Achatina snails why they are needed at home. Caring for Achatina snails

In Russia, Achatina does not survive in natural conditions, and keeping it at home is not dangerous. Therefore, recently there has been an increase in the “livestock” of domestic Achatina. In fact, these snails are something of an ideal pet.

Achatina is an intelligent creature. She develops all types of conditioned reflexes. She distinguishes “us” from “strangers”, i.e. recognizes and gets used to its owner. She greets him, crawling out of her shell, and when she sees the stranger, she hides.

To keep Achatina, a small terrarium or aquarium is enough. At the bottom you can place a mixture of peat, sawdust and sand, covered with fallen leaves on top. On the advice of teachers at the City Station for Young Naturalists, where the snails were purchased, we use the following soil: a small layer of sawdust was poured onto the bottom of the aquarium, and then ordinary land. Since snails need calcium to build their shells, we added a small amount eggshells, which we add as Achatina eats.

For comfortable keeping of snails, it is necessary to maintain a humid climate in the terrarium. Periodically, you need to moisten the walls of the terrarium and the soil using a regular flower sprayer: the snails drink water from the walls of the terrarium, licking the drops. It is not necessary to heat the terrarium: snails tolerate room temperature well. If these conditions are met, the snails become more active. But if you do not moisturize the terrarium and do not heat it during cold weather, the snails become lethargic, often bury themselves in the ground, and if such conditions continue for a long time, the snails completely close in the shell to wait out unfavorable conditions.

Achatina does not create any odors. Even her excrement doesn't smell.

Watching even one snail is a real pleasure, despite the fact that these snails crawl quite slowly: about 1 cm per minute. Achatina loves to be bathed “in your arms” in cool water. No allergic reactions to snail mucus were observed, but hands should be washed with soap after using them.

Food Akhatina

Almost everyone eats Achatina. Any vegetables and fruits, cereals, mushrooms, clover, and dandelion are suitable for them. Sometimes you need to give meat, poultry, fish, egg whites. In addition, Achatina can become for you a real (but low-power) food waste processing factory. She will not refuse any bits or rotten parts. He will also eat unwanted cabbage leaves.

So you can give her almost anything. The main thing is not to spoil it: there are cases when snails, once they tried bananas, flatly refused other food.

If the food the snail doesn’t like or doesn’t suit, it simply won’t eat, so it can’t get poisoned. The snail will never overeat. It's funny, if you feed a snail with bright vegetables (for example, varieties of sweet peppers, carrots, tomatoes), its shell becomes bright and beautiful. In this way, the color of the snail shell can be adjusted.

Young Achatina need to be fed every day, or at least every other day. But adults 1-2 times a week. Pets will tell you about their needs themselves: if a snail refuses food, eats sluggishly, reluctantly, it means that it is fed too often.

In addition to food, snails need calcium. Some snail breeders advise mixing chalk with the soil, since in nature these animals obtain the calcium they need to build their shell by letting soil pass through them. But we replaced the chalk with eggshells. Also, in order for the snails to receive calcium, we put sea pebbles and sea mollusk shells in the aquarium. After some time, we saw that there were fewer eggshells, and areas of eating away on shells and sea spools were also visible.

When determining the diet of Achatina, we began to give them a variety of food: carrots, cabbage, zucchini, apples, citrus peels, banana peels, Tradescantia, grape leaves, meat, bread, cereals.

Breeding Achatina

Like many other snails, Achatina are hermaphrodites, that is, each individual has both female and male genital organs, but with age its gender changes: in young ones it is male, and the larger the snail, the “more” female its gender is. That is why, when only large individuals are kept in a terrarium, clutches do not develop. To correct this situation, you need to plant small snails, and the offspring will be born safely. For procreation, at least two one-year-old individuals are needed. Some time after a kind of mating game and mating (mating occurs when the snails feel and crawl over each other, and then press closely with their soles), the Achatina, ready to lay eggs, burrows half into the ground and lays from 20 to 50 (with a diameter of up to 5 mm) quite large testicles each. The eggs are white, somewhat reminiscent of a goose in shape, but in miniature, with a very dense calcareous shell. The development time of eggs depends on humidity and temperature and on average it is about 2 months. At first, their shell is quite dense, and when held up to light they appear amber. But over time, the contents of the eggs become cloudy, and the shell becomes thinner, giving up all its calcium to build the shell. Therefore, the young snail practically does not hatch, and at some point finds itself “outside”, among thin fragments of the former shell.

Birth of Achatina

Young snails stay in the ground for several days, feeding on the shells of the eggs from which they emerged, then crawl to the surface. Babies should be fed grated vegetables, adding crushed limestone and multivitamins.

Growth and life cycle of Achatina

The growth rate of Achatina completely depends on the conditions. At the same time, a snail whose growth was slowed down for some reason, finding itself in good conditions, begins to gain weight very quickly. Naturally, there are factors that cause slow development (for example, hypothermia). A snail that has once suffered such a stressful condition will never be able to catch up with its peers.

Exotic types of pets have always been in demand. When people come home and meet such unusual creatures, nothing can convey the delight in their eyes.

One of the common options for home breeding is giant Achatina snails.

With the proper approach, you can breed mollusks yourself, because they are beneficial and are used in cosmetology.

Keeping and caring for giant African snails at home

The African snail is a representative of mollusks from the subclass of pulmonate snails.

In the photo one cannot immediately say that this creature is large in size, but in its live form the mollusks reach sizes of 5-10 centimeters along the length of the shell.

In nature there are variants measuring 20 centimeters.

The snails themselves have a conical shell twisted counterclockwise.

IN wildlife In Russia, the survival of Achatina is impossible due to climatic predispositions, so it is customary to keep them at home.

Let's consider the nuances of proper maintenance and care of shellfish:

1. Terrarium. People who raise pets of this type recommend purchasing a large container of at least 100 liters.

   A standard aquarium is used for this purpose. It is believed that the larger the tank, the larger the snail will be.

