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Domestic snails are land snails. How to care for snails

The snail is unique Living being, which is protected by a shell and can live not only in wildlife, 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, predators have large ones 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 warm waters Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean and in the cold environment of the Arctic Ocean, 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 pepper;
greenery;
dandelions;
bananas, watermelon, pears, strawberries, apples.

For land representatives, do not forget to put a bowl with 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, they 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 remains 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 must receive maximum amount calcium, rest, high humidity and proper 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, fruit.
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;
sea stars;
mackerel;
whales;
herring;
hermit crabs.

For land snails danger is represented by:

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 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 Ocean. 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 carry low temperature 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 wholesome, useful 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.

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

You can prepare the clam as follows:

100 pieces. 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.

Snails are flooded cold water and after boiling, cook 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 species snails 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 easily survives 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 in African continent, but today this snail is often found as a pet.

Achatina giant is distinguished by the most large sizes shells, 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 Brown 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 when proper care this figure could rise 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 found in the area. South-East 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 with 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 content. 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, since 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

Mollusk Melania is aquarium snail, which multiplies 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; a mollusk has a lot of useful properties, which 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.
Clam mucus is different big amount 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.

The Achatina snail is widely used today as a pet. In its class it is the largest gastropod pulmonate animal. Under favorable conditions, Achatina can live up to 10 years. Due to the climate in Russia, these snails weigh about 130 g.

Arrangement of the terrarium

Temperature. It must be maintained at 26–28 degrees. To heat the terrarium, you can use external devices: thermal mats, thermal cords. It is better to place a thermometer inside to prevent the snail from overheating.
Lighting. You cannot install the terrarium on the windowsill of a south-facing window. The sun's rays should not fall on Achatina. The snail does not require additional night lighting.
Priming. The best option is orchid or coconut substrate, as it retains moisture well. Before filling the terrarium, the briquette is poured with boiling water, then cooled, washed and dried. Another soil option is high-moor clean peat with a pH of about 5–7.
Additional accessories. To fill the terrarium, you can use a drinking bowl, a feeder, a small container for the pool and a small house. It would be better if they were made of food-grade plastic. Sharp objects should not be placed in the snail's home, as they can damage the body or shell. Experienced Achatina owners recommend planting salad crops, special cat grass, adding twigs, driftwood and tree bark in their house.
Humidity. If it is too dry, Achatina will begin to burrow into the ground, if it is wet, they will crawl on top. To normalize humidity, you can spray the soil with water.
Ventilation. For access and air circulation, you can slightly move the terrarium lid. It is better if there are small holes in it.

What to feed Achatina

The basis of the Achatina diet is tops, lettuce, greens, cereal shoots, and vegetables. The latter must be cut into slices or grated. Food is served in a small bowl or on a tray. An ordinary lettuce leaf is suitable for the latter. It is better to feed Achatina once a day, in the evening. The diet of snails is made taking into account next list products:

Rules of care

The terrarium should be cleaned as it gets dirty, but at least once a week. It is recommended to carry out hygienic glass cleaning daily. Do not use traditional cleaning powders. A regular dish sponge and hot water. Achatina at home requires regular water treatments. Tips for carrying them out:

Install a shallow pool in the terrarium. It is important to ensure that the water does not spill out, since Achatina does not like dirt.
Give the snail a warm shower periodically. To do this, take it in your hand and water it with a not too strong stream of water over an ordinary sink. The procedure lasts no more than 3 minutes.

Mineral supplements

crushed eggshells;
kalce-porridge, including wheat bran, eggshells, biovetan, gammarus;
fish food.

Reproduction

The maintenance of Achatina snails must take into account the conditions for their reproduction. This animal is a hermaphrodite because it has male and female reproductive organs. For reproduction you need 2 snails that will mate with each other. Achatina are very prolific (they can lay up to 40–300 eggs at a time), which is why some owners even wash off the excess clutches that appear.

To reproduce Achatina, it is important to pay attention to the maintenance of the terrarium - it should always be clean and warm inside. The main thing when caring for a house is to be careful not to damage the masonry. Newborn Achatina require special care:

To prevent snails from suffocating in the soil of the bedding, you should keep them on lettuce or cabbage leaves.
For proper shell growth, it is necessary to give the young animals calcium porridge. It is also useful to use grated carrots.
Achatina under the age of 1.5 years should not be allowed to reproduce. To do this, you need to make the substrate layer in the terrarium less than 3 cm.
After birth, newborns should be separated from adults.

