Post by KathyM on May 13, 2006 17:10:19 GMT
Care of Giant African Land Snails[/u]
Giant African Land Snails (often abbreviated to GALS) make fascinating, and easy to care for pets, with a range of different species with similar needs, which I'll try to outline here.
What species are there?
Ranging from the small achatina iredalei to the massive achatina achatina (Tiger Snail), there are various species kept as pets in the UK. Some are more rare than others, with lissachatina fulica, and archachatina marginata (commonly called “margies”) being two of the most commonly kept species, and probably the easiest to care for – making them ideal “starter” species.
Lissachatina fulica[/u]
Keith - adult lissachatina fulica, 9.5cm. Owned by KathyM.
Lissachatina fulica reach adult shell sizes of up to 14cm, although 10cm is a more average size. They are the most common species kept as pets in the UK and are amazingly diverse in colouring, shape and size. Requiring less than other GALS in the way of specialist care, heating, etc, they are very easy to care for and thrive in most situations. They are prolific breeders, laying around 100 eggs at a time of about 3-6mm in size. This is how they have become so common in the UK, with lots ending up in rescues. This is easily avoided with proper care (see below).
Archachatina marginata[/u]
Vernon - originally a Brixton rescue, adult archachatina marginata var. ovum, 15.5cm. Owned by KathyM.
Archachatina marginata are another commonly kept species of GALS. There are 3 variants of this species – ovum, marginata, and suturalis. They range in adult size from approximately 9cm (suturalis) to 17cm (ovum and marginata), and there are even “white fleshed” snails of this species. Archachatina marginatas prefer warmer and more humid conditions to lissachatina fulica, but are generally hardy. Being an Archachatina species, they lay less, and larger, eggs than Achatina species, commonly laying a batch of approximately 10 eggs of around 2cm in size. Many snail-keepers now keep rescue margies from Brixton Market (sold as food) – if this is of interest to you, you can visit the PetSnails or Cybersnail forum (links below), where lots of Brixton margie owners visit, for advice.
Other species[/u]
Information on other species of GALS can be found at:
The World Of Snails
Achatina.ru
What do I need to house GALS?
The first thing you need to arrange for your snails is suitable accommodation. Large plastic storage boxes, glass fish tanks and vivariums are popular choices with snail-keepers. The set-up needs to have aeration but be able to retain the heat and moisture, which is why many snail-keepers prefer storage boxes over the glass tanks, which lose heat quite easily. As for the size of tank, it'll depend on the species you pick - below is a link to a tank calculator, which will give you a rough guide.
PetSnails Snail Calculator
Recommended substrates for the bottom of the set-up are organic compost, coir, and sphagnum moss, to a depth of at least 5cm – deeper for larger species. You can also use capillary matting (available in garden centres for holding moisture for plants) for lining the bottom of your set-up, but make sure you provide something suitable for your snails to dig in – a large tub of moss or compost is ideal.
You need to be able to keep the substrate clean and damp (but not soaking wet) – it's worth asking other snail owners what substrate they use and make your decision based on what suits your snails. You'll need a spray bottle of water (with or without Daz's wonderful calcium drops to aid snail shells) for keeping the tank moist.
Decorating your set-up and making it more interesting/natural for your snails can be fun to do too. Adding fake plants, plant pots (plastic), cork bark, etc can make a great difference to your set-up, and to your snails enjoyment of life. However, when choosing ornaments for your tank, make sure to steer clear of hard items such as stones, clay/terracotta pots, etc as these can cause great injury to a snail should they fall from the lid.
Some species need a bit more warmth (and some of us live in colder houses), and the use of a heatmat is one solution. Some people also position tanks close to radiators to provide warmth, although obviously in summer this might not be the best method.
What do snails need to eat?
A GALS diet consists mainly of various fruits and vegetables, and a calcium source, such as cuttlefish bone. The calcium is very important as a snail needs this to keep his shell growing nicely, and in good condition. It's very important when choosing foods for your snails to consider whether harmful pesticides have been used, and to wash all food thoroughly before giving it to your snails.
Some safe foods[/u]
Lettuce
Courgette
Aubergine
Cucumber
Apple
Carrot
Banana
Melon
Bell pepper
Porridge (made with hot water and cooled, fed quite wet)
Foods to avoid[/u]
Pasta (bloats snails and can kill)
The onion family (including garlic, leeks, etc)
Salty foods
Anything treated with chemicals
What about breeding?