   The structure of the house must be closed so that individuals do not crawl out. It is recommended to leave small holes at the top for improved gas circulation.

2. Conditions. It is better to place a bedding of soil or coconut substrate at the bottom of the container. You will also need to organize a bath with water because Achatina loves to take a bath.

   Water should not spread over the ground, so take care of the stability of the bath.

3. Temperature and humidity. The indicators of a standard city apartment are considered optimal.

   It is worth noting that if the snails are constantly located on the walls of the container, there is too much liquid inside. If your pet often hides in the sink, the terrarium is too dry.

4. What to feed? The most common question among inexperienced people is what do Achatina eat? The snails are fed as they have eaten the previous food.

Among vegetables, snails are crazy about cucumbers, potatoes, champignons, cabbage leaves, and tomatoes. Adults can also be given flowers from fruit trees.

How long do Achatina live and how do they reproduce?

Achatina are an excellent example of the fact that home living conditions significantly extend its duration and the health of mollusks.

At home, a snail can live up to 5 or 10 years - this is the answer to the question of how long Achatina lives. This duration can be obtained by properly caring for your pets.

Let's look at how Achatina reproduces:

• Pregnancy of Achatina can affect its condition: after the birth of the babies, the snail may stop growing.
• A large number of eggs may appear in one clutch - you need to be prepared for this.
• It is prohibited to mate Achatina from the same clutch, so that the children do not have anomalies.
• The first mating occurs in the first year of the mollusk’s life.
• Before breeding temperature regime should not exceed or be lower than 28-29 degrees.
• The average duration of masonry opening is 1-2 months.
• It is necessary to observe the masonry, monitor the temperature and prevent the soil from drying out.

There are several types of Achatina for home breeding. These are popular Fulika snails, distinguished by a brown or yellow shell, measuring up to 20 centimeters, weighing up to 300 grams.

There are also Reticulata: they are characterized by a spotted shell.

Important! In almost all species of Achatina, reproduction occurs in the same way.

Another type of Immaculata has a light, long shell with dark spots and stripes.

Benefits and harms for humans

Despite the external beauty and simple ways How to care for Achatina, this type of exotic mollusk has benefits and harms for humans.

The use is widespread in cosmetology, which will be discussed in the next section.

Note! It is necessary to use Achatina only in a healthy and adult form.

From all parts of the snail, its mucus is used - it has useful components.

Let's consider the benefits and harms of Achatina for people:

Application in cosmetology: how to use

With the help of Achatina, you can carry out cosmetic procedures that help restore and regenerate the skin.

To use snails correctly, you need to follow the advice of people who have already used this technology.

Exotic pets are becoming more and more popular every day. One of their most unpretentious species is the Achatina - huge snails, perhaps the largest of the mollusks. Unlike their closest relatives, Achatina snails are quite smart and intelligent. They may even have conditioned reflexes. These mollusks quickly get used to their owner and can distinguish him from strangers, while they do not require a lot of attention and special food.

Initially, Achatina lived only in Africa, but gradually, thanks to humans, they spread to other regions. For example, in Japan they were grown on special farms and then eaten. In Southeast Asia, many African countries and even America, Achatina is considered a pest. They cause considerable damage to reed crops, causing the death of young trees and other plant crops. Giant snails can even eat the plaster off houses to get the substance they need to grow their shells. In Russia, Achatina are not able to survive in natural conditions because the climate is too harsh for them. Therefore, giant snails in our region can only be found as pets.

African snail Achatina - structural features

Among land mollusks, Achatina is the largest. Its shell can reach twenty-five centimeters in length, and its body thirty. A snail has a heart, a kidney, eyes, a brain and a lung; by the way, in addition to it, the mollusk also breathes through its skin. At the same time, she hears absolutely nothing. Achatina's eyes are located at the ends of the tentacles; they help the snails perceive levels of illumination and objects located at a distance of no more than a centimeter. In addition, the snails also perceive the degree of brightness of the lighting with light-sensitive cells located throughout the body, which is perhaps why they do not like blinding light.

The shell protects the mollusks from drying out and becomes a protection for them in case of any danger. It can have a very interesting pattern and color, which can change depending on what the snail ate. Achatina senses odors through the skin of the entire anterior region of the body, as well as through the tips of the tentacles. With the help of them and the sole, the snail perceives the textures and shapes of objects.

Types of Achatina

There are more than one hundred species of giant snails in nature. It makes no sense to dwell in detail on each, since the conditions of their detention are practically the same. Let's look at the most common types of Achatina, which can be found more often than others in pet stores.

The easiest to care for, and therefore the most common of the giant snails, is the Achatina fulica species. Its representatives have a variegated shell that changes color depending on the diet, and is brownish or Brown soft body, with pronounced tubercles on the skin. Achatina fulica is slow and loves to rest a lot in a secluded place.

The second most common type of snail for home keeping is Achatina reticulata. Usually its representatives have a pattern on the shell in the form of stripes and dots, the color of the soft body is black or dark brown with a light border of the “legs”. Achatina reticulata are curious and active, often raising their heads in an attempt to examine what is happening.

You do not need any special equipment to keep Achatina. They can even be placed in an old, cracked aquarium, since you don’t have to fill it with water. Instead, you can even take a plastic box, but in this case it will be difficult to observe your pets due to the poor transparency of the walls. But from use cardboard box It’s better to refuse, because Achatina can gnaw through it.

For one snail you need a “house” with a volume of at least ten liters. If you plan to have several Achatina, its volume should be at least twenty to thirty liters.

The aquarium must always be covered with a piece of plexiglass with holes or a special lid. Otherwise, you will have to search throughout the house for the snail. But you cannot tightly close the aquarium, since the mollusk constantly needs fresh air. If the lid does not contain holes, then leave at least a small gap.

