Achatina reticulate: types and cultivation

Currently, many are interested in exotic pets. Therefore, snakes, all kinds of rodents and snails are a serious competitor to cats and dogs. Unusual pets include such a creature as Achatina reticulata, a snail that surprises not only with its size, but also with devotion to the owners. It is worth noting that this is a very interesting and smart creature. However, in order for her to always be active and healthy, she needs proper care.

In the natural environment, Achatina reticulate is most often found in southern Africa. The snail is considered a mollusk. The marine environment prefers land with a hot and humid climate. In addition, it can be found even in Australia or Asia, where tropical or equatorial zones predominate.

Such a snail will feel great both in a natural environment and in artificially created conditions.

By its nature, Achatina reticulate is very affectionate and tender. She expects the same from her masters. This mollusk grows very quickly: after 150 days it can reach 17 centimeters in length. Adults in some cases can grow up to 35 centimeters, while the shell - up to 25 centimeters.

A deaf snail appears. She breathes with her whole body, including a shell. Her body is beige or even brown, and her head is always a little darker. At the very top of her head are her eyes, with which she sees only what is at a distance of no more than 2 centimeters from them. The shell of a snail reminds its structure of a small corrugated house, which is painted in brown. However, there are various inclusions on it.

Achatina puberty occurs only after 11 months. She is able to capture any aromas, because her sense of smell is quite well developed. She perceives the world around her with her whole body, and not just with tentacles. But the latter, she can easily determine the shape of the object and its texture. In addition, with the help of tentacles, the snail feels the illumination of the object. So, if the light is too bright, she will immediately hide in her house, and with too dim lighting the snail will look for a warmer place.

On the sink on both sides there are curls that show the age of such a pet. If there are too many of them, then this suggests that the snail is old. Snails are considered silent pets, but still, in case of danger, they can squeak very loudly. In the natural environment, Achatina are dangerous pests, because they feed on greenery.

In the natural environment there are up to one hundred species of such huge snails. However, only some of them are suitable for home maintenance. This list includes only 20 varieties. According to the standards, all subspecies have three main shades: it is beige or brown, white and black. In addition, they can interbreed only with representatives of their subspecies.

It differs from other mollusks in its inactivity. Most often, such a snail becomes active in the dark. But in the afternoon she just sleeps in the most secluded place. Her shell has characteristic features: it can change its color depending on what the snail ate for breakfast or lunch.

The body of this mollusk is rather massive and covered with small tubercles. Color is dark brown. In length, a snail fulica can grow up to 21 centimeters.

An albino can be a reticulate, a tiger snail, or a fulica. Their body has a light color, and the shell is a yellow tint. The length does not exceed 16 centimeters.

These individuals have a barrel-shaped shell, the color of which is very bright. In addition, on it you can see small dark stripes. Upon reaching adulthood, snails grow to 24–25 centimeters. The tiger species was listed in the Red Book.

An individual of this subspecies has a head painted in black. In some cases, the whole body may be black. Young snails of this subspecies have thin strips, as well as small dots of cherry color. Subsequently, they acquire a natural color.

The snails of this subspecies have a beige shell. In addition, it is covered with a patterned mesh of a dark shade. They weigh no more than 200 grams with a height of 16 centimeters.

In order for the snail to always be healthy and beautiful, it will require special conditions for living. If they are not provided, then the mollusk can simply hibernate or even die. It does not require too much cost, because for the snail, the most important thing is communication with its owners, as well as the right choice of food.

First of all, it is necessary to equip her place of residence. For this, a terrarium or a simple lockable container is suitable. One adult snail requires a capacity of up to 10 liters, its bottom should be at least 40 centimeters. Therefore, if the snail is not bought alone, then the terrarium should be larger.

The lid should not fit too tightly to the container itself, since it needs oxygen. However, opening it completely is not worth it, because the snail can simply escape along the wall of the terrarium. Its bottom can be covered with a special substrate, which can be purchased at a special store. Most often it consists of sand, wood humus, as well as coconut pulp.

For decoration, you can use various driftwood, having an unusual shape, or moss, but not pebbles, because they can harm the snail, injuring it. Be sure to put a container of clean water in the terrarium. It should be quite stable, because snails not only drink water, but also bathe in it.

In addition, there should be high humidity in the terrarium. To do this, you need to spray its walls every day with a spray gun. However, all this must be done very carefully so that there are no puddles at the very bottom, because the snail can simply drown in them.

If the pet crawls too often on the walls of the tank, this can only mean one thing - the soil is too wet. In the event that the snail creeps into a shell, the soil, on the contrary, is too dry.

The optimum temperature for the evidence is 27–28 degrees. However, if it is slightly lower, then this creation will not feel bad.

As a feed for Achatina reticulates, you can use any plant food: vegetables, fruits, as well as any herbs. In addition, the snail can be given the remains of boiled meat or boiled eggs.

The richer the diet, the stronger its carapace will become. For feeding, it is best to cut the food into small pieces so that the snail cannot choke on them. In the event that the pet does not want to eat any of the products, it can be replaced by another or simply removed from the diet.

For good development, the snail needs to add calcium to the diet. To do this, you can use egg shells or give it a special mineral stone, which many animals buy.

If we talk about Achatina, then this is a pretty clean snail. She almost always takes care of herself. But at the same time, all the remnants of food must be removed from the terrarium so that they do not succumb to decay.

Also, care involves cleaning the container in which the snail lives. You need to do this once a month. The walls of the terrarium should be wiped with a moistened sponge, but without the addition of any detergent or cleaning agent. In addition, once a year it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning. This includes a complete change of soil, as well as washing the tank with clean water.

Your pet also needs to be bathed under running water 3-4 times a month, and its carapace can be wiped with a soft brush. During bathing, the snail can stick its head out of its shell and expose it under a stream of water.

By their nature, Achatina reticulates are considered hermaphrodites. For breeding, it is enough to simply plant in one container two snails of only one subspecies. Specialists recorded several cases of self-fertilization.

Those mollusks that are not yet 10 months old cannot become females. Usually they perform male functions. Immediately after the fertilization process, the snail digs a hole in which at least 45 eggs must be laid. They all have a transparent shell. When the snail lays them, the owner must move the eggs to another container with a temperature in the range of 28–29 degrees and a humidity of at least 50 percent. However, this is not absolutely necessary and is necessary only so that the female does not trample them or eat them.

After 21 days, babies should appear from them. At this time, they are quite mobile, as well as curious. They crawl everywhere, try everything that is in the terrarium.In addition, they try to make contact with their owners as often as possible. Kids sleep most often together, forming a small glomerulus.

Adult snails, especially those individuals that are quite large, lay eggs several times a year. As a rule, they breed from 5 to 9 times. But at the same time, not many cubs survive.

About snail care features see below.