina crawl well under water, but if it accidentally falls into the bath from above, a small snail can drown from fright. You also need to make sure that the bath does not turn over if the snail starts to burrow into the soil next to it, otherwise the water will spread out, which is not good.

The temperature and humidity required by Achatina are approximately the same as those in an ordinary city apartment. Soil moisture is determined empirically. If the snails sit on the walls of the terrarium all the time, it means there is too much water. If they prefer to be sealed (the evidence is hidden in the sink and closed with a lid), on the contrary, it is too dry. When the soil moisture is normal, snails crawl along its surface at night and often burrow into it during the day. To maintain humidity, it is enough to spray the soil and walls of the terrarium with a spray bottle twice a day.

To awaken a clogged snail, you can pour water over its mouth and carefully remove the cap, or simply place it in a terrarium with normal humidity. It is recommended to wash the terrarium at least once a week. The exception is a terrarium with a clutch of eggs, which must be cleaned without water so as not to change the humidity and not damage the clutch.

It is better to keep small snails without soil, covering them with cabbage or lettuce leaves, thereby increasing the chance of the snail finding food and making it easier to care for the terrarium.

Feeding the Achatina snail

It is better to feed as food is eaten and dried and remove any leftovers. Achatina eats vegetables, fruits and herbs, but in nature they do not refuse meat. Usually in captivity they are fed cabbage, carrots and cucumbers, but it is preferable to give them a more varied diet. This is necessary first of all so that at any moment you can switch to another available type of food. It is known that snails have certain food preferences, including many who prefer cucumbers and lettuce to other foods and, if they are fed only cucumbers from childhood, they often refuse to eat anything other than them, which can cause some inconvenience. Large snails can be given whole cores; they process food waste surprisingly quickly. Soft foods should be given only for a short period of time, otherwise they will flow and spread across the soil, causing it to become contaminated. It is generally not recommended to give soft foods to small snails. There was a case when snails buried themselves entirely in a banana and suffocated there. It is better to give very small newborn snails greens, grated carrots, and after a few days lettuce and an apple.

Can:

Fruits: apple, apricots, pineapple, avocado, bananas, pear, wild strawberry, strawberry, cherry, mango, papaya, plum, bunch of grapes, fig, watermelon, melon.

Vegetables: pumpkin, rutabaga, zucchini, broccoli, champignons, lettuce, cucumber, potatoes (boiled), carotel carrots, red peppers, celery, spinach, tomato, cabbage leaves.

Beans, peas (cooked or fresh), oatmeal.

Other: mushrooms, meadow plants/trees, nettles, daisy flowers, elder flowers, clover, dandelion, plantain, yarrow, sprouted oats, alfalfa, fruit tree blossoms (apple, apricot, peach...), bread (softened), milk (powdered) or natural), dairy/lactic acid products (without sugar, salt, spices), minced meat (minced meat, raw or boiled meat), egg (boiled), compound feed, meat and bone meal, peanuts (chopped), vegetable and meat baby food, gammarus.

It is important that the plants are not picked within the city, factories or enterprises, wastewater, or landfills. After you bring it home, rinse thoroughly in warm water!

You can’t (very important!):

Spicy, salty, sour, sweet, smoked, fried, pasta, potato eyes.

Effect of calcium on shellfish

Snails need calcium to build their shells. Calcium is a very common chemical element.

Lack of calcium in the snail's diet leads to curvature and deformation of the shell. The snail shell becomes softer due to lack of calcium; it is not protected from the environment. Since all internal organs are attached to the walls of the shell, any damage to it can lead to improper functioning of the organs or death. A mollusk that does not receive calcium from food, as a rule, lags behind in development: shell growth is disrupted or stops altogether, and puberty fails.

In order to prove how important calcium is for snails, I conducted an experiment.

Two groups of snails of the same age and species were taken and placed in the same conditions, but they were fed differently: some with food with added calcium, others with its complete absence.

Soon the snails of the second group stopped growing. It follows from this that calcium is indispensable for mollusks.

Breeding the Achatina snail (Reproduction of Achatina snails)

Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each individual has both male and female reproductive organs. In the absence of a partner, self-fertilization is possible, but it is quite rare.

The snail can store sperm for two years after mating, using it to fertilize maturing eggs. The number of eggs in a clutch is about 200 (in some cases up to 500); the snail can lay 5-6 clutches annually. The size of one egg is 4.5-5.5 mm, its shape resembles that of a chicken. Egg development is possible at temperatures from 22°C and lasts from several hours to 17 days.

Discussion

I have such problems with snails...)

I bought sepia at a pet store and started giving it to the snails....and they gradually began to die.....)
the same situation with wild snails found on the street. fed... cucumbers and apples. I started giving sepia and 2 snails died immediately. At first they went limp, then they swollen and died.) There is 1 snail left and I don’t feed it sepia. I feed them the same apples and cucumbers. grass. and she’s fine....thank God) the conditions are the same....
Sepia is not so harmless. you can kill snails in a month....._ they really swell and don’t even hide in their house and die like that....)

