Snail as a pet

Recently it has become popular to keep as pets snails These creatures are easy to care for and do not require significant financial investments for their maintenance. But at the same time, observing their life and behavior is quite interesting.

Breeds of snails

Most often, animal lovers get Achatina for home keeping. These are very large snails that are distinguished by a variety of species:

• Achatina reticulata is a mobile species. She is keenly interested in the world around her and often raises her head for a better view. It is distinguished by a black or brown body shade. At the same time, there is a light border on the leg. This snail grows too quickly and reaches a shell size of 20 cm.

• But Achatina fulica is one of the calmest breeds. Almost all the time this snail is in a state of rest. It also grows up to 20 cm, its shell can have different shades from red to black.

• Achatina immaculata is distinguished by its variety of colors. Unlike other Achatina, it has a light purple rim on its shell, and a pink stripe on its head and neck.
• Similar to Achatina reticulata, but Achatina albopicta is small in size. It grows up to 16 cm and has an excellent appetite. On the shell it has a white or yellow rim and a pinkish tip.
• Lemon Achatina iradeli is distinguished by its small size. She grows only up to 7 cm. In addition, she has one more difference - she is the only Achatina that bears live offspring, and does not lay eggs.

Snail care

Domestic snails are not demanding care, it is enough to feed and bathe them on time. In addition, it will be necessary to create favorable conditions for existence.

Snails love water treatments. To do this, you need to place it on your palm and place it under a weak stream of warm water. You should not place a snail in a sink or bathtub, as there may be residues of chemicals harmful to it. Bathing should be done at least once a week.

You should be very careful with your snail shell. After all, its damage is extremely dangerous for the health of the snail. If in a young snail the damage heals quickly, in adults this is fraught with serious consequences. Almost always such a snail dies. If damage to the shell is detected, you can try to seal the crack with special medical glue BF. If the shell is very damaged, the snail will die.

What to feed a snail

The snails diet mostly includes greens, vegetables and fruits. Domestic snails are especially fond of cucumbers; they also like carrots, zucchini, apples and lettuce. The foods offered to snails as food need to be changed. Otherwise, she will get used to only one type of food and will not pay attention to others. This has a detrimental effect on the growth and well-being of the snail.

In addition to vegetables and fruits, it is necessary to include a grain mixture, calcium and animal protein. Snails use calcium as a building material for their shells. It is better to give it in the form of a powder or a piece of chalk. It should be left in a separate feeding container or added to succulent food.

It is strictly forbidden to give salty and sweet foods to snails. Spices, smoked and fried foods are also prohibited. As for fruits, this list includes all citrus fruits, as they contain fruit acids that are harmful to the snail’s shell.

It is best to offer food to snails in small portions every day. The best time for this is the evening hours, when the mollusks are most active. To serve food, use a small plate or stand; do not place snail food directly on the ground. To prevent food from spoiling, the leftovers must be removed after a few hours.

Food must be served at room temperature. It is better to puree hard vegetables, and soft fruits can be cut into slices. Be sure to leave a container of water in the terrarium. At the same time, its level should not exceed 1 cm so that the snail does not drown in it.

Snail terrarium

To make it comfortable for mollusks to live with you, choose the right terrarium. Calculate that there should be at least 10 liters of volume per clam. Otherwise, the snails will begin to wither. Terrariums made of glass, plexiglass or plastic are suitable for a snail house. The last two materials help prevent sudden temperature changes, since they both cool and heat up slowly. And through ordinary glass, more light penetrates and it is more pleasant to watch snails in a glass terrarium.

To fill the terrarium, use peat or coconut substrate. This material is ideal for shellfish life. The thickness of the soil should be impressive. The pet must be able to bury itself completely in the ground. Be sure to equip the snail house with a sensor that measures the humidity level and a thermometer. Optimal conditions for domestic snails are a temperature of +27 degrees and a humidity level of up to 90%.

The top of the terrarium is covered with a net, which is secured with latches. Make sure there are no gaps left, otherwise curious snails will find a way to get out through them. The interior of the terrarium must be soft so that if it falls, the mollusk does not break the shell. It is best to plant plants inside a terrarium. A money tree, lettuce or wheat sprouted in the ground will look especially beautiful in it.

All containers used for feeding snails or as drinking bowls must be made of soft plastic and securely fastened to the ground. These measures are required to ensure that the mollusks do not make a mess in the aquarium and do not get hurt.