At the bottom of the aquarium, you should definitely place soil for Achatina in a layer of up to ten centimeters. It should be loose, well-permeable to air; subsequently, the snail will burrow into it and lay eggs. Coconut substrate or soil for replanting flowers, which can be found in any flower shop, is suitable for this. The main thing is that there are no fertilizers or other harmful additives in the soil. It is also not recommended to use sawdust and clay soil as soil. Sometimes it is recommended to fill the terrarium for Achatina with sand, membranes of walnuts or pine bark. You can experiment and choose the most convenient option.

Whatever soil you choose, keep in mind that it should always be slightly moist, but not waterlogged. This will maintain optimal humidity in the aquarium. You can determine the degree of humidity by the behavior of the snail. If it tries to close itself in the sink, the air is too dry, but if it constantly hangs on the walls, the humidity is too high.

Since the African snail Achatina loves to swim, it wouldn’t hurt to place a shallow container of water in its “house”. The container must be heavy and stable so that the mollusk cannot turn it over. It is recommended to pour very little water into it so that the snail cannot choke in it. Change your bathing water about once a week.

Since Achatina is a native of Africa, it is logical that she loves warmth. For her, the most comfortable temperature is around 26 degrees. Since it is usually lower in our apartments, ensure suitable climate A dim lamp will help the snail. Of course, you can do without this, but just keep in mind that Achatina, kept at home at temperatures below 24 degrees, will be a little lethargic and not particularly mobile.

The mollusk does not need special additional lighting. Akhvtins are indifferent to light intensity. However, for snails it is important that day alternates with night regularly. Moreover, they are more active in the dark. During the day, snails prefer to hide in the ground or other secluded places. Such places can be created by placing large stones, driftwood, coconut halves, etc. in the aquarium. In addition, you can plant live plants in the aquarium; they will also become additional food for Achatina. Ivy or fern are best for this.

How to care for Achatina

Achatina does not need any special care. All you need to do is change the bathing water, clean the aquarium every one and a half to three months and change the soil in it. If desired, sometimes wash the snails under the running water a little warm water, and, of course, feed the pet.

What do Achatina eat?

Achatina can eat almost anything, and the taste preferences of each snail are often significantly different. However, the basis of their diet is, nevertheless, plant food. It is recommended to give them apples, lettuce, and cucumbers. In summer, young leaves and herbs, such as clover or dandelion, can be added to food. In addition, snails can happily eat bananas, watermelon rinds, bell pepper, pumpkin, tomato, melon, corn, various berries, zucchini and spinach. But most snails don’t like carrots and potatoes. To diversify Akhatana’s diet, sometimes give her dry unleavened biscuits, bran and cereals. Occasionally you can offer her meat, egg whites or poultry.

Calcium must be present in the snail's diet. Therefore, the aquarium should always contain ground eggshells or natural chalk; you can also place limestone or mineral stones in it.

Reproduction of Achatina

Despite the fact that Achatina are hermaphrodites, living alone they rarely lay eggs. Therefore, if you want to get offspring from a snail, it is better to place a “friend” with it. Moreover, for the role of a female it is worth choosing an older snail; a sexually mature, but not very large mollusk can cope well with the role of a male.

Akhatana usually lays about two hundred eggs at a time, from which, depending on the air temperature, tiny, about five millimeters, snails appear after a week or three. They reach sexual maturity after six months, and continue to grow almost their entire lives.

Advantages of the African snail Achatina

Of course, the Achatina snail is not an affectionate cat or a playful dog, but it also has its own considerable advantages. She will not require daily walks or frequent feedings from you, she will not whine at night and chew her slippers, and you will have practically no need to spend money on her maintenance. Nevertheless, Achatina may well bring more than one pleasant moment. The snail is very interesting to watch, especially when it is bathing, crawling on glass or slowly moving along your hand. You can even try to “train” it by developing conditioned reflexes in the mollusk.

But the main advantage of the Achatina snail is that you can easily go on vacation or a business trip and leave your pet unattended. After all, for a long time without receiving food and additional moisture, Achatina simply hibernates. Returning home, you just need to sprinkle water on the hibernating mollusk and it will soon wake up. Achatina snails, whose care and maintenance fully meet the requirements, can live for about ten years. Therefore, they can become your faithful companions for many years.

Achatina snails in cosmetology: reviews, photos, contraindications. How to use Achatina snails in cosmetology?

It is not for nothing that snails have been associated with eternity since ancient times. Their use helps maintain health and prolong youth. One of the most valuable species are Achatina snails. Their miraculous properties are widely used in cosmetology and medicine.

Such procedures are most popular among the fair half of humanity. With their help, a wide range of skin problems are solved.

What are Achatina snails?

Achatina snails in cosmetology, reviews beneficial properties which inspire confidence, are already widely used in Holland and France.

Africa is considered the birthplace of these mollusks. It was from there that they spread to other continents. These mollusks do not live on Russian territory, since the climate does not allow it. All available individuals are raised in conditions specially created for them.

Types of snails Achatina

To date, more than a hundred species of snails have been discovered, which can be classified as giant. Their mucus is practically indistinguishable in its composition. Among them, the most popular, due to their widespread use and low maintenance requirements, are:

• Achatina reticulata;
• Achatina fulica.

What is needed for growing at home?

You can also keep mollusks in an aquarium with soil, but it must be constantly moistened. For swimming, you need to place a container of water in the aquarium. The comfortable temperature for snails of this species is 26 degrees Celsius.

By observing the behavior of pets, you can determine whether they are comfortable in the created conditions. If the habitat is too dry, the mollusks will often hide in the shell.

At home, Achatina lives 7-10 years.

How to use for cosmetic purposes at home?

In order to undergo massage and skin regeneration procedures with the help of snails, it is not necessary to visit a beauty salon. You can keep Achatina at home and carry out procedures on your own at any convenient time. A common question that arises when Achatina snails are mentioned is: how to use them in cosmetology?