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 Arkhakhatin 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 be smaller in size if they have an opening lilac color, and along the body of the mollusk there is a dark stripe - then 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.

Perhaps you won’t grow such a giant Achatina at home, but with your own large sizes the snail will make you happy. 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 a pet- 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 for the role 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 daytime days. 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 habitat 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, because 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 a tropical animal in your home that is accustomed to high temperatures, be prepared for the fact that the air in the terrarium will need to be “heated” 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 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 personal taste preferences 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.

Proper care of Achatina snails at home is an important topic for lovers of exotic pets. These African beauties are considered the largest of the mollusks, have a shell up to 25 cm in size, a heart, kidney, lung, brain and have conditioned reflexes. They are unpretentious, but some conditions must be met when caring for them.

Achatina - contents

African Achatina snails are land snails; care and maintenance at home do not require much trouble. Many aquarists consider them ideal domesticated pets. Achatinas do not smell, do not bite, do not cause pain, do not require communication or walking, even on vacation or a business trip you don’t have to worry about them - the snail can easily live alone for a week or two.

What is needed to keep Achatina snails?

For the unassuming Achatina, when kept at home, you will need a transparent container. Suitable vessel:

made of plastic;
made of plexiglass;
old glass aquarium.

In order for the mollusk to feel comfortable, the volume of the container must be at least 10 liters; if a family of snails lives in it, this means more. For admission fresh air The terrarium should be equipped with top covers with small holes through which the inhabitant cannot escape. Caring for Achatina snails at home - how to fill the container:

The bottom is covered with a layer of substrate 10 cm high; floral or pure peat is suitable. You can add sand, hazelnut shells or walnut cores to it. The substrate is needed so that the snail can burrow into the ground - they love to do this and lay there. The compost needs to be moistened a little from a spray bottle every day.
Additionally, you can put large stones, driftwood, coconut halves in the aquarium - the snails will hide in them. Green vegetation (ferns, ivy) will decorate the living area and become useful food for the inhabitants.
A plastic feeder with low edges and a drinker made of a plastic lid are placed in the vessel.

Temperature for keeping Achatina snails

When cared for and kept at home, African Achatina will feel comfortable at a temperature of 20-30°C and a humidity of 80-95%. Such conditions are close to their natural environment. The activity of the mollusk depends on sunlight, humidity and ambient temperature. They go for walks mainly at night or during rainy periods. If gastropods climb up the walls, it means there is high humidity in their house; if they hide in the ground, it means it’s very dry. The container should not be placed in direct sunlight or near heating devices.

Caring for Achatina at home

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

Place a bath of cool water in the terrarium; there should not be much liquid in it in depth.
Occasionally give your pets a warm shower, holding them in your hand over the sink for about 3 minutes.

Caring for Achatina snails at home - cleaning the terrarium:

The container is cleaned 2-3 times every 3 months.
Cleaning includes washing it completely and replacing the substrate.
If the walls of the aquarium are covered with mucus (it is left by crawling gastropods) or an unpleasant odor is heard from it, an unscheduled cleaning needs to be done.

Caring for Achatina in winter

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

For young animals, suspended animation is generally harmful - they are going through a period of active growth and need to constantly eat well. To wake up your pet, it is recommended to hold it under the stream. warm water or just spray. After a few minutes, he himself will break the protective film and appear in the light. To prevent the snail from hibernating, the home must have the recommended temperature and humidity.

Achatina – sink care

Large Achatina snails need special shell care; you need to pay attention to the following points:

For good growth and development, the mollusk must receive a sufficient amount of calcium. Otherwise, your pet may begin to have problems with the shell - it will begin to peel off, become fragile, and the snail itself will never reach the gigantic size for which it is so famous. The inhabitant also needs calcium if she is pregnant or her shell is damaged. Chalk, powdered eggshells, or sepia, a mineral stone for birds, are used as feeding.
Another common problem is chips and cracks in the sink. Sometimes a mollusk crawling along the upper edge of the house falls down, which can lead to injury to the shell. In this case, you need to treat the damaged area with an antiseptic and place the pet in a separate vessel so that it does not rub against its relatives (Achatina loves to do this).