Contrary to popular belief, snails cannot fertilise themselves, and need a partner. Snails of the genus Achatina (eg. lissachatina fulica, achatina smithii, etc) lay large clutches of eggs when mature enough (which differs from snail to snail). Snails of the genus Archachatina lay smaller clutches of larger eggs. Achatina iredalei are the odd one out – they do not lay eggs, but give birth directly to little babies, making them difficult to keep in pairs if you do not wish to breed (you can soon become over-run). Eggs take between 2 and 8 weeks to hatch, dependant on species and conditions.
If you do not wish to hatch baby snails, the best thing to do is check regularly for eggs, and as and when they're laid, bag them up (making sure you get them all) and put them in the freezer to prevent them maturing and hatching.
It's worth considering whether or not you feel it is right to hatch eggs. Species such as lissachatina fulica are incredibly common and it is easy to adopt unwanted snails from rescues and other snail-keepers. If you do decide to hatch some for yourself, freeze the unwanted eggs to prevent becoming over-run, and visit the following sites (as well as this one) for more information and advice:
Petsnails forum
Cybersnail Yahoo Group
What do I need to do regularly to keep my snails happy and healthy?
Daily checks of both the snails and their surroundings is very important. Keeping their home clean of their waste, leftover food, etc, and checking for eggs should become a daily procedure. Full tank cleans should be done regularly too (although daily would be over the top!).
Check your snails aren't retracted into their shells too far (a sign of illness, infestation and/or starvation) and that they have no injuries to their shells. Check regularly for parasites such as mites (seen as moving white dots on your snail, often congregating around the breathing hole).
Spray your snails' home regularly, at least daily if not more frequently. Do not allow the tank to dry out, or become waterlogged.
Should your snail not seem well, or have an injury, please seek advice ASAP (here or on links mentionned above).
What about handling my snails?
Handling should be done carefully, and if you're allowing children to handle them, you need to be extra careful, and supervise closely. Be especially careful when picking your snail up not to poke your finger through the edge of their shell, where the newest growth is. You snail is particularly delicate here. Pulling snails off the sides of the tanks roughly can injure them too. If your snail is welded onto the side of the tank, spray them with a little water before trying to remove them to pick them up (sliding them gently to the edge is a safer bet). Remember to wash your hands carefully before and after handling your snails.
----------------------
I hope this guide comes in handy for you – if you have any questions or recommendations for inclusion in this guide, feel free to contact me. Best of luck!
KathyM
Copyright Kathy Morris 2006.
Giant African Land Snails (often abbreviated to GALS) make fascinating, and easy to care for pets, with a range of different species with similar needs, which I'll try to outline here.
What species are there?
Ranging from the small achatina iredalei to the massive achatina achatina (Tiger Snail), there are various species kept as pets in the UK. Some are more rare than others, with lissachatina fulica, and archachatina marginata (commonly called “margies”) being two of the most commonly kept species, and probably the easiest to care for – making them ideal “starter” species.
Lissachatina fulica[/u]
Keith - adult lissachatina fulica, 9.5cm. Owned by KathyM.
Lissachatina fulica reach adult shell sizes of up to 14cm, although 10cm is a more average size. They are the most common species kept as pets in the UK and are amazingly diverse in colouring, shape and size. Requiring less than other GALS in the way of specialist care, heating, etc, they are very easy to care for and thrive in most situations. They are prolific breeders, laying around 100 eggs at a time of about 3-6mm in size. This is how they have become so common in the UK, with lots ending up in rescues. This is easily avoided with proper care (see below).
Archachatina marginata[/u]
Vernon - originally a Brixton rescue, adult archachatina marginata var. ovum, 15.5cm. Owned by KathyM.
Archachatina marginata are another commonly kept species of GALS. There are 3 variants of this species – ovum, marginata, and suturalis. They range in adult size from approximately 9cm (suturalis) to 17cm (ovum and marginata), and there are even “white fleshed” snails of this species. Archachatina marginatas prefer warmer and more humid conditions to lissachatina fulica, but are generally hardy. Being an Archachatina species, they lay less, and larger, eggs than Achatina species, commonly laying a batch of approximately 10 eggs of around 2cm in size. Many snail-keepers now keep rescue margies from Brixton Market (sold as food) – if this is of interest to you, you can visit the PetSnails or Cybersnail forum (links below), where lots of Brixton margie owners visit, for advice.
Other species[/u]
Information on other species of GALS can be found at:
The World Of Snails
Achatina.ru
What do I need to house GALS?
The first thing you need to arrange for your snails is suitable accommodation. Large plastic storage boxes, glass fish tanks and vivariums are popular choices with snail-keepers. The set-up needs to have aeration but be able to retain the heat and moisture, which is why many snail-keepers prefer storage boxes over the glass tanks, which lose heat quite easily. As for the size of tank, it'll depend on the species you pick - below is a link to a tank calculator, which will give you a rough guide.
