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Animal Allsorts

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GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL
(ACHATINA FULICA)
CARE SHEET

HOUSING

  • KEEP YOU SNAILS ON WARM MOIST PEAT OR VERMICULITE (NOT WET) ABOUT 5 INCHES DEEP. SNAILS LIKE TO BURROW DOWN TO LAY THEIR EGGS.
  • THE TANK SHOULD BE REGULARLY KEPT CLEAN AND FREE FROM DROPPINGS.
  • DO NOT DISTURB THE PEAT IN THE TANK IF YOU NOTICE THAT EGGS HAVE BEEN LAYED.
  • KEEP THE SNAILS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IF THEY ARE KEPT TOO HOT THEY WILL DRY UP !
FOOD
  • ICEBERG LETTUCE, COURGETTES AND OTHER GREEN VEGETABLES.
  • TROPICAL FISH FLAKES (OCAISSIONALLY).
  • HAVE A SUPPLY OF CUTTLEFISH IN THE SNAIL TANK AT ALL TIMES THIS HELPS THE SNAIL TO GROW STRONG
CARE
  • HANDLE CAREFULLY AND DO NOT DROP, THE FRONT OF THE SHELL IS VERY BRITTLE WHERE NEW GROWTH IS TAKING PART.
  • NEVER PULL THE SNAIL FROM ANY SURFACE AS THIS WILL ONLY MAKE IT GRIP HARDER AND IT MAY DISLODGE IT FROM THE SHELL
  • IF POSSIBLE LEAVE THE SNAIL TO CRAWL
EGGS
  • SNAILS DO NOT HAVE TO MATE SO IF YOU CARE FOR THEM CORRECTLY YOU SHOULD FIND THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY LAY EGGS (APPROXIMATLEY 100) . DO NOT DISTURB THEM AND THEY SHOULD HATCH IN AROUND SIX WEEKS.
THE AFRICAN GIANT SNAIL IS THE LARGEST KNOWN GASTROPOD. THE BIGGEST ONE EVER RECORDED MEASURED FIFTEEN AND A HALF INCHES FROM SNOUT TO TAIL WHEN FULLY EXTENDED AND WEIGHED EXACTLY TWO POUNDS! GOOD LUCK!

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