In fact, the procedure for skin rejuvenation with the help of Achatina is quite simple:

1. First, you need to cleanse your skin of any remaining makeup.
2. Then you should wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in milk.
3. Achatina should be washed with slightly warm running water. They wash not only the abdomen, but also the house of the mollusk.
4. The snail is placed on the problem area of ​​the skin, after which it is given the opportunity to move along the surface of the skin.
5. After the procedure, which lasts 10-15 minutes, the mollusk needs rest. It must be moved back to the terrarium.
6. The mucus remaining after the snail moves is evenly distributed over the surface of the skin.
7. It is necessary to allow the mucus to be absorbed and dry, after which the skin is washed with warm water without using soap.

Achatina snails play an important role in cosmetology, since their mucus has a rich composition. Therefore, having such an unpretentious pet at home, you can maintain healthy skin without visiting expensive beauty salons.

Cosmetology

Achatina snails are used in cosmetology due to their mucus, which contains large amounts of collagen, glycolic acid and elastin.

Ointments and creams are made from snail mucus, which make the skin soft, like that of small children.

It has been noted that people who breed snails are less likely to suffer from skin diseases on their hands. They heal cuts and wounds faster. Products based on Achatina mucus help eliminate scars and stretch marks.

Achatina snails in cosmetology, photos of which are presented in this article, have occupied their niche. Procedures carried out with the help of snails already have a large number of adherents.

Massage with Achatina

Achatina snails are used in cosmetology more often than other types of mollusks for daily massage.

Moving over the skin, the mollusk gently massages, improving blood circulation and relieving spasms. These procedures are also useful for those who have varicose veins. Thanks to the massage of Achatina snails, blood vessels are strengthened and blood circulation is improved.

The great advantage is the delicacy with which the procedure is carried out. Slowly moving along the skin, the mollusks gently massage without causing pain.

Achatina snails in the fight against cellulite

Those who want to remove fat in problem areas and get rid of cellulite usually know first-hand what Achatina snails are in cosmetology and how to use mollusks. Regular massage with Achatina snails in the area of ​​the thighs and abdomen will help make the skin smoother and eliminate the “orange peel” effect.

If you use Achatina in the fight against cellulite at least 3 times a week, then after a short period of time, equal to 1-2 months, you can get rid of this problem.

Contraindications

Anyone who has no fear or disgust towards shellfish can use a product such as Achatina snails (in cosmetology). Contraindications for use in for cosmetic purposes these creatures do not have.

But before carrying out a treatment or massage session, you need to make sure that you are not allergic to the components of Achatina mucus. To do this, you need to place the mollusk on the skin of the wrist for a small amount of time.

If after this procedure any side effects, then it is best to refuse skin treatment in this way until consulting with a specialist doctor.

Those who decide to get themselves an Achatina must first undergo at least one cosmetological procedure of “snail therapy” in the salon. If you are allergic to any component of shellfish mucus, it will manifest itself. This will save you from a thoughtless and useless acquisition.

Achatina snails in cosmetology: reviews

A large number of positive reviews on various websites and blogs allows us to conclude that the use of snails for cosmetic purposes is popular.

Users note the following as the main advantages:

• rapid appearance of the effect;
• painlessness of the procedure;
• no need to use synthetic products.

Sometimes the only reason that determines the refusal to use snails in cosmetology is fear or a feeling of disgust towards mollusks.

Experts note that snails in cosmetology are a good alternative to expensive procedures. Thanks to the ease of growing snails and the small list of contraindications for preparations made from their mucus, they conquer everyone large quantity fans.

In this regard, an increasing number of cosmetology centers offer “snail therapy” in their range of services.

The Achatina snail in cosmetology is simply a godsend for those who do not want to resort to the help of surgeons and use various injections for rejuvenation.

Regular use of Achatina snails for cosmetic purposes will help quickly improve blood circulation, skin condition, and reduce stretch marks and scars.

What benefits does the Achatina snail bring to human health???

✿Elena m✿

Recently, there has been a fashion for other land snails - giant African snails, or Achatina. This is the largest land mollusk on Earth: its shell can reach a length of 25 cm, and its body can reach 30. The Achatina is native to East Africa, but now they can be found in many parts of the world. For some countries with a climate favorable for giants, snails are unusually dangerous: they are voracious and multiply rapidly. So, in America there is a quarantine on Achatina, and anyone who would decide to breed them would face imprisonment. But in Europe, and in particular in Russia, Achatina does not live in the wild, so they can be kept as pets.

The beauty of these snails is not only their huge size. Achatina are real beauties, and the owner can model color scheme your pet's shell: if you feed a clam something red, such as pepper, for a while, its shell will begin to take on shades of red. By switching your snail to a green diet, you will add new colors to it. The main distinguishing feature of Achatina is their intelligence. They very quickly develop conditioned reflexes: snails get used to their owners, distinguish them from other people, and they develop a clear daily routine. But most importantly, no matter what kind of snails become the inhabitants of the house - grape or Achatina, they will undoubtedly bring great benefit to their owners: calm, meditative and even majestic snails incite the same feelings in their owners.

What is the best way to keep Achatina?