Achatina eggs - care

When caring for Achatina snails at home, you need to know that these mollusks are hermaphrodites. Each individual has both female and male reproductive organs and, upon reaching the age of 6-7 months, they can reproduce. To produce offspring, a pair of adult individuals are placed in a separate vessel for a week. Achatina are hyperfertile; they bury eggs in the ground approximately 2 weeks after mating. At one time, a clutch can contain 50-400 eggs. Their size is 4-5 mm, their shape resembles that of a chicken.

Many breeders care for the Achatina clutch in a separate container. They transfer them with a plastic spoon into a separate transparent vessel and sprinkle them with a 1-2 cm layer of soil so that the ever-digging adults do not harm the offspring. The substrate and the walls of the vessel must be irrigated daily, and the container must be covered with a lid. Egg development occurs at a temperature of 25-27°C and a humidity of 70%; it is important to prevent changes in the values of these indicators.

Newborn Achatina snails - care

African newborn Achatina snails, whose clutches were cared for in comfortable temperature conditions, are born a month after fertilization. The shell of eggs becomes thin, all the calcium from it is used to form the shell of the babies. During the birth process, the mollusk separates and tries to get out of the ground. In this case, it is advisable to dig up the soil around the masonry to help the newborns get out. During the first few days, the snails eat the remains of their shell.

Little Achatina - care

Basic principles of caring for small Achatina:

A temporary home for newborn snails can be an 8-10 liter food container; they do not need a spacious home.
The lid of the container must have holes to allow air to enter.
For the first few months, it is best to place a thermometer and hygrometer in the container. Optimal temperature the content of small Achatina is 25-27°C, humidity is 65-70%.
Support desired temperature An incandescent lamp will help, and a spray bottle will help with humidity.
For small Achatina, cabbage and lettuce foliage serves as soil. If they live in a terrarium with a substrate, then preference should be given to flower soil and coconut shavings. Moss, sand, sawdust and stones are prohibited.
It is better to place the container with babies on a shelf or bookshelf, and not on the window.

What can you feed Achatina snails?

When caring for African Achatina snails at home, it is important to feed them correctly and in a timely manner so that the mollusk grows healthy and does not get sick. Their diet should consist of plant food, mineral supplements and animal protein. Achatina – proper nutrition and care:

Basic diet: lettuce, dandelion, plantain leaves; various greens; shoots of vegetables and grains.
Vegetables: cucumbers, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, peas.
Fruits and berries: apples, pears, watermelons, melons, bananas, apricots, plums, strawberries, raspberries, cherries.
Proteins: puree from meat products, fish food, meat and bone meal, boiled egg.
Mineral feeding: feed chalk, eggshells, small shrimp, special mixtures for reptiles, sepia.

There are a number of foods that should not be given to snails. Mortal danger for them it represents salt. It is necessary to ensure that in its pure form and in large quantities it was not included in their diet. It is prohibited to give gastropods spices, sweet, smoked, spicy or sour foods, fried food. From pasta raw potatoes You should also avoid citrus fruits; the latter do not have a very good effect on your pet’s shell.

What to feed Achatina in winter?

In the cold season, the diet of shellfish should not be meager. Winter food consists of: oatmeal, wheat bran, bread soaked in milk. The menu is supplemented with bananas, beets, and carrots. Most snail breeders grow green grass on windowsills, which they sell in veterinary stores for cats. Many people do not know whether Achatina can be fed canned food. The answer is no, salt is bad for your pet’s health. It is better to replace pickled vegetables with frozen ones from the supermarket, defrosting them before feeding;

What to feed small Achatina snails?

The first few days after birth, a few lettuce leaves generously sprinkled with eggshells or chalk are enough for them.
After a week, you need to add chopped greens, grated vegetables, calcium and grain mixtures, ground in a coffee grinder, to the baby’s diet.
They need minerals to grow and form a beautiful and strong shell. Vegetable protein will help the formation of a healthy shellfish faster.
From the second week of life, you can add animal protein to the menu.
Starting from one month of age, grated fruits and vegetables are replaced with cubes.

How many times should I feed Achatina?

If an African Achatina lives in the house, it must be fed and cared for correctly. It’s better in the evening, because these mollusks are nocturnal creatures and in the evening they become active. For adults, one feeding per day is enough; it is allowed to give them food every other day. Young animals need to have 24/7 access to food. Food should not be placed on the ground so that it does not mix with the substrate and spoil or become moldy. For food you need to use a bowl or, in extreme cases, a lettuce leaf.

