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How To Care For Giant African Land Snails

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How To Care For Giant African Land Snails

Follow Mark Amey's step by step guide to looking after Giant Snails, These creatures are native to East Africa and can grow to 25 centimetres long, so learn how to care for them properly with VideoJug's help. Follow Mark Amey's step by step guide to looking after Giant Snails, These creatures are native to East Africa and can grow to 25 centimetres long, so learn how to care for them properly with VideoJug's help.

Step 1: Housing and Bedding

Keep your snail in a well-ventilated glass or plastic tank with a secure lid. Fit a heat mat with a thermostat and thermometer at the back of the tank to check the temperature is kept at about 25 degrees. Place the thermostat sensor over the heat source. Line the floor with a thick layer of substrate such as cocoa fiber which should to be kept damp. Don't use soil from your garden as it may contain stones or chemicals. The tank should be kept away from direct sunlight, radiators, draughts and chemicals such as fly sprays. 1 snail needs a tank about 40 centimeters by 25 by 25. Provide bark for your pet to climb and hide under. Spray the tank every other day with warm water to maintain the level of humidity at 60-70%. This can be checked with a hydrometer.

Step 2: Handling

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.

Step 3: Diet

Feed your giant snail leafy greens every day such as lettuce, cabbage and spinach. All vegetables should washed to remove all traces of chemicals. Remove any food that hasn't been eaten within a day. Snails need calcium so also provide a cuttlefish bone, natural chalk or crushed eggshells. They will need a shallow bowl of fresh water, but can drown if it is deeper than a few millimeters.

Step 4: Cleaning

Clean the tank of snail trails and change the substrate every week. Wash the tank only with warm water as detergents may be harmful.

Step 5: Health

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 it 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.

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Tips & Comments
  1. impactenvironmental

    WARNING: These snails are very dangerous for the environment. If you are in the United States you need to contact the USDA APHIS toll-free giant African land snail hotline at 888/703-4457. This is not a joke - these creatures can destroy an eco-system and carry meningitis.

  2. Dairo

    One of my snails lay eggs in a big bowl where I kept up to 12 snails while I'm still constructing their shelter. What should I do to the eggs

  3. speedy12345

    help my giant african snail loves getting into its bowl of water is that okay? or should i take him out? also how do i know how old it is my friend gave me the snail?

  5. completeairhead

    i miss my african snails we had to get rid of them cuz they had thousands of babies,i didnt use a heat pad they did quite well.

  6. snailtrail

    iv been to all pet shops and other shops to find big logs 4 my snils and they only have small's one's is there any think i can use if i cant ge the big logs because i am finding my snails are hideing under the peat is that normall 4 them to do that.

  7. snailtrail

    hello i feed my snails on all fruit and veg like to know what other food i can give i got told you can give meat. what tipe of meat is it they can eat if it is ok 4 them.

  8. snailtrail

    HELLO I HAVE SIX GIANG AFRICAN LAND SNAILS JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TIPE OF PLANTS THEY CAN EAT AND WHAT TREE BRANCH CAN I USE 4 THEM TO CLIME ON. I FEED ME SNAILS DOG BISC AND TOMATO GREENS AND CUCUMBER AND BISC WHAT WE EAT WHAT TIPE OF OTHER FOOD CAN I FEED THEN ON.

  9. Skyespirit86

    id like to add that although i say warmth is important i am talking about the com on fulica, and es[ecially tiger land snails (the largest). other speciescan often be kept at room temp, especially if you have awarm house with no ill effects

  10. Skyespirit86

    nataschag that is just one of its reproductive organ- sometimes called a 'love dart', they start to protrude as the snail reaches sexual maturity which is around 6 months old with the common fulica, not very old at all. If you get another mature snail they will start laying eggs. I wouldnt put stick insects in with snails, i doubt theyd fight but it would be awkward, thorny brambles or pungent eucakyptus is not good for snails, and a snail slithering over a stick insect could kill it. land snails of various types are sold commonly on ebay for cheap prices. You dont need to panic about their care. warmth is the main thing, it musnt drop below a certain temp, otherwise theyll become lethargic or seal over. however thats about it apart from water and feeding. if you keep more than one just remove eggs and kill them. if you want to hatch some hatchlings can be sold as livefood for other pets if you cant get them 'loving homes'. theyre ony snails. some lizards will actually only eat snails.