Giant African land snail care

[lizardkid]

Note; This species is illegal in the USA and some other countries because of the risk that escaped snails could become serious pests. However, it is perfectly legal to keep any species in the UK.

Introduction
Just like it's smaller relatives, the Giant African Land Snail (GALS, for short) is considered a pest in most countries, but because of it's large size and fast breeding habits, it is a much more serious pest. However, no one can deny that the adult size of these snails is impressive; a snail with it's body outstretched can reach an amazing 38cm (15 inches, so over a foot!), although the smaller species may only reach 10cm or so.
There are several species, but the largest and most impressive is Achatina achatina. However, all of the species found in the pet trade have almost identical requirements. This care sheet covers them all.
Snails look like slugs with shells. The shell of a land snail is one of it's more amazing features; not only can it be strikingly coloured or p\atterend, but it has many uses.
Although they are considered pests, GALS make very good pets. Their requirements are simple and so simple that even little children could take care of them. I have owned GALS before, and if I had given mine a bit more attention, the poor thing probably would have survived beyond the age of 3 and reached it's natural lifespan; up to 10 years, but usually 5-6.

Housing
GALS don't need much space. A 20-litre (about 5-gallon) aquarium will house a full-grown adult. Babies, for the first year of life, can be kept in a plastic pet aquarium/terrarium half that size. However, all snails would be happier of they were housed in a 40-litre (10-gallon) tank. Use these figures as minimum sizes.
Cover the floor of the terrarium with pesticide-free peat. To ensure it is rid of any chemicals that could be harmful, I used organic peat. Because they sometimes burrow into it, add several centimetres of the stuff. The tank now needs nothing more than an upside-down jam jar lid for water, a lid for the tank (make sure it allows good ventilation), and a cuttlefish bone. However, GALS do best if they are given somewhere to hide (like half a flower pot) and decorating the tank with plastic plants, rocks, pieces of bark etc. is almost irresistable. You'll want to keep it simple, though, because you need to change the substrate and clean the tank weekly.
GALS need no additional lighting or heating; they are content to live at room temperature of 18-29C. However, these snails need a humid environment. Mist spraying the tank helps the substrate stay slightly damp, but not wet. If the terrarium is mist sprayed sufficiently, a water bowl is not needed, but it is a useful addition as it raises temperatures and ensures that if you forget to spray the tank, they can still drink from somewhere.

Feeding
To keep your snail in good health, a variety of vegetables and fruits are needed, along with a cuttlefish bone. My snail really enjoyed cucumber, eating the softer centre of the slice and leaving the ring. As well as this, pepper, carrot, tomatoes, romaine lettuce (not iceberg), grapes, apple, bannana, and plums could all be used, plus many others like spinach.
Cuttlefish bones are sold in the bird aisle of pet shops and are essential for the health of your snail. Every now and then, the GALS will nibble on it so it can get calcium.

Handling
GALS don't seem to mind being picked up, but don't over-handle them. When you do pick them up, ensure your hands are damp. Snails aren't as slimy as slugs, but it's much better to observe them than handle.

Bibliography
This care sheet is mostly based on my own experiences, but exoticpets.about.com provided helpful information on additional foods and the introduction.

[LisaLQ]

Great info

When your snails lay, unless you have some cichlids that like to munch on the eggs, it's best to pop them in the freezer for a couple of days, then discard in the rubbish. Depending on the species, baby snails are notoriously hard to rehome, especially fulicas.

I always kept my snails in 80L storage tubs, they make great homes for snails (drill a few small holes for ventilation in the lid). If your snail is going to reach a foot in length, you're going to need a tank that's at least 12" deep/wide - and if your house does tend to be on the cool side, you can add a heat mat to the side (not base) of the tank.

I've got loads of pics if anyone wants to see a particular species (I kept fulica, smithii, achatina achatina, margies, immaculata, iredalei and some others). I dont keep them any more, wouldn't mind a pair of smithii in the future, they were much hardier than the common fulica.

[African_Snail Owner]

Dear Lizardkid

Thank you, This is information is very helpful.

A couple of questions:
Do you keep your snails in pairs or groups?
If so, my Giant African Land Snail currently lives on its own, should it be housed with another Giant African Land Snail?

Do GALS have to be hibernated?
My snail usually hibernates for about 3 months in the winter, it just woke up the other day.

[EmeraldSapphirez]

Originally Posted by African_Snail Owner

Dear Lizardkid

Thank you, This is information is very helpful.

A couple of questions:
Do you keep your snails in pairs or groups?
If so, my Giant African Land Snail currently lives on its own, should it be housed with another Giant African Land Snail?

Do GALS have to be hibernated?
My snail usually hibernates for about 3 months in the winter, it just woke up the other day.

You can keep snails alone or in groups, they really don't mind. If you keep them in groups be prepared for lots and lots of babies as these monsters breed like rabbits! - Just follow LisaLQ's advice on how to disgard unwanted eggs.

Snails needn't be hibernated, but some will feel that it's the right time and go into hibernation themselves if you don't keep them on a heatmat.

I'm going to assume you keep Achatina fulica? They can be kept between 21 and 23oc quite happily. Give them a spray twice a day (too much moisture can kill them though) and feed plenty of different colours of fruit and veg and they should live very happily. Don't forget to provide some cuttlefish bone.

[Skyespirit86]

I have to say I didn't find it difficult to home my baby snails. of course i might have done if id hatched out the full clutch of about 200! But i picked out roughly 30. they sell very easily for a few quid on ebay, and when putting them in the paper we had many calls especially from kids, or people wanting them for group projects. They all went within a month or so. as a last resort i know many people will buy them, or take them free, to use as food for some reps.

And i don't think there's many snails around that have reached a foot long, except the tiger snails perhaps but these aren't that common, and are expensive. Most people have fulica. my biggest one is about 10-15cm max.

[Laura_2301]

Thanks for all this info, I just got a GALS & 1 egg today. Just out or curiosity how long is the gestation period, and when the baby hatches does it need special care, or just the same as I do for the adult?

[ChrisNE]

Do these make good bosc food?

[Pleco07]

Originally Posted by ChrisNE

Do these make good bosc food?

Yes, Ive sold a few thousand (A. fulica) as feeders to bosc, tegu, skinks and even some BD's

[UkReptiles]

would 9 inches be high with an inch substrate and do i need to change it weekly?