Achatina is a tropical snail, which is impressive in size. She is often chosen for home use. In order for the mollusk to feel comfortable, it is necessary to provide it with the correct conditions. How seriously the owner approached the choice of terrarium and soil affects the life and health of the snail, as well as its ability to reproduce.
The value of soil for a snail
Filler for the aquarium plays a very important role. It is with its help that you can partially recreate the natural living conditions. In addition, the soil has other useful functions. It is the soil that allows you to maintain humidity in the dwelling of the mollusk at the proper level. Drying is extremely undesirable, however, it is not necessary to overdo it with moisture. Stagnant water will whirl. It is enough to spray with a spray several times a day.
The soil layer should be sufficient so that the Achatina can dig into it whole. To do this, pour it with a thickness of 5-12 centimeters.
It is in it that egg laying is made. The soil also ensures the safety of the mollusk. If accidentally dropped, it will help soften the blow, and the snail will not damage the shell. For this very reason, solid objects should be avoided in the aquarium.
Substrate types
Soil for snails of this species can be selected different. It all depends on the preferences of the owner and material capabilities. We present the most popular and reliable options. Often, owners of Achatina prefer to use coconut meal. It is also convenient because it is easy to clean and dry, therefore it is suitable for repeated use. This substrate is sold both in finished form and in briquettes.If the choice is made in favor of the second option, the meal needs to be prepared independently. To do this, the briquette is poured with hot water, cooled, washed through cheesecloth, and then thoroughly dried.
Peat may also appear as soil. It is sold, for example, in flower shops. However, it is necessary to clarify that peat does not contain flower fertilizers, since some of them can seriously harm Achatina.
Natural material collected in the forest yourself, you need to calcine in the oven at a temperature of 200 degrees for 15 minutes. Warming will help to disinfect peat, remove bacteria and parasites. You can use ordinary earth, but in this case, calcination is also carried out necessarily. This option has its advantages, since this type of soil retains moisture well, and besides, it is very loose.
Achatina owners often use peat moss. It does not develop flies and bacteria.
Also, moss retains moisture well, which, in turn, simplifies maintenance. You can add dry leaves to it or other types of soil. However, experts do not recommend getting involved in this, since moisture absorption is deteriorating. Leaves must first be washed and dried. As mentioned above, most types of soil do not need to be bought at a store, it is easy to get in natural conditions. However, treatment in these cases should be mandatory, otherwise the use of a filler may be unsafe for the mollusk.
Unsuitable filler types
Despite the fact that the types of soil suitable for the maintenance of the cochlea are sufficient, owners need to know which bedding should not be laid. Prohibited material can harm the mollusk and even lead to its death. Wood sawdust is prohibited. They can not only scratch the cochlea, but are also dangerous by splintering, which can lead to inflammation and even death. Also, it is precisely because of such a filler that the sink is covered with a white coating, which subsequently cannot be removed. At the bottom of the aquarium, moisture will collect and stagnate, which threatens the appearance of midges and mold.
It is also not recommended to use sand. It scratches the delicate body of the mollusk, and getting into the esophagus, it is not completely removed from there.
Another disadvantage of this type of filler is the inability to keep moisture, scratches on glass and plastic. As for pebbles, it also does not absorb water. If the snail falls on such a filler, it can split the sink. It is impossible to dig into pebbles because of its weight, and besides, it is problematic to hide eggs there. Clay is not suitable for the reason that when in contact with water it turns into dirt. Also, movement on such a surface is not very convenient for a snail.
Also, swimming in warm water does not hurt the snail. Despite which filler was selected for the mollusk, once a year it must be replaced. It is worth hiding the container from direct sunlight. If the room temperature is insufficient, the use of electric heaters is allowed.
Soil replacement
Replacing the soil in the aquarium is not difficult at all. However, the process requires compliance with key recommendations. Snails need to be moved to another container. Feeders and decorative items are thoroughly washed under a stream of warm water. With severe impurities, you can pour them over with boiling water. The soil gets enough sleep with gloves and a dustpan. The aquarium itself is properly washed without the use of chemical compounds.
Old soil can be rinsed with boiling water, rinsed well, dried and re-placed in the aquarium, however, you need to add at least a little new material.
The exception is cases when parasites appear. In such a situation, the filler is thrown out and completely replaced with a new one.
It is best to change the soil 1-2 times a month. This is necessary, as snail waste accumulates inside and starts to smell unpleasant. There is a risk of insects and parasites.If there is egg laying in the aquarium, you cannot change the soil. Otherwise, humidity changes, which can lead to the death of offspring. An exception is the appearance of parasites.
Useful Tips
The snail can be considered a rather specific pet, however, and it has its fans. Owners note unpretentiousness in leaving and ability to breed quickly. As for Europe and Russia, in the natural environment the mollusk is not found here. Most often it is turned on for decorative purposes. If you want to decorate the aquarium, it is not difficult to do it. The main thing is to think about the safety of the mollusk. You can use natural elements, for example, moss or beautiful snags. However, we must not forget about disinfection.
To wash the aquarium, you can not use chemicals, just wipe the walls with a damp cloth.
As for care, it is advisable for adults to install a bowl of clean water. In order for humidity to remain at the required level, the lid must always be tightly closed. Firstly, leaving is not burdensome for the owner. Secondly, she does not need walks. Also, it is impossible not to note the minimum maintenance costs.
Achatina is a very quiet pet, it is especially active in the dark, however, subject to sufficient humidity, it can also appear in the daytime. If the temperature drops below +9 degrees, the mollusk hibernates.
When creating a microclimate, one must not forget that Achatina is a tropical mollusk. To ensure comfort, it needs heat and moisture. It is best if the air temperature is kept at 25-28 degrees. If the room is cooler, the snail will become less active. Do not forget to regularly spray the pet's house with water. The optimal house for a mollusk are considered containers of glass or plastic. Provide ventilation so that there is adequate access to fresh air. It is also necessary to make sure that the top cover of the container is heavy and does not move, otherwise there is a risk that the Achatina will run away.
The cover should also have ventilation holes. However, with ventilation, you should not overdo it.
How much water is achatine sufficient can be understood by its behavior. Hiding in the sink, the mollusk indicates dryness in the aquarium, and sitting for a long time on the walls, on the contrary, indicates excessive moisture. If the owner needs to leave for some time, you can provoke the snail to hibernate. For this, dryness is created in the container. To wake the mollusk, it should be placed under a stream of warm water. It should be guided by the size of the cochlea, too small individuals can squeeze into the holes, because they move perfectly along the walls and lid. Also, experts recommend giving up bark and sawdust. The delicate pet body can be easily scratched.
Snails feed on plant foods. Soft plants are great. At a young age, Achatina will give preference to living plants, in a more solid rotting residues are suitable. Most often, shellfish are fed cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini and other not too hard vegetables.
A pet will not be able to actively grow and develop without protein and calcium. Therefore, it will be useful to occasionally spoil it with pieces of boiled chicken. Porridge made from cereal mixture is also suitable. Prohibited pickles and smoked foods. At a tender age, snails should not be given a lot of food, as they will tend to dig into it, which can lead to suffocation.
Achatina is a land mollusk. Its length can reach 30 centimeters, which is an impressive value. The natural habitat is the tropics. As for France, Achatina are very popular there. They multiply and grow very quickly. This allows you to actively use such snails in local cuisine. As for living in a natural environment, the snail is quite harmful to crops.Sugarcane is considered her favorite treat. Besides, Achatina suffers from a lack of calcium, therefore, it scrapes lime off the walls of a building with a sink. This causes them significant harm.
What soil to choose for Achatina snails, see below.