Vladimir

Brief recommendations on the content of Achatina
The African snail Achatina fulica belongs to the class Gastropods, order Stalk-eyes, family Helicidae.
In captivity, Achatina lives 5-9 years, gains size throughout its life and grows up to 15 cm in length.
Terrarium. A terrarium for Achatina can be made from a simple aquarium. The minimum size is 10 liters per snail. The larger the aquarium, the larger your snail will grow. The terrarium must have a lid, because snails can crawl out of it. It is advisable to arrange small holes in the lid for better gas exchange; ideally, insert a metal mesh. As a last resort, you can simply lift the lid to create a small gap. At the bottom of the aquarium you need to put a bedding of sand, bark coniferous trees, sawdust or peat. Each of these types of bedding has its pros and cons, but I prefer to use conifer bark. It is easy to wash, not difficult to obtain, and dirt is less noticeable on it. You can build a small bath with fresh water; Achatina loves to swim. The main thing is that the depth of the bath does not allow the snail to choke. In general, Achatina crawl well under water, but if it accidentally falls into the bath from above, a small snail can drown from fright. You also need to make sure that the bath does not turn over if the snail starts to burrow into the soil next to it, otherwise the water will spread out, which is not good.
The temperature and humidity required by Achatina are approximately the same as those in an ordinary city apartment.
Soil moisture is determined empirically. If the snails sit on the walls of the terrarium all the time, it means there is too much water.
If they prefer to be clogged (the evidence is hidden in the sink and closed with a lid), on the contrary, it is too dry. When the soil moisture is normal, snails crawl along its surface at night and often burrow into it during the day. To maintain humidity, it is enough to spray the soil and walls of the terrarium with a spray bottle once a day.
To awaken a clogged snail, you can pour water over its mouth and carefully remove the cap, or simply place it in a terrarium with normal humidity. It is recommended to wash the terrarium at least once a week. The exception is a terrarium with a clutch of eggs, which must be cleaned without water so as not to change the humidity and not damage the clutch.
It is better to keep small snails without soil, covering them with cabbage or lettuce leaves, thereby increasing the chance of the snail finding food and making it easier to care for the terrarium.
Feeding. There is an opinion that Achatina can be fed once a week. I beg to differ with this. Achatina survive, grow and even often reproduce with this diet, but often live shorter lives and grow more slowly than their normally fed relatives. It is better to feed as food is eaten and dried and remove any leftovers.
Achatina eats vegetables, fruits and herbs, but in nature they do not refuse meat. Usually in captivity they are fed cabbage, carrots and cucumbers, but it is preferable to give them a more varied diet. This is necessary first of all so that at any moment you can switch to another available type of food. It is known that snails have certain food preferences, including many who prefer cucumbers and lettuce to other foods, and if they are fed only cucumbers from childhood, they often refuse to eat anything other than them, which can cause some inconvenience. In particular, I had two snails that would not accept anything except bananas and newspaper. Large snails can be given whole cores; they process food waste surprisingly quickly. Soft foods should be given only for a short period of time, otherwise they will flow and spread across the soil, causing it to become contaminated.
It is generally not recommended to give soft foods to small snails. There was a case when snails buried themselves entirely in a banana and suffocated there. It is better to give very small newborn snails greens, thinly chopped carrots, and after a few days lettuce and apples.

Alex

I have it in coconut substrate. Soaked briquette from a flower shop. They live in an old aquarium. Definitely a source of lime carbonate, I have crushed zebra mussel shell and chalk. I feed vegetables. Last year there were an incredible number of juveniles!

Radmila Mordvinkina

Alexander Ananyev

In a glass jar or container/aquarium, coconut shavings can be poured, there should be moisture, you can sometimes bathe. DO NOT give citrus fruits, raw potatoes, and bananas for little ones.

How are snails useful?

™Unquenchable Star... ®

Why snails are useful - snails are different from snails.



Almost ninety thousand are known various types snails They are found in cities and deserts. In the Sahara, for example, snails are found in places where the temperature in the shade is 45 degrees. There are snails that live in the water of hot springs. At the same time, they tolerate cold well.
An experienced gardener, choosing a head of cabbage for himself in the garden, will cut the one on which he sees a snail. He knows that this gourmet unerringly finds the best head of cabbage.



In ancient Rome, roasted grape snails were considered a delicacy. The famous naturalist Pliny testifies to this in his book “The Life of Animals.” And in our times there are still connoisseurs of this dish. IN different countries There are special farms where grape snails are bred. They are exported. And in our country, the army of lovers of tender snail meat is growing. The fact is that it contains 20 times more vitamins than creamy meat or eggs.



Snails serve as food not only for humans. They occupy not the last place in the fish menu. When dissecting Caspian sturgeons, for example, it was discovered that the contents of their stomachs consisted of 80 percent mollusks, mainly snails.
In ancient times, a substance was extracted from the glands of sea snails and purple snails, from which purple was made, which was used for dyeing fabrics, as well as in painting and cosmetics. One gram of purple yielded ten thousand shellfish.

On some Pacific islands, the shells of rare species of snails still play the role of money. They are used to produce buttons and jewelry. Since ancient times, these snails have been used by the natives of the islands of Oceania as a tool for drilling holes in wood and even stone products. It takes a snail, which is called the “oyster drill,” 20-30 hours to gnaw a hole in the shell of an oyster, mussel or some other shell.



An interesting use has been found for the snails Strophocheilus popelarianus in factories where cigarettes are made. The height of the shell of these snails reaches up to 14 cm. Its strength can be judged at least by the fact that they are used as an iron when smoothing tobacco leaves.
Representatives of the genus Trochus, living in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, have mother-of-pearl shells of extraordinary beauty, which are used in the button industry. And the shells of a smaller species of trochid, Trochus adriaticus, are used only for jewelry.
In nature, adult individuals act as scavengers, eating decaying plant debris and animal excrement. However, young snails are very harmful cultivated plants, eating banana buds, various fruits, tubers.
More about Gastropods, gastropods (Latin Gastropoda, gastro - “stomach”, poda - “leg”), or snails are the most numerous class within the phylum Mollusca, which includes about 60,000-75,000 species.
All the most interesting things about snails
About the benefits of snails