Snails. These creatures are easy to care for and do not require significant financial investments for their maintenance. But at the same time, observing their life and behavior is quite interesting.

Breeds of snails

Most often for home care lovers of living creatures get Achatina. These are very large snails that are distinguished by a variety of species:

Achatina reticulata is a mobile species. She is keenly interested in the world around her and often better review raises his head. It is distinguished by a black or brown body shade. At the same time, there is a light border on the leg. This snail grows too quickly and reaches a shell size of 20 cm.

But Achatina fulica is one of the calmest breeds. Almost all the time this snail is in a state of rest. It also grows up to 20 cm, its shell can have different shades from red to black.

Achatina immaculata is distinguished by its variety of colors. Unlike other Achatina, it has a light purple rim on its shell, and a pink stripe on its head and neck.
Similar to Achatina reticulata, but small size Achatina albopicta. It grows up to 16 cm and has an excellent appetite. On the shell it has a white or yellow rim and a pinkish tip.
Lemon Achatina iradeli is distinguished by its small size. She grows only up to 7 cm. In addition, she has one more difference - she is the only Achatina that bears live offspring, and does not lay eggs.

Snail care

Domestic snails are not demanding; it is enough to feed and bathe them on time. In addition, you will need to create favorable conditions for existence.

Snails love water treatments. To do this, you need to place it on your palm and place it under a weak stream of warm water. You cannot place a snail in a sink or bathtub, as there may be residues harmful to it. chemical substances. Bathing should be done at least once a week.

You should be very careful with your snail shell. After all, its damage is extremely dangerous for the health of the snail. If in a young snail the damage heals quickly, in adults this is fraught with serious consequences. Almost always such a snail dies. If damage to the shell is detected, you can try to seal the crack with special medical glue BF. If the shell is very damaged, the snail will die.

What to feed a snail

The snails diet mostly includes greens, vegetables and fruits. Domestic snails have a special passion for cucumbers; they also like carrots, zucchini, apples and leaf salad. The foods offered to snails as food need to be changed. Otherwise, she will get used to only one type of food and will not pay attention to others. This has a detrimental effect on the growth and well-being of the snail.

In addition to vegetables and fruits, it is necessary to include a grain mixture, calcium and animal protein. Snail calcium is used as building material for the sink. It is better to give it in the form of a powder or a piece of chalk. It should be left in a separate feeding container or added to succulent food.

It is strictly forbidden to give salty and sweet foods to snails. Spices, smoked and fried foods are also prohibited. As for fruits, this list includes all citrus fruits, as they contain fruit acids that are harmful to the snail’s shell.

It is best to offer food to snails in small portions every day. The best time for this is evening hours when mollusks are most active. To serve food, use a small plate or stand; do not place snail food directly on the ground. To prevent food from spoiling, the leftovers must be removed after a few hours.

Food must be served at room temperature. It is better to puree hard vegetables, and soft fruits can be cut into slices. Be sure to leave a container of water in the terrarium. At the same time, its level should not exceed 1 cm so that the snail does not drown in it.

Snail terrarium

To make it comfortable for mollusks to live with you, choose the right one. Calculate that there should be at least 10 liters of volume per clam. Otherwise, the snails will begin to wither. Terrariums made of glass, plexiglass or plastic are suitable for a snail house. The last two materials help prevent sudden temperature changes, since they both cool and heat up slowly. And through ordinary glass, more light penetrates and it is more pleasant to watch snails in a glass terrarium.

To fill the terrarium, use peat or coconut substrate. This material is ideal for shellfish life. The thickness of the soil should be impressive. The pet must be able to bury itself completely in the ground. Be sure to equip the snail house with a sensor that measures the humidity level and a thermometer. Optimal conditions for domestic snails are a temperature of +27 degrees and a humidity level of up to 90%.

The top of the terrarium is covered with a net, which is secured with latches. Make sure there are no gaps left, otherwise curious snails will find a way to get out through them. The interior of the terrarium must be soft so that if it falls, the mollusk does not break the shell. It is best to plant plants inside a terrarium. It will look especially beautiful in it Money Tree, leaf lettuce or wheat sprouted in the ground.

All containers used for feeding snails or as drinking bowls must be made of soft plastic and securely fastened to the ground. These measures are required to ensure that the mollusks do not make a mess in the aquarium and do not get hurt.

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