Giant Achatina snail – description, care at home, where it lives, size, what it eats

A unique and fascinating pet that many people are beginning to keep at home is the giant Achatina snail. Its size and appearance set it apart from other snails, and it has a long lifespan if given the proper care. This snail might be the perfect companion for you if you’re searching for something low-maintenance but still engaging.

These snails can get fairly large, sometimes reaching the size of a human hand, and are well-known for their enormous, spiral shells. They are gentle creatures that do best in a peaceful environment, despite their size. Many people find it soothing to watch them move slowly and have a distinct appearance.

As long as you are aware of their basic requirements, caring for a giant Achatina snail is simple. Their diet is primarily composed of fruits and vegetables, and they prefer warm, humid environments. By understanding how to properly set up their habitat, you can keep your snail happy and healthy.

Achatina is

The largest species of land snails is the giant Achatina, also known as the giant African snail. They inhabit the earth’s surface and can be hidden in their spirally twisted shell when needed.

Appearance

Achatina’s shell is conical, with twice as much length as width. The shells of sexually mature adults are twisted in seven to nine directions.

Snails’ body colors differ according to their habitat. However, Achatina’s bodies are typically beige-brown with veins, and their shells are pale yellow with reddish-brown vertical lines down them.

Size

Giant Achatina are distinguished by their enormous size. The adult snail can reach a length of 30 cm and a weight of 2-3 kg.

Types

The entire genus of terrestrial gastropods known as Achatina. The size, shape, color, and shade of the shell varies amongst species.

Achatina fulica: red or dark brown, cone-shaped shell. body in light beige.

Achatina reticulata: light-colored, ribbed shell with brown dots and stripes. Beige body, dark "cap" on the head.

The striped shell, Achatina immaculata, ranges in hue from beige to dark brown. Visible veins on a dark beige body.

Achatina albopicta: color-marbled, ribbed shell. Beige or a body with brown veins.

Deep yellow near the head, the elongated shell of the lemon achatina. Almost white body.

Brown Achatina: a more spherical shell that gets lighter toward the end and darker toward the head. body color of cream to brown.

The primary shell tone of Tiger Achatina is reddish, with brown stripes that vary in thickness. body tone ranging from pale to ash-brown.

Achatina zanzibarica is a light-colored shell with specks and stripes of uneven brown color.

Internal structure

Respiratory organs

Achatina is a type of land snail that breathes through its lungs. The majority of the body is made up of the lungs, which are heavily networked with blood vessels.

Blood system

Achatine resembles a heart made up of two departments. His hemolymph pulsation allows him to travel through the capillary system.

Digestive system

"Graters," which are found in the oral cavity, are the rainbow that starts the digestive tract. Snails use it to scrape food and wipe it into tiny pieces. Food passes from the mouth into the esophagus, the goiter, the stomach, and finally the stomach.

Nervous system

The udlets are filled with nerve-wracking nodes. However, there are no core "brain" regions.

The amazing size and distinct care needs of the Giant Achatina snail make it an intriguing pet. These snails, which are native to Africa, can get as big as 12 inches in length. They require a particular diet consisting of fruits and leafy greens and do well in humid environments. Anyone thinking about bringing one into their home must be aware of their habitat and dietary requirements in order to ensure a happy and healthy life for these fascinating creatures.

Life expectancy

In the wild, achatine typically lives three to five years. In rare instances, some people live to be ten years old. When given the right care, captive individuals regularly live for seven to ten years.

Where it lives

The enormous African land snail is at ease in tropical weather. They require warm, humid weather all year round.

However, Achatina have adapted to survive in latitudes with temperate climates as well. This species favors climates between 15 and 30 °C.

Achatina is able to endure more hostile environments. People go into dormancy when the temperature drops below 10 °C.

Snails live in forests, coastal regions, and agricultural areas. To maintain their normal lifestyle, they require high humidity and a stable temperature above 10 °C.

They can, however, enter a state of dormancy during inclement weather by burrowing into soft soil because they have evolved to live in drier, colder climates.

Geographical range

Achatina, also known as the "giant African snail," are found in coastal regions and on East African islands. From Mozambique to Kenya and Somalia, snails can be found.

Australia, the United States, and European nations are home to astaxanthina. But they can only survive in warm climates because they are "wild animals."

Lifestyle

Big snails live alone. They only pair up for the purpose of fertilization. Since parents have no influence over their children’s lives, solitary behavior develops early on.

Being a nocturnal species, achatina sleeps during the day. People frequently burrow under the earth to stay cool and damp or to hide from potential dangers.

Diet

Vegetarians, giant snails only consume plant-based food. This kind of snail’s keen "sense of smell" aids in their selection of edible plants.

The preferences of Giant Achatina vary based on their age group. The juveniles consume fungi, microscopic algae, and decomposing plants. Their favorite textures are supple ones.

