African Land Snails

[helpmeout06]

Mine are 2 years old, I just cleaned out their tank and realized I have no soil left, will they be OK until tomorrow without soil?

[Kleiber]

If they're anything like mine, they spend most of their time crawling up the side of their tank anyway! I don't think being without soil for a day will do them any harm at all - just chuck in a few lettuce leaves to keep them happy!!

[helpmeout06]

Thanks Kleiber, they seem happy enough just wanted to make sure, I've given an extra helping lettuce.
Thanks again.

[Schutzengel]

Hope you don't mind me chipping in, but I have never seen an African Land Snail. How big are they, and are they hard to keep. Would be grateful for a reply. Schutz.

[Kleiber]

They're really easy to keep, Schutzengel - all they eat is lettuce (mine prefer little gem or romaine!). They can grow quite big (for a snail!) - mine are about 9 months old and are the size of a small orange, which is only about half their eventual size. They have lovely shells, like a whelk's and as I said, are easy pets. So long as they're kept relatively warm and in a humid atmosphere (not as difficult as it sounds) they're fine! Mine live in a big tank in the spare room in the summer, but it's moved into my bedroom, by the radiator in the winter, when it's cold. They need a few inches of compost (multi-purpose from the garden centre will do) in the base of their tank, as they bury their eggs in soil when they're old enough to breed and this needs to be kept just moist. basically, they like all the conditions that our native garden snails do, only a bit warmer! K.

[pastafreak]

Awwww!!..look at this.....hope it helps Shutzengel

http://www.stevegreaves.com/GiantAfricanLandSn ails.htm

[Schutzengel]

Thank you Kleiber for a swift response. They sound really interesting, I'll have to have a look around to see where I can get some from. How big of a tank would I need for how many snails. Thanks. Schutz.

[Kleiber]

Well, Schutz, when they're small, they don't need much room (helpmeout06, would you agree? We've sort of hijacked your thread, sorry & hope you don't mind!) - I have 5 and they travelled from Buckinghamshire to Wales in a jam jar when they were babies. The tank they're in at the moment is about 2ft cube, but as they're still growing, I think I'll soon have to get them a bigger one. I'm wondering if the size of their tank might restrict their growth. helpmeout, would you know? K

[Schutzengel]

Thank you helpmeout, klieber, and pastafreak. The snails are quite fascinating. I'm looking forward to acquiring some of my own. Many thanks. Schutz.

[Kleiber]

That's really interesting, pastafreak - thanks! I forgot to mention the cuttlefish bone - mine munch their way through one every month or so. K.

[helpmeout06]

That's OK Kleiber, I love my snails, I got them when they were just the size of my little finger's nail, I kept them in a little plastic container (the ones you get from ordering a takeaway) as they are now just over two years old they are a little larger than a lime, it's quite amazing, I read that they can live for twenty years or so. Also you can use egg shell for calcium as long as you rinse them (money saving tip)

[lankeela]

I have got five, they prefer round lettuce and cucumber. If you spray the sides of the tank with tepid water, they slime their way up and down. Also if you keep the soil shallow (I use Irish Moss Peat as it has no nasty additives) they will not lay eggs (hundreds at a time!). Fascinating pets.

[wolf63]

I have read this thread with an open mind - but these things are just not love-able.

Give me something to cuddle anyday.

[Kleiber]

Hey, wolf, at least they don't scratch, wake you up