Hello, I bought turtle food at the pet store with minerals to strengthen the shell. I read the ingredients and I doubted it. Here is the composition: gammarus, granules containing shrimp meal, seaweed, fish meal, wheat flour, soy protein, mollusk shells, tubifex, vitamin and mineral complex. Do you think it is possible to feed Achatina snails?

Hello! I have two Achatinas. Only for some reason they began to become clogged and did not come out for three or four days. I bathe them to wake them up and pamper them with treats! I would like to know more about them! How and where can I buy vitamins for my pets and everything they need for their prosperous life? Help me please!

Thanks a lot! The article was very helpful!

Comment on the article "Achatina snail. Maintenance, feeding, breeding"

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There is 1 snail left and I don’t feed it sepia. I feed them the same apples and cucumbers. grass. and she’s fine.... thank God) the conditions are the same.... sepia is not so harmless. you can kill snails in a month....._ they really swell and don’t hide 01/11/2017 20:50:16, Ulka Achatina.

Achatina snail. Maintenance, feeding, breeding. Keeping the Achatina snail (Terrarium). A terrarium for Achatina can be made from a simple aquarium.

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Achatina snails

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

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

Who are Achatina snails?

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

Types of snails Achatina

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

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

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

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

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

Which snail from the genus Achatina is best to get?

Despite the fact that there are a sufficient number of species of such snails from the genus Achatina and Akhakhatina, the conditions for keeping them are almost the same, therefore, When choosing such mollusks for the role of a pet, you should be guided by aesthetic preferences - the color of the shell, the size of the snail itself...

Benefits of keeping Achatina snails

The structure of the Achatina snail

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

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

Features of keeping the Achatina snail at home

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

Container for Achatina snail

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

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

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

Container filler

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

By the way, Achatina themselves love sand - for them it is a natural habitat in which they become unusually animated and... begin to multiply intensively, laying eggs. But from a practical point of view, sand is not very convenient, since the snails get dirty on it and stain the glass of the terrarium.

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

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

How to clean a terrarium

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

Lighting for a terrarium with snails

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

Temperature for a terrarium with snails

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

Additional accessories for a terrarium with snails

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

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

Features of caring for Achatina snails at home

What to feed Achatina snails

Achatina snails are vegetarians

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

Vitamins for Achatina snails

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

Do Achatina snails drink water?

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

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

The Achatina snail is a land mollusk; there are more than 60 species in nature. Hermaphrodite. One clutch of Achatina can contain from 80 to 500 white eggs. After 14 days, babies hatch from the clutch, the size of a pinhead. There are also several species of viviparous Achatina, but the number of snails is much smaller.

Terrarium for newborn Achatina

Newborn snails do not need a large and spacious terrarium, as they may not find food. Therefore, an old aquarium or food container of 8-10 liters will serve as a temporary home for kids.

Ventilation for terrarium

During the first few months, it is important to maintain a constant temperature and humidity in the terrarium with small snails. To do this, place a thermometer and hygrometer. The optimal temperature for keeping Achatina is 25 - 27 degrees. Optimum humidity 65% ​​- 70%.
A thermal cord or incandescent lamp will help you maintain the temperature. Humidity - daily spraying with boiled water from a spray bottle.

Priming

For newborn Achatina leaves, lettuce and cabbage are usually used as soil. The kids sit on these leaves and eat, gaining strength.
If small snails are in a terrarium with soil, then give preference to fine coconut substrate and flower soil without fertilizers. It is better to avoid moss in the first months. Sand, stones and sawdust are strictly prohibited as soil. .

Where to put a terrarium with Achatina

Small snails, like adults, are afraid of direct sunlight, household heating appliances and drafts. Therefore, you cannot place a terrarium with Achatina on a windowsill or near a radiator. The best place would be a cabinet or bookshelf in your room, or in the kitchen next to the kitchen table.

Feeding baby snails

For the first few days, newborn Achatina feed on the remains of their eggshells. Therefore, it is enough to put a few lettuce leaves generously sprinkled with ground shells or edible chalk.

The taste habits of the Achatina snail are formed from childhood. Try to diversify the daily diet of your small pets.

In the first week, babies' diet should include grated vegetables, chopped greens, calcium mixtures and grain mixtures. Calcium is necessary for growth and formation of a strong and beautiful shell. Plant protein helps healthy shellfish grow and develop faster. More recipes for fast growth.

From the second week of the snail’s life, add grated fruits and animal protein to its usual diet.
Starting from one month of age, replace grated vegetables and fruits with chopped cubes and plates. Read more about feeding babies

From the age of two months, snails can be fed with all foods, like adult mollusks.

Do I need to give water to little Achatina?

After each meal, it is advisable to spray the walls of the terrarium with purified or boiled water. The kids will crawl along the wet walls and drink droplets of water. It is advisable to do this in the evening. There is no need to place a separate container of water for snails to drink. Until the kids grow up, it is enough to irrigate the terrarium daily.

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 from 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.

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.

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.

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 his 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.

Plants, moss, driftwood

To create a more lively atmosphere in the aquarium, add a variety of plants, but preferably 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).

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.

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 products 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;
• greenery;
• berries;
• Champignon;
• 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, and other things, 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.

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.

Phlebeurysm

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.