Overview of the largest snails in the world

More and more often snails appear in the homes of fans of exotic animals. Small specimens are gradually losing popularity, and they are being replaced by large domestic species. Before you understand the features of caring for large snails, it is important to study information about the largest varieties.

These unusual mollusks are interesting to aquarists not only because of their exotic appearance, but also due to their unpretentiousness in care. They do not require difficult living conditions or expensive food. If it is a giant snail, then it is recommended to start only one individual. The main feature of large species lies in their size, because individual specimens can reach the size of a small cat, so they can become a full-fledged pet.

Snails can be classified into land and marine species, while in each group there are both small varieties and giant individuals. Different peoples at all times perceived differently large snails. For example, in Babylon and Egypt, these animals were a symbol of eternity because of the spiral shell. But in Europe they were declared the personification of sin and human laziness.

A very interesting animal, although it does not attract the title of a giant one, because its length rarely exceeds 5 cm. It is a herbivorous snail that prefers to lead nightlife, and crawls out into the air only in cloudy weather during the day. Hibernates for the winter. It has an unusual shell in the shape of a truncated cone.

Belongs to the largest land species in Europe. Sometimes you can see this variety in Russia. The dimensions of the shell vary from 3 to 5 cm.In winter, these snails sleep, and the rest of the time they prefer to eat plants. This species is often used as food.

Woody land snail, reaching a length of 9 cm. Despite the land-based lifestyle, this mollusk will not refuse to swim. The dark carapace of this species is decorated with spiral-shaped stripes, creating the likeness of a saucer, which is why the caracolus is sometimes called a saucer snail.

This is the most sought-after aquarium species in the world. The limicolaria snail has a very interesting appearance and does not require serious care, for which it is popular. Its length is limited to 7 cm. There are individuals with a pink, black or brown shell, and albinos are also found.

This is a land snail that prefers to settle in Latin America. Adult individuals are up to 15 cm in size. Relates to relatively new species, characterized by an unusual form of shell.

These are the largest land mollusks, the length of which with a shell reaches 39 cm. Achatina are becoming increasingly popular. They easily breed, and aquarists are already taking measures to prevent the spread of the species in unusual ecological zones. The main diet is plant foods.

This is a very large snail with a shell length of up to 60 cm. Belongs to the largest aquatic mollusks. It lives in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Particularly noteworthy are the snails, which have become champions due to their impressive size.

For instance, the largest water snail is considered a giant Australian trumpeter. Its weight is 18 kg, and the height of the shell is 91 cm. This creature lives on the expanses of the World Ocean. Even an individual with a size of 110 cm is known. An external feature of the trumpeter is a five-turn orange shell, which darkens with age.

In appearance, it is a cute giant clam, behind a pretty appearance of which a real predator is hiding. The basis of the diet of the trumpeter is made up of worms and corpses of marine animals, deposited at the bottom, and the mollusk does not feed on plants.

The largest land snail is called tiger achatina. Its habitat is Africa. This mollusk is interesting not only for its huge size, but also for its unique appearance.

The largest individual of this group was captured in 1976. The height of its shell was 275 mm; the found snail weighed about 1 kg. However, another slightly smaller specimen of the same species fell into the Guinness book, whose cuirass height was 273 mm and its weight was 900 g.

The tiger Achatina got its name for its amazing color - it has an orange shell with brown or black stripes. This color resembles a tiger. The mollusk belongs to the omnivorous species and can enjoy both the plant and the carcass of another animal.

Features of the content of large snails at home are best considered with the example of the most common variety - giant achatina.

This animal is usually lodged in an aquarium with a lid in which vents are made. As a soil, aquarists advise using a coconut substrate. It is recommended to fill the filler with a layer of 4-6 cm - the mollusks like to dig in. To create comfortable conditions, the bottom can be laid out with moss, supplement the capacity with branches with lichen, plant green spaces. It is even allowed to grow cat grass.

You should organize a saucer with water and a pool - these things will not only become useful for the snail, but they will also be able to maintain humidity in the terrarium. It is important not to overdo it with spraying. Achatina will report about increased moisture indicators by its behavior - it will sit on the wall all the time. If the snail hid in a shell, then, probably, on the contrary, it senses a moisture deficit.

When choosing a terrarium, it is better to choose a volume of 10 liters per individual. In food, these snails are picky, but the responsible owner should diversify the diet to the maximum. For example, calcium is the most important element for Achatina - it participates in the construction of the carapace and chitinous tooth with which the snail collects food.

Vegetables allowed for a snail are cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, boiled potatoes, pumpkin, celery. Fruits - pear, apples, melon, plum, banana. It is also worth including in the pet's menu beans, oatmeal, grass and leaves from the street (they must be washed before serving), boiled eggs, boiled meat, sour-milk products. Do not offer snails citrus, spicy, salty and smoked products.

The recommended temperature for the content of the snail is 27-30 degrees. In comfortable conditions, the mollusk will live 5-7 years and will breed well. The individual has signs of both sexes and lays eggs the size of a pea.

If only one pet is kept, then reproduction is not possible. But if he had mated before “moving” to a new house, then soon several new individuals may appear in the terrarium. After sexual contact, the cochlea can retain sperm for 2 years and lay fertilized eggs.

About the largest snails in the world, see below.