Achatina tropical snails often become pets and darlings of the whole family. Depending on the species, the body of the mollusk can be either the usual light or dark color. The advantage of such pets is the simplicity of care and general unpretentiousness. Akhatins live quite a long time if they are provided with proper care and good nutrition.
Average years
At home, snails live much better than in the wild. People care and isolation from natural hazards have a beneficial effect on mollusks. In captivity, they live for about 5 years, and sometimes all 10 years. During this time, their shells become simply gigantic, on average 15–20 cm in length, with a maximum of 27 cm. The life expectancy in the apartment directly depends on the conditions of detention and the desire of the owner to take care of the mollusks.
Large snails come from tropical countries. In natural conditions, Achatina most often die at the hands of man. They are considered pests, as they feed on cultivated plants and even scrape plaster from homes.
For our gardens and gardens, this living creature is safe - snails die at freezing temperatures.
What affects the term?
The life span of snails is closely related to living conditions. In the afternoon, Achatina are active only at high humidity. However, most of the time they spend in the soil, reaching the surface only a couple of hours after sunset. It is important to properly equip secluded places so that the snails feel comfortable.
Achatines are endowed with a good memory and can remember the location of the feeder for the next hour. That is how much time you should not move food so that the pet does not feel stress after returning when it is hungry. Proper feeding is important for snails. If you give the pet the food that is contraindicated to him, then he will soon die.
A properly equipped terrarium or aquarium is extremely important. Young individuals often migrate and find new places to relax. But the old snails prefer to stay in one place, getting out only for food. If there is not enough space for the pets, then they will not be able to grow and develop properly. Achatina live long only with adequate care and proper nutrition.
How to increase life expectancy?
Before you get any pet, you should study in more detail the conditions of their maintenance and the rules of feeding. Extending the life of Achatina is quite simple if you take care of them and take good care of them.
Snails of this species are considered one of the most unpretentious, so providing them with a comfortable existence will not be difficult.
Optimal conditions
Akhatinov can be placed both in a terrarium and in an aquarium. It is important only to choose the right soil and maintain the temperature inside the snail's dwelling in the range of 25-27 ° C, as well as increased humidity. For 1 snail, you need to pick up an aquarium for 10 liters. And if you want to have 10 Achatina, then you need a capacity of 100 liters.
The bottom of the terrarium must be covered with soft and loose soil, the layer of which should be at least 5-10 cm. Just do not take flower soil - it contains chemicals that are harmful to snails. The container must be ventilated, but a lid is essential. Otherwise, snails will one day creep across the apartment.
Soil can be replaced with sawdust, which is used to equip chinchilla and hamster cells. If the snail crawls quietly on the ground, then it suits her. Conversely, it is worth considering replacing if the pet spends all the time on the walls of the terrarium. Be sure to ensure that other pets do not go to see snails.
A shallow water tank must be placed in the aquarium. Snails will drink and swim. Only liquid should be a little. Achatines are land mollusks and therefore can drown under water.
Alternatively, you can spray glass inside the terrarium a couple of times a day.
Installing artificial lighting makes no sense. Snails hide in the ground during the day, and crawl out at night. If you still decided to set the backlight for decorative purposes, then you should definitely not put it inside the terrarium. Snails can creep into the system and not only ruin it, but also die.
High temperature conditions are very important, since Achatina come from the tropics and love warmth. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain 27-28 ° C inside the terrarium. It is in these conditions that the snails will feel as comfortable as possible. It is strictly forbidden to heat the terrarium with heating devices or under the sun. Snails can die as a result of overheating.
Proper nutrition
Snails are fed once a day - in the evening. Around the time when they begin to wake up and crawl out of the ground. Some experts recommend giving food as you eat or dry. Leaving food that is no longer suitable for eating in the terrarium is not worth it.
Achatines prefer to eat fruits, vegetables, greens, but in natural conditions they can also feed on meat. Many owners feed their pets exclusively cabbage and carrots, but this is the wrong approach. Snails need a more varied diet. This is convenient for the owners, because at any time you can give your pet the food that is available at home.
Snails have some food preferences. The most adored food is cucumbers and lettuce. If from childhood feed a pet only monotonous food, then in the future, adults will abandon carrots or something else.
Large pieces of apples can be given to adults - they will quickly utilize them.
You can give the products listed in the following list.
- Fruits: apricots, apples, grapes, strawberries, pineapples, melon.
- Vegetables: lettuce, carrot, red pepper, pumpkin, boiled potatoes, spinach, celery.
- Oatmeal flakes, peas fresh and boiled, the beans.
- Mushrooms, dairy and dairy products no chemical additives minced meat raw or boiled meat flour, compound feed, ground peanuts, bread.
- Plants. Leaves and flowers of various trees, dandelions, forget-me-nots.
Treat snails with plants carefully. They must be clean. It is not worth tearing leaves in the city, near industries and landfills. Only boiled food is allowed, it is impossible to fry food for snails. Do not treat your pet with spicy, spicy, sour, sweet, smoked and salty foods.
Care
Achatina are unpretentious creatures and do not require increased attention. It is enough to keep them clean and in the right conditions. When caring for snails, you should adhere to the following recommendations.
- Small individuals can lay cabbage or lettuce on the bottom instead of soil. For a change it is worth adding a few cucumbers. So young Achatina will be able to eat as needed. It is necessary to change such a litter every day. Snails can be kept in such conditions for 3-4 months.
- When choosing soil for a terrarium, you need to carefully study its composition. You can not put snails in a terrarium with different chemistry. This will lead to the death of all individuals.
- It is worth cleaning the terrarium once every 1.5 months. In this case, completely replace the soil and wash the walls without using detergents. As a cleaning agent, baking soda is taken.
- Be sure to do an unscheduled cleaning if mucus appears on the glass walls. Another reason will be an unpleasant smell.
- Soft foods can be given only in small quantities, without leaving for a long time. They are easily spread over the terrarium and will have to do the cleaning with soil replacement.
- Do not give soft food to small individuals. Due to inexperience, they can get there completely and suffocate. It is better to feed the kids greens, grated carrots and apples.
- Spray the terrarium once or twice a day with clean water from a spray bottle. So the snails will feel more comfortable and natural.
- Only clean plants and products can be put in the terrarium. If the leaves were narrated on the street, be sure to rinse them thoroughly with water. It is advisable to use filtered water, without impurities.