Jenya Jenya

There are benefits from snails in any case, both aquatic and terrestrial.
Benefits of aquarium snails
Snails are natural orderlies: they destroy food residues, dead fish, fish excrement, rotten parts of plants, film on the surface of the water, and plaque on the walls of the aquarium.
Snails play an important role in maintaining biological balance in an artificial pond, and the behavior of some snails (for example, melania) serves as an indicator of the cleanliness of the soil or water, which helps the aquarist to notice and solve the problem of pollution in time.
Snails are beautiful in their own way and can serve as an element of aquarium decoration.
The ancient Greeks considered them a medicine and, indeed, helped against illnesses. The other one ancient people- Phoenicians - they extracted beautiful dye from red snails and used it to dye clothes. And in Africa and South America The shells of large snails were replaced not so long ago... money. In ancient times, people also revered the snail because its shell has the shape of a spiral. And the spiral has always been considered a symbol of life.
Beetles, birds, snakes, mice feed on snails; many predators also do not hesitate to feast on snails... Beetles, worms, and other small insects consider snail eggs the most delicious food and diligently search for them. Many fish eat aquatic snails
Snails are considered a delicacy in many countries around the world. Snail dishes are especially popular in France. It is in France that they prepare escargot - a special snail dish that affects sexual activity person.
Snails have been eaten since ancient times. Thus, the first written mentions of the use of snails as food date back to ancient times. IN Ancient Rome A snail dish was considered an indispensable attribute of any celebration. The snail was not just considered delicious dish, but also a therapeutic agent. Snail decoctions were prescribed as a medicine for bleeding, eye diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, as a means for wound healing.
There are special types of snails that are used for cooking. The most common species are grape snails (aka Helix pomatia, Burgundy snail, Roman snail). This type of snail lives in damp deciduous forests, bushes and ravines, where there is enough moisture.
Grape snails grow quite slowly; they begin to be used as food only in the second or third year of their life. This type of snail can grow up to 40-45 mm.
Snail dishes are rightly called dietary. In 100 gr. The product contains 10g of protein, 32g of fat, 5g of carbohydrates, as well as vitamin B6, B12, iron, calcium, magnesium. Snail meat is soft, it is easily digestible and breaks down. So, for example, if it usually takes an average of 4-5 hours to digest pork or chicken, then 2 hours is enough to digest snail meat.
Snails are especially recommended for those who have calcium imbalances in the body, pregnant and lactating women, children and people suffering from diseases such as chondrosis and collagenosis. Snail meat improves intestinal function and normalizes metabolism. It is believed that due to the magnesium content, snail meat can have a calming effect on people and helps fight stress.
Before using snails for food, they are put on a special diet for several weeks. During the diet, snails get rid of various harmful substances that they could have absorbed when they fed in the wild. To make the snail meat more delicious, they are fed with thyme and fennel.
The process of preparing snails itself looks something like this: first, the snails are thoroughly washed in water, then they are blanched, cooled, removed from the shells, boiled in broth with spices and white wine, then put back into the shells and baked in the oven. Before the shells go into the oven, a little garlic butter and parsley is poured into them.

So, snails occupy an important place in the food chain, processing organic residues.... But what benefit humans have is still unclear))))

Benefit in what way?
Here in terms of cooking "On the benefits of snails" - http://efamily.ru/articles/103/1078
And here about aquariums “Snails - benefit or harm” - http://e-url.info/read10.php
Here’s another “...from the narcotic poison of the pot-bellied cone, pharmacists prepared an amazing painkiller. It is stronger than even morphine. And drugs for the treatment of epilepsy turned out to be the most effective of all known. Moreover, as it turned out, snail drugs do not cause side effects.. "
http://www.ressina-privivka.ru/friend/gady.htm
Garden, vegetable garden In addition to causing harm, “...Slugs and snails also perform an important sanitary function in the garden, processing plant remains that are dead or damaged by other pests...”
http://www.gardenia.ru/pages/vribol_007.htm

Treatment with snails (snail therapy)

The giant African snail Achatina fulica is the most suitable pet for managers and simply busy people. This pet does not need to be walked, taken to the veterinarian and spent a lot of money on its food. He won't wake you up in the morning with loud barking and won't ruin your favorite furniture. There are no allergies to it, and it wonderfully relieves stress.

In the tradition of Slavic healers, many forces of nature were used: herbs, honey, clay, stones and animals. Many treatment methods, having traveled an amazing path, have returned to us today in the form of stone therapy, honey massage and even hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches) and bee therapy.

But one of the effective types of human treatment, using the forces of living nature, has been undeservedly forgotten - treatment with snails.
It’s good that the bearers of the tradition of Slavic herbalists are still preserved, so now there is an opportunity to get acquainted with the amazing area of ​​​​restoring human health - treatment with snails in the tradition of Slavic herbalists.

Snails, these amazing, leisurely creatures, thanks to their unique features that nature has endowed them with, will help you and your patients get rid of:

- From cellulite and “heavy fats” that cannot be removed by any physical exercise.
- From muscle spasms and clamps (including clamps in the collar area), and without pain!
- From inflammation that causes infertility and other serious diseases.
- From stress and diseases caused by nerves (dermatitis, psoriasis).
- From vegetative-vascular dystonia.

The latest discovery in the field of medicine calls the snail a brain donor, based on the positive results of careful studies of the neurons of these snails, and in particular the fact that human neurons and snail neurons require the same ionic composition of the environment when grown in culture ...

Any woman would like to have a miracle cream that would effectively care for the skin, moisturize it and delay aging for a long time. And it would be nice if such a cream was natural. Don’t be surprised, but such a remedy exists - it’s the mucus of medicinal snails. Are you disdainful?

Of course, not every woman can try procedures using snails. And anyway, such a service is not very common here. But those who dare and allow gastropods to wander through their bodies receive the effect mentioned above. This miraculous cream is the mucus that is secreted from snails as they “walk.” In the language of cosmetologists, snails produce a mucus wrap that rejuvenates and tightens the skin.

People first started talking about the benefits of snail mucus when they noticed that the skin of snail farm workers did not age. It was later found that this mucus smooths out wrinkles and prevents dry skin.

Snail mucus contains a huge amount of bioactive substances, probably familiar to you: collagen, glycolic acid, allantoin, natural antibiotics and vitamins, with the help of which the snail restores its body and “repairs” its “house”. Therefore, snails can treat scars, scars, burns, cuts, and inflammation.

As a rule, snail mucus does not cause complications, allergies, etc., so it may be suitable for those who deny themselves spa treatments due to any illness. Snails can also help get rid of stretch marks and age spots, this is very important for young mothers. All you have to do is let the little doctors crawl all over your body.

