Care for Giant African Land Snails

Giant African Land Snails are native to East Africa. They grow to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} / 10" in length. In countries where they can be legally kept, they can make good pets, as they are relatively low maintenance and fascinating to watch. Even though they're apparently slow, they can move quite fast. So without further ado here are the 8 steps to looking after giant African land snails.

Steps

  1. Keep your snail in a well-ventilated glass or plastic tank. Ensure that it has a secure lid. One snail needs a tank about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} by {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} by {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} / 16" x 10" x 10".
  2. 'Fit a heat mat with a thermostat and thermometer at the back of the tank to check the temperature is kept at about 25ºC / 77ºF.' Placing the heat mat is optional though.
    • Place a thermostat sensor over the heat source.
  3. Line the floor with a thick layer of substrate. Use plain topsoil from a garden centre rather than compost which can contain added fertilizers harmful to snails, and avoid coir or bark which can hold mould. Do not use topsoil you have collected yourself as this can be contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers, as well as a range of bacteria and pathogens.
  4. Spray the tank every other day with warm water to maintain the level of humidity at 60-70%. This can be checked with a hygrometer.
  5. Handle with care.[1]
    • Snails should be picked up gently by their shells. It is best to pick them off the floor rather than when they are stuck tightly to the glass.
    • Snails don't mind being handled but make sure your hands are clean and damp, as sweat or chemicals are easily absorbed by your snail, and can be harmful.
  6. Feed your giant snail leafy greens every day such as lettuce, cabbage and spinach. All vegetables should be washed to remove all traces of chemicals. Remove any food that hasn't been eaten within a day.
    • Snails need calcium. Provide a cuttlefish bone for an easy source of calcium for the snail.
    • They will need a shallow bowl of fresh water, but can drown if it is deeper than a few millimeters.
  7. Clean the tank of snail trails and change the substrate every week. Wash the tank only with warm water as detergents may be harmful.
  8. Keep your snail healthy. Your snail should have few health problems if kept in the right conditions. It is critical that it is not exposed to any chemicals around the home. If the environment is too hot, cold or dry, your snail will hide and become inactive, and a membrane may form over the aperture of the shell. A healthy snail has a clean, unbroken shell, and no unusual lumps or patches on its body.
  9. Make sure they have a cuttle fish bone to give them calcimine to help develop their shells.

Tips

  • Females are hermaphrodites, meaning that they possess both male and female reproductive organs and are able to fertilize each other - which can result in up to 300 eggs being laid at a time by each snail.
  • If you miss any eggs and they subsequently hatch, any young must then be carefully moved into a secure tank away from the adult snails, which could easily crush them. Young snails are too small to handle and instead they should be left to crawl on to a lettuce leaf which can then be moved into a suitable sized tank. Water bowls should not be provided for young snails, as they can easily drown.
  • Most snails like to burrow before laying their eggs, so it is necessary to thoroughly check their tank for eggs at least every 3 days. If you do not want the eggs to hatch, then they must be disposed of responsibly; simply throwing them away is illegal. It is recommended that you freeze all eggs for 48 hours before disposing of them.
  • Snails can continue to lay eggs for up to several years after a single mating.
  • Check for eggs.
  • Gals (giant African land snails) love cucumber and gals love and need a cuttle fish bone in their tank for calcimine.
  • They tend to make a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} hole before laying eggs so always look carefully and do not touch the eggs if in any emergency to move them use a small spoon and carefully move them.
  • Cucumber has almost no nutritional value for giant African land snails; sweet potato is a much better choice, for babies try grating it.
  • Don't feed them peaches because it seems to make their slime go watery.

Warnings

  • Do not feed the snail iceberg lettuce as it will not contain enough nutrients and sustenance.
  • Don't leave moldy food in the tank.
  • Before handling you should make your hands damp to help them move around and so they don't absorb your sweat, which could make them ill or could kill them
  • Keep the tank away from direct sunlight, radiators, draughts and chemicals such as fly sprays.
  • Never release any type of exotic animal into the local wild population. Seek assistance from your local animal sanctuary.
  • When picking up the snail by its shell, make sure you don't harm it. If it doesn't let go, leave the snail where it is.
  • Wash veg with warm water to get rid of chemicals which can kill your snails
  • Be careful when feeding spinach- there has been some evidence to suggest that large amounts can inhibit calcium uptake, which is necessary for healthy shell growth. Only feed in small amounts.
  • Check local regulations before obtaining this snail as a pet. Giant African Land Snails are illegal in the United States and Canada. Contact your local agriculture officials or the USDA if you have one, or see them offered for sale in the United States. In Canada, contact the

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/idcard_phgas.pdf USDA document on Giant African Snails

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Care_for_Giant_African_Land_Snails&oldid=286503"