Cats and dogs need not be too concerned. The Giant African Land Snail (achatina fulica) is not about to oust them from the top of the most popular pets list any time soon. Not least because they are actually banned as pets in many countries including the USA, as they can survive outdoors and cause havoc to the ecosystem. However, in the UK, Land Snails are enjoying a surge in popularity as they gain a reputation for being easy to look after and cheap to keep. This article will outline some of the basic items you will need in order to keep a snail as a pet, and some useful facts about the species.
Housing a Pet Snail
Before buying a pet snail, it is important to have adequate housing for it. First of all you need to decide whether you are getting one snail, or two. A single snail will be less active, whereas two together will be more active and interesting to watch, but as snails are hermaphrodites they WILL breed, and humane egg disposal becomes an issue you will have to deal with. Interestingly, a single snail will still produce eggs, but as these are not fertile, you will not have to worry about them hatching.
Two snails together will need a plastic tank, approx. 45 x 30 x 30 which has adequate ventilation. The tank needs to be filled about 1/4 full with a suitable substrate. The best type is the Coir substrate that you can buy from most pet shops. This comes in a compact block which has to be placed in water, whereupon it expands and forms a soft, sterile ground layer that resembles soil. A typical block costs about £3, (or $4.50) and will last a few months if you cut it into sections first and use one section at a time.
The snails will also need a form of calcium, which they need in order to keep their shell strong. The best type is cuttlefish bone, again, available in most petshops. This can be placed in the bottom of the tank for the snails to graze on as they wish. Snails will eat many different types of vegetable material, but their favourite is usually lettuce and cucumber. Like humans, some snails are fussy eaters, and it is good to experiment with different foods to see what they prefer.
Another basic requirement in a tank setup is to add a few items of interest to the environment, such as upturned pots, cork bark and moss, which will enhance the appearance of the tank and make life more interesting for the snails too, as they love to climb. A shallow dish of water is nice, but not absolutely essential, so long as the tank is kept moist at all times. For this you will need a spray bottle filled with water.
Buying Pet Snails
Many pet shops sell Giant African Land Snails, and it is good to buy them from a reputable pet store, where the animals are clean and well cared for. Small baby snails are usually quite cheap, at about 50p each ($1), and it is good to buy them small, as it is fascinating to see just how big they actually get! The snail will grow very rapidly in the first year, but will continue to grow all its life as the shell never stops growing. It is a good idea to buy a snail that is active and moving around the tank in the store and has no signs of damage, disease or parasites.
How To Look After a Giant African Land Snail
Keeping snails is very easy, and maintenance is minimal. The tank must always be kept nice and moist at all times, and fresh food and cuttlefish must always be available. As the fresh food will rot quickly, uneaten food should be removed daily and replaced. Every month or so, the whole tank must be emptied out and the substrate replaced.
Snails don't mind being handled and really enjoy being rinsed under the tap in the sink. This keeps the shell nice and clean and free from fungal growth.
Any eggs must be destroyed if not wanted. This is best done by putting them in the freezer. They should not be thrown in the bin, as they will hatch and die a slow death.
In the winter, when the weather gets cold, the snail will hibernate. This can be very alarming, as the snail will form a hard calcium seal over the entrance to the shell. Some owners have mistakenly thought that their pet has died, but rest assured the snail is absolutely fine. They can hibernate for about four months and will require no special treatment during this time.
A Child's First Pet
Giant African Land Snails make an ideal first pet for a child. They are fascinating to observe and very easy to keep. They can live for 10 years, so it is important to think carefully before purchasing one. The experience can be very enjoyable and rewarding.
Louise Jones - I have always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but started writing reviews online in February 2010 for Dooyoo, and later Ciao. In the beginning ...
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