Application of snails

Considering their properties to regenerate cells, as well as positive influence their impulses, Achatina is used as natural massagers. The snail must first be washed in cool running water. Prepare your face and neck for the procedure: remove makeup and wipe with milk. Then put the snail on the skin. She must “walk” through the areas offered to her, after which she is returned to the house. You will evenly distribute the healing secretions over your face and neck and keep them on the skin for 15 minutes until completely dry. At the same time, the skin is significantly tightened. After washing, you will feel its extraordinary freshness and velvety feel. It is advisable to carry out this procedure every other day, or at least 2 times a week.

How many species of snails are there in total on earth and which of them are the largest?

Victoria

In addition... .

The smallest snail is the cone snail. One dose of poison can kill 10 people. Moreover, scientists have not yet found an antidote. Habitat: tropical zones of the Indian and Pacific oceans, from Polynesia to the east. coasts of Africa and the Red Sea.
Pepper benefits and harm to the body

Achatina snails

As a rule, when we see an aquarium, we don’t even think that anyone other than fish and other aquatic inhabitants could live in it... However, fans of exotic pets never cease to amaze with their imagination and... keep snails in the house.

It is these domestic snails – Achatina – that we invite you to talk about today. Who knows, perhaps after reading this publication you will realize that you have dreamed of an Achatina snail all your life. Our article will tell you about the features of keeping this pet, and the advantages of this choice. So, stay with us, we guarantee you that we will surprise you today...

Who are Achatina snails?

Achatina snails or giant African snails (they are tens of times larger than ordinary snails) are a new hobby for shellfish fans, who are pleased that these creatures can be kept at home. Such snails are usually classified as belonging to the family Arhahatinidae, which includes several genera. The family itself unites more than 60 different species, including representatives of the genus Achatina and Arhahatina.

Types of snails Achatina

Representatives of the genus Arhahatin can be considered more primitive than the representatives of the genus themselves Achatina. They have a rounded shape, with a blunted crown of their shell. And, the length of such a shell in the largest representative of this genus can reach 12 centimeters in length. The shell itself has a characteristic yellow stripe, which is located inside the mouth protrusion. The body of the mollusk is brown or brown in color. Arachachitines can also be smaller in size, if they have a lilac-colored mouth and a dark stripe along the body of the mollusk - then this is in front of you Arhahatina degneri.

The Achatina snails themselves are similar in appearance to the Achatina snails, but the top of their shell is elongated and pointed. It is noteworthy that Achatina is distinguished by extraordinary fertility. So, in one clutch there can be up to 500 eggs, which look like chicken eggs, but only in miniature. Achatina Achatina It is considered the largest land snail and has a yellow-brown shell with a zigzag pattern on its surface. The body of the mollusk is soft, gray or black with small white tubercles. There is evidence that

the heaviest specimen of such a snail weighed 450 grams, and the length of its shell was as much as 37 centimeters.

You may not be able to grow such a giant Achatina at home, but the snail will delight you with its large size. Achatina and snail are similar in appearance to Achatina Achatina fulica, however, the tubercles on her body are more pronounced than those of the previous species.

These are the types of Achatina snails (as a rule, sellers do not particularly bother to specify which genus is in front of you, and use one general name for all snails of this species - Achatina) you can find in a pet store.

Which snail from the genus Achatina is best to get?

Despite the fact that there are a sufficient number of species of such snails from the genus Achatina and Akhakhatina, the conditions for keeping them are almost the same, therefore, When choosing such mollusks for the role of a pet, you should be guided by aesthetic preferences - the color of the shell, the size of the snail itself...

Benefits of keeping Achatina snails

The structure of the Achatina snail

Many breeders of such snails (it happens!) claim that they have an ideal pet living in their house - the Achatina snail. Firstly, these creatures are not whimsical in matters of care. Secondly, they are not “talkative”; thirdly, they do not impose their company on you. Fourthly, if you need to leave for duty or go on vacation, you do not need to pester your friends with a request that they look after your pet. Your snail will live quietly without you for a week or two.

There are many other advantages of choosing a snail as a pet, but we will tell you about them in the following paragraphs of this publication.

Features of keeping the Achatina snail at home

So, you have decided to have such an exotic pet in your home. To do this, you will have to take care to provide him with comfortable living conditions. The snail will not sleep in the same bed with you, therefore, you will need to purchase a special house for it (container, aquarium,) in which it will live. You will also need other accessories, which we will tell you about.

Container for Achatina snail

As a home for the snail, you can purchase a terrarium made of plastic, plexiglass, or use an aquarium that you have left over from the fish. True, consider the fact that

For a medium-sized snail, in order for it to feel comfortable, a volume of space of at least 3 liters is required. Accordingly, if you are planning to have a family of snails, then the aquarium should be large.

Don’t forget that both the aquarium and the terrarium are equipped with special lids with small holes (the holes should be such that your Achatina cannot escape through them).

Container filler

The bottom of the snail's house - be it a terrarium or an aquarium (without water) - must be lined with a layer of substrate. It is better to take flower compost without additional fertilizers, or pure peat (however, it is worth remembering that it creates a too acidic environment). This is necessary so that your snail can burrow into this layer of filler - they love to do this, especially in the daytime. Make sure the substrate is constantly moist. If you overdry it, the snail will have to moisten it with its own mucus and in the process of this action it will inevitably get dirty, and the glass of its terrarium will also “decorate” its marks. Therefore, moisten the substrate layer yourself - then it will be easier for the snail and more pleasant for you. But what cannot be used as a substrate layer is clay and fatty loams; it is also not recommended to add pieces of bark or wood to such a substrate. You can also sprinkle loose sand or line the bottom with hazelnut shells or walnut cores.

By the way, Achatina themselves love sand - for them it is a natural habitat in which they become unusually animated and... begin to multiply intensively, laying eggs. But from a practical point of view, sand is not very convenient, since the snails get dirty on it and stain the glass of the terrarium.

Oh, here's a nut shell - in this regard, it is much more convenient, however, if you do not clean the snail's house too often, then flies can appear in such a substrate, which do not harm the snails, but fly throughout the apartment.