PetSnails Snail Calculator
Recommended substrates for the bottom of the set-up are organic compost, coir, and sphagnum moss, to a depth of at least 5cm – deeper for larger species. You can also use capillary matting (available in garden centres for holding moisture for plants) for lining the bottom of your set-up, but make sure you provide something suitable for your snails to dig in – a large tub of moss or compost is ideal.
You need to be able to keep the substrate clean and damp (but not soaking wet) – it's worth asking other snail owners what substrate they use and make your decision based on what suits your snails. You'll need a spray bottle of water (with or without Daz's wonderful calcium drops to aid snail shells) for keeping the tank moist.
Decorating your set-up and making it more interesting/natural for your snails can be fun to do too. Adding fake plants, plant pots (plastic), cork bark, etc can make a great difference to your set-up, and to your snails enjoyment of life. However, when choosing ornaments for your tank, make sure to steer clear of hard items such as stones, clay/terracotta pots, etc as these can cause great injury to a snail should they fall from the lid.
Some species need a bit more warmth (and some of us live in colder houses), and the use of a heatmat is one solution. Some people also position tanks close to radiators to provide warmth, although obviously in summer this might not be the best method.
What do snails need to eat?
A GALS diet consists mainly of various fruits and vegetables, and a calcium source, such as cuttlefish bone. The calcium is very important as a snail needs this to keep his shell growing nicely, and in good condition. It's very important when choosing foods for your snails to consider whether harmful pesticides have been used, and to wash all food thoroughly before giving it to your snails.
Some safe foods[/u]
Lettuce
Courgette
Aubergine
Cucumber
Apple
Carrot
Banana
Melon
Bell pepper
Porridge (made with hot water and cooled, fed quite wet)
Foods to avoid[/u]
Pasta (bloats snails and can kill)
The onion family (including garlic, leeks, etc)
Salty foods
Anything treated with chemicals
What about breeding?
Contrary to popular belief, snails cannot fertilise themselves, and need a partner. Snails of the genus Achatina (eg. lissachatina fulica, achatina smithii, etc) lay large clutches of eggs when mature enough (which differs from snail to snail). Snails of the genus Archachatina lay smaller clutches of larger eggs. Achatina iredalei are the odd one out – they do not lay eggs, but give birth directly to little babies, making them difficult to keep in pairs if you do not wish to breed (you can soon become over-run). Eggs take between 2 and 8 weeks to hatch, dependant on species and conditions.
If you do not wish to hatch baby snails, the best thing to do is check regularly for eggs, and as and when they're laid, bag them up (making sure you get them all) and put them in the freezer to prevent them maturing and hatching.
It's worth considering whether or not you feel it is right to hatch eggs. Species such as lissachatina fulica are incredibly common and it is easy to adopt unwanted snails from rescues and other snail-keepers. If you do decide to hatch some for yourself, freeze the unwanted eggs to prevent becoming over-run, and visit the following sites (as well as this one) for more information and advice:
Petsnails forum
Cybersnail Yahoo Group
What do I need to do regularly to keep my snails happy and healthy?
Daily checks of both the snails and their surroundings is very important. Keeping their home clean of their waste, leftover food, etc, and checking for eggs should become a daily procedure. Full tank cleans should be done regularly too (although daily would be over the top!).
Check your snails aren't retracted into their shells too far (a sign of illness, infestation and/or starvation) and that they have no injuries to their shells. Check regularly for parasites such as mites (seen as moving white dots on your snail, often congregating around the breathing hole).
Spray your snails' home regularly, at least daily if not more frequently. Do not allow the tank to dry out, or become waterlogged.
Should your snail not seem well, or have an injury, please seek advice ASAP (here or on links mentionned above).
What about handling my snails?
Handling should be done carefully, and if you're allowing children to handle them, you need to be extra careful, and supervise closely. Be especially careful when picking your snail up not to poke your finger through the edge of their shell, where the newest growth is. You snail is particularly delicate here. Pulling snails off the sides of the tanks roughly can injure them too. If your snail is welded onto the side of the tank, spray them with a little water before trying to remove them to pick them up (sliding them gently to the edge is a safer bet). Remember to wash your hands carefully before and after handling your snails.
----------------------
I hope this guide comes in handy for you – if you have any questions or recommendations for inclusion in this guide, feel free to contact me. Best of luck!
KathyM
Copyright Kathy Morris 2006.
