GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL

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!