Remember, no matter what filler you choose, its layer must be at least 4 centimeters.

How to clean a terrarium

Depending on the type of filler in such a terrarium, cleaning procedures are carried out 2-3 times every 3-4 months. Cleaning the terrarium includes washing it completely (without using chemicals, use ordinary baking soda as a cleaning powder), and replacing the substrate layer. If you notice that the walls of the terrarium are covered with mucus, which is left by crawling snails, or an unpleasant odor emanates from the terrarium, carry out an unscheduled cleaning of the snails’ habitat.

Lighting for a terrarium with snails

Additionally, there is no need to install any lighting fixtures in the terrarium in order to create special lighting for snails. Because light intensity does not particularly affect the life processes of mollusks. For them, only the alternation of day and night is important, since these creatures are still more active at night, while during the day they prefer to hide in a layer of substrate away from prying eyes and rest. In this case, lighting is necessary more for you, and not for the mollusks. However, even if you decide to illuminate the life of your pets, be sure to take the lighting device outside the container, because if the lighting is inside, a snail can crawl in and damage the system itself - a short circuit may occur, which can be fatal for your pet.

Temperature for a terrarium with snails

Since you have brought a tropical animal into your home that is accustomed to high temperatures, be prepared for the fact that the air in the terrarium will need to be “warmed up” to 20-28 degrees above zero. At this temperature, the snails feel familiar and behave actively. However, trying to heat the air in the terrarium using direct sunlight or heating devices, placed close to the terrarium - not worth it. This idea will not end well, and the mollusk may suffer from the temperature contrast in your home.

Additional accessories for a terrarium with snails

In order to have a little fun for your snail and decorate the interior of the terrarium, you can put inside pieces of wood, moss, fragments (not sharp) from clay flower pots. All this will become not only a decoration of the “landscape”, but also a shelter for your pet. However, make sure that all these items that you place inside the terrarium are clean and safe.

Some terrarium owners even manage to plant living plants inside. They look extremely original and create a cozy atmosphere inside the snail’s home. But, make sure that when watering them, you do not over-moisten the soil of the substrate. Also, when choosing plants for planting, give preference to those species whose leaves have small fibers. As for ferns and ivy - although they look beautiful, but... snails will eat such leaves, therefore, you will not get aesthetics from such a green oasis.

Features of caring for Achatina snails at home

What to feed Achatina snails

Achatina snails are vegetarians

The larger the snail, the less often you can feed it(feeding frequency is allowed once every few days). But, if you have small Achatina, they need to be fed daily. True, fortunately for you, these mollusks are vegetarians, therefore, you will need to provide them with the most “green” diet possible, taking into account the permitted foods and combining all this with the personal taste preferences of your Achatina.

Vitamins for Achatina snails

In order for snails to grow well and quickly, they need a source of vitamins and calcium carbonate. Place a piece of chalk in the terrarium or sprinkle some eggshells - the snail will be grateful to you for such care. By the way, chalk must be natural; factory-made chalk obtained by chemical means will be ignored by her. As for vitamin and mineral mixtures, they can be purchased at a pet store. Complexes that are created specifically for reptiles will suit you.

Do Achatina snails drink water?

Achatina snails not only eat, but also drink, therefore, there should always be a container with fresh and clean water in the terrarium. However, make sure that the container is not too large or deep, as the clam may drown. To humidify the air, it is also recommended to occasionally spray the walls of the terrarium from the inside with water, but you should not be too zealous - the snail is not aquatic, and it will not be comfortable for it to live in a swamp.

When the snail grows up, it will be possible to install a small pool for it - since they really love water, which they need for the processes of mucus secretion.

Achatina. Many people have probably already heard about these quiet and non-intrusive pets. About three months ago I took the plunge and bought myself three small snails. They fit in a plastic salad container and were super cute. But time passed and the snails grew up, the question arose about their further living with me, namely where to settle them.

I found information on this issue on the Internet, but it took me a whole day to find it. So I decided to collect everything in one article and talk about how to place Achatina so that both you and they can live comfortably at home.

Achatina- This is one of the largest representatives of land mollusks. Its shell can reach a diameter of 25 cm, and a body length of 30 cm. But unfortunately, the size of the snails very much depends on their keeping in captivity. Here is an example - a snail weighing 560 grams is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Of course, in our climate it is impossible to grow such individuals, but about 130 grams are found.

Initial habitat Achatina- East Africa, later it slowly moved to the Seychelles and Madagascar islands. And already in 1910, zoologists discovered it in Sri Lanka; in 1920, it became known in Malaysia, on the island of Taiwan, Indochina, and other Pacific islands.

Unfortunately, now in most countries they are not welcomed, since due to the favorable climate they multiply very quickly and destroy crops, food and even the plaster of houses. Well, in our climate it is not so easy to keep a snail even at home, when on winter nights it becomes cold even for people under two blankets.

And so, for a comfortable existence, the snail needs warmth. It is better to buy an aquarium with glass walls, but there are also cheaper options with plastic walls.

It is also necessary to purchase a thermal mat for terrariums; I do not recommend a lamp since snails crawl on the walls and ceiling and can damage their mucous membranes on a hot surface. We must not forget that the snail needs to breathe and take care of this in advance. Personally, I made holes in a plastic aquarium roof by heating a metal knitting needle and poking holes. Also, bedding is necessary for warmth, egg laying and calmness of the snail. All websites and blogs insist that you need to take soil with the name “BEGONIA”, personally, I am convinced that any soil containing peat will be suitable for flowers. Why peat? Because when you spray the earth, it will begin to release heat, and accordingly, moderate heat is good for the snail. A regular flower spray bottle is quite suitable for moistening the water.

Young snails need to be fed every day, as their bodies are still growing, but adults should be fed no more than 1-2 times a week. The fact is that if you overfeed Achatina, obesity can occur, and this has a very unfavorable effect on the production of offspring.

Well, here are the basic tips that can be given to a novice snail breeder))). Good luck to you in your endeavors and may Achatina bring you only joy.