Achatina adults favor eating living plants.

Convenient and unassuming pets are snails. They are even safe for small children to handle.

What is needed

An aquarium or other lidded container is necessary for a snail’s habitat. You can use a mesh lid or drill holes in the walls for ventilation.

You will need a terrarium that holds at least 10 liters for an adult Achatina. Even though they lead sedentary lives, snails prefer to move slowly and burrow under the earth.

The best substrate to use for bedding is coconut. It is simple to clean, successfully mimics a natural setting, and holds moisture inside the container. In order for the pet to be able to hide, the substrate needs to be at least 7 to 10 cm thick.

Branches and decorative glass and ceramic elements should be added to the substrate’s surface to enhance its appearance. A coconut shell is a favorite hiding place for snails.

The terrarium’s temperature shouldn’t drop below 20°C, and 70–80% humidity is the ideal range to maintain. Snails lick moisture off of plants or container walls.

What to feed

The main foods that snails eat are fruits, vegetables, and herbaceous plants. Vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, carrot, eggplant, and tomato are suggested. You can give the snail some fruit, such as pears, peaches, watermelons, or persimmons. Some of Achatina’s favorite plant materials are the leaves of dandelion, clover, and raspberry.

Cut fruits and vegetables into pieces, then toss them with a mineral mixture. Maintaining the shell’s health is essential. Every product offered needs to be fresh and clean.

How to care

Similar to caring for spiders, taking care of a snail just involves keeping the aquarium tidy. To accomplish this, use a moist cloth to clean the container’s walls and ornamental elements without using any chemicals.

If the substrate is dirty, helminths or flies will begin to grow there. Food scraps were ejected.

Reproduction and offspring

They are hermaphrodites, achatina. Every human being possesses both a male and female reproductive system. Since they are incapable of fertilizing themselves, another snail must take part in the process.

Based on their size and age, snails select a mate. Both individuals are fertilized simultaneously during mating. The larger snail will act more like a female, though, if there is a significant size disparity. In this instance, fertilization will not occur for the second individual.

Eight to ten days after mating, fertilized eggs are laid in nests or between stones and foliage. At temperatures higher than 15°C, eggs hatch. After 11–15 days, young snails are born.

The snail lays anywhere between 100 and 500 eggs, depending on its age. There is no set season for mating giant African snails. Achatina can procreate every two to three months.

"Parents"—snails are not involved in their young’s upbringing. The little ones are left on their own as soon as they hatch.

Population and conservation status

At the moment, the enormous Achatina is neither an endangered nor a vulnerable species.

Health and diseases

Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites can affect Achatina. Nematodes may cause a snail to become exhausted and eventually die.

The result of too much moisture in the terrarium is fungus. It looks like a plaque and covers the body and shell.

The most frequent issue brought on by a diet low in calcium is thinning of the shell.

Impact on nature

Snails contribute readily available organic fertilizers to the environment by eating tough-to-process plant tissues.

Food chains include giant African snails. They are consumed by ants, rats, and crabs.

Additionally, this species serves as a host to parasitic species like rat lungworms. Living parasitic organisms can spread to other animals that consume snails.

Why do people need it?

Many nations regard snail meat as a delicacy. The reason giant snails are bred for this is because their meat is an excellent source of high-quality protein.

Because Achatina reproduce so quickly, they are used as fish and poultry feed in some areas.

Waste snails can be turned into fertilizers and soil conditioners.

Concentrate made from snail mucus is used to make cosmetics.

Topic	Details
Description	The Giant Achatina snail is one of the largest land snails, known for its spiral shell and soft body. It can be quite colorful, often showing shades of brown and yellow.
Care at Home	These snails need a warm, humid environment. Keep them in a spacious terrarium with a substrate like coconut coir. Provide fresh vegetables and fruits for food, and ensure they have a shallow water dish for drinking.
Where It Lives	Originally from Africa, Giant Achatina snails thrive in tropical climates. In captivity, they adapt well to similar warm and humid conditions.
Size	These snails can grow up to 12 inches in length, making them quite impressive in size.
What It Eats	Their diet mainly consists of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid feeding them processed foods or dairy.

For those seeking a low-maintenance friend, the Giant Achatina snail is an intriguing and unusual pet that needs very little care. Its striking size and serene demeanor make it a great conversation starter in your house.

All you need to keep these snails happy is the ideal habitat, which includes warmth, moisture, and a cozy substrate. They enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, and foods high in calcium to support their large shells. They thrive on a varied diet.

These snails are native to tropical areas, but they can live happily in your house if you give them the proper attention. Any pet owner can experience a sense of wonder and tranquility from their gentle presence and slow pace.

Video on the topic

Achatina domestic snails. A short course in snail farming (keeping, care, feeding). // Clever Cricket

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