|
||||||||
Giant African Land Snails |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Somewhere, but not here!
Posts: 609
|
Giant African Land Snails
I bought two little babies yesterday for my 5 year old son. I've been reading lots about them, their quite interesting little things.
Anyone else have any? |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,161
|
I had a variety of species of for a while, some rescued from Brixton market lol.
Fascinating little critters, just watch for them breeding out of control, squish the eggs when you find them or freeze and put out for the birds
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Somewhere, but not here!
Posts: 609
|
Quote:
I had a variety of species of for a while, some rescued from Brixton market lol.
Fascinating little critters, just watch for them breeding out of control, squish the eggs when you find them or freeze and put out for the birds ![]()
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,639
|
I keep some species also. I'm guessing its Achatina fulica you have?
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,059
|
Quote:
I had a variety of species of for a while, some rescued from Brixton market lol.
Fascinating little critters, just watch for them breeding out of control, squish the eggs when you find them or freeze and put out for the birds ![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,161
|
Not sure about self breeding, not something I've witnessed personally.
But two will never stop producing eggs, and both will produce A LOT and Fulica are so common they are tricky to rehome, |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,098
|
I didn't realise they were edible, not that I would advise the OP to do that.
We used to have some in School, they seemed friendly enough but they produced a staggering amount of eggs in a very short time. |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,959
|
I had 6 snails at one point. Unfortunately after a couple of years they started dying one by one, and now I only have the one left who is hibernating. It makes me sad because I loved their little faces.
Some general pointers: 1) Keep them around 20 degrees or higher (don't forget they are native to Africa, so ensure they're kept warm) 2) If you're using a heat mat and have a plastic tank, don't leave it too close to the bottom of the tank, as it could melt the bottom (happened to me) 3) Clean the tank at least once a month - this requires transferring the snails to another bowl/tank while you do it...avoid using cleaning fluids as they can damage snails health. Simply use warm water and clean paper towels 4) When they breed, they do lay a lot of eggs. You either have to crush them all or freeze them. 5) Give them a sub-strait, but not too deep. You want to allow them to bury, but not too deep to encourage laying eggs. 6) Provide them with a calcium source (cuttlefish is perfect) 7) Change their food regularly, once a day or two (foods like cucumber start putrefying after a while) 8) Keep the tank humid, they like warm humid atmospheres. 9) Spray the snails and tank with water once a day. (Cheap spray bottle from a garden centre will do) 10) Buy a hydrometer and thermometer that you can store in the tank (the little circular ones are good) That's all I can think of at the moment. If I can think of anything else, I'll post it later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Somewhere, but not here!
Posts: 609
|
Quote:
I keep some species also. I'm guessing its Achatina fulica you have?
![]() Quote:
I had 6 snails at one point. Unfortunately after a couple of years they started dying one by one, and now I only have the one left who is hibernating. It makes me sad because I loved their little faces.
Some general pointers: 1) Keep them around 20 degrees or higher (don't forget they are native to Africa, so ensure they're kept warm) 2) If you're using a heat mat and have a plastic tank, don't leave it too close to the bottom of the tank, as it could melt the bottom (happened to me) 3) Clean the tank at least once a month - this requires transferring the snails to another bowl/tank while you do it...avoid using cleaning fluids as they can damage snails health. Simply use warm water and clean paper towels 4) When they breed, they do lay a lot of eggs. You either have to crush them all or freeze them. 5) Give them a sub-strait, but not too deep. You want to allow them to bury, but not too deep to encourage laying eggs. 6) Provide them with a calcium source (cuttlefish is perfect) 7) Change their food regularly, once a day or two (foods like cucumber start putrefying after a while) 8) Keep the tank humid, they like warm humid atmospheres. 9) Spray the snails and tank with water once a day. (Cheap spray bottle from a garden centre will do) 10) Buy a hydrometer and thermometer that you can store in the tank (the little circular ones are good) That's all I can think of at the moment. If I can think of anything else, I'll post it later. ![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,161
|
My Mum's still got the very last of my Fulica, they must be 8 + years old now, they just keep going!!!
She keeps them in an unheated propogator (though her house is insanely warm!) on sterilised coir, mostly fed sweet potato, lettuce, cucumber with cuttlefish always available. Hope yours are doing ok x Millipedes next???
|
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,639
|
Millipedes are great also. I'd recommend Archispirostreptus gigas, one of the largest species, certainly the largest commonly available species. They spend much more time on the surface than some other species, and are easy to keep.
fulica don't need to be kept as humid as some other species, such as A.achatina, which need around 80-95% humidity. Around 70-80% should be ok. |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Somewhere, but not here!
Posts: 609
|
Quote:
My Mum's still got the very last of my Fulica, they must be 8 + years old now, they just keep going!!!
She keeps them in an unheated propogator (though her house is insanely warm!) on sterilised coir, mostly fed sweet potato, lettuce, cucumber with cuttlefish always available. Hope yours are doing ok x Millipedes next??? ![]() ![]() Erm, no i think the snails are enough for now lol Quote:
Millipedes are great also. I'd recommend Archispirostreptus gigas, one of the largest species, certainly the largest commonly available species. They spend much more time on the surface than some other species, and are easy to keep.
fulica don't need to be kept as humid as some other species, such as A.achatina, which need around 80-95% humidity. Around 70-80% should be ok.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,434
|
Quote:
I bought two little babies yesterday for my 5 year old son. I've been reading lots about them, their quite interesting little things.
Anyone else have any? They are hermephrodite self breeding.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 23:12.


They are hermephrodite self breeding.