Giant African Snail Care

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Giant African Land Snail Care Sheet

Introduction:
There are several species sold as Giant African Land Snails, these are:
East African Land Snails (Achatina fulica)
West African Land Snails (Achatina marginata)

The other snail that is sometimes seen is the very large Achatina achatina that has been recorded at over 37cm in size from snout to tail and a shell size of 27cm.

Achatina fulica is a tropical snail, but can survive cold conditions, even snow, by aestivating (equivalent to hibernation). Snails are hermaphroditic (both male and female), and after a single mating can produce a number of batches of fertile eggs over a period of months. This does NOT mean that they can mate with themselves, they still require a partner A. fulica lays eggs in batches of 100 to 400 with up to 1200 being laid in a year.

Eggs are spherical to ellipsoidal in shape (4.5-5.5 mm in diameter) and are yellow to cream in colour. These hatch after about 8-21 days under tropical conditions. The eggs hatch releasing snails about 4mm long. After eating their own shell, the baby snails move straight onto adult food, maturing in six to nine months, depending on temperature and food.

These snails grow up to 10mm per month. After 6 months, the Achatina fulica is about 35mm long and may already be sexually mature. Sexual maturity takes 6 to 16 months, depending on weather and the availability of calcium. This snail lives 5 or 6 years, sometimes as many as 9 years.

Housing:
Snails are one of the easiest of the exotic pets to keep. All you need is a reasonable sized tank (plastic or glass) with a secure lid, some general-purpose compost, a small water dish and a heat pad.

Snails should have fresh substrate every week and this should be at least 1-2 inches deep to allow the snail to bury itself as it would in the wild.

Feeding:
Snails will eat almost any vegetable or fruit, just make sure that you rinse the food well to ensure that any pesticides are washed off. Mine are rather keen on Peppers, Cucumber and Cos lettuce. They have also eaten apple, nectarine, grapes, banana, peach, plums, etc They will also eat brown bread and moistened dog biscuits. Please ensure that ALL vegetable food is washed before use as otherwise residual pesticides may cause the untimely death of the snail.
Snails need calcium, and to get this the best source is cuttle fish bone (same as you use for budgies). Without this calcium the snails shell will not be very strong and maybe slow to grow.

Snails are also fond of the occasional drop of beer. Not to much, as you'll end up with an alcoholic or pickled snail!

Handling:
Snails don't seem to mind being handled, you might not like to be slimed though!
A word of warning though, please treat them gently as you can easily damage the new shell growth at the base of the shell.

ENJOY YOUR NEW PET

This is the caresheet i give out when i sell a snail, i hope you find it useful

[Drummerkid]

kool

[Scuwiffpixi]

Hey Dagger! I have a giant African land snail and have had him a while, he is doing fine but his tank looks a bit sparce and I'd like to put some plants in for him, I know he'll eat them but I was wondering if you knew of any types that are safe and cheap to buy that I can jazz up his home with?

[LisaLQ]

Archachatina (margies and the like) eggs are much bigger than fulica eggs, anywhere up to an inch roughly - and are laid in much smaller batches (up to about 12-15 max IIRC).

[chris_greg]

I got 2 Land Snails a month ago off the pet version of Freecycle and i thing they are great. Im surprised the woman was getting rid in the first place, they are well cool.

I was a bit put off at first by the thought of getting slimed by them but i dont actually mind it. My kids dont mind it too which im surprised about, my little boy is a bit funny with snails.

I think more people should have them as pets!!

[alexsnail]

Hello,
My Giant African Land Snail retreated into his shell 3 weeks ago when the weather turned cold and unfortunately didn't have a heat mat for him, thinking our modern house would be warm enough. He now has a heat pad and I've bathed him in warm water and there is still no sign of him. I have read that sometimes they are unable to brake the mucus that seals them into the shell and that this can lead to an untimely end. Is this true? Is there anything else I can do for him and will he reappear again if I just leave him be?
Thanks

[glittersniffer]

Its better not to use general compost.. Try COIR- its on ebay you just add water, warm takes easiest and it soaks it up. Its good for humidity.

[Whosthedaddy]

Picked up 4 as feeders for the Bosc, a test one was given to ensure that he will eat them. They're shells are maybe an inch long, how old or size will they need to buy before they look to breed? If it's not till they get to x number of inches then I'll see about getting an adult. Low cost feeders for the win!

Cuttlefish or calcium powder in a small dish?

Hungry little fellas, the huge bite out of a chunk of cucumber was impressive after only a few minutes.

I thought one had escaped but no, it had burried itself!

[neville]

I had two adult land snails 'archatina fulicia' but one has died . The other one was producing a kind of white foam from under its shell, which I described as snail diharea. It seems to have recovered now but I still don't know what the cause was. One suggestion was a pesticide in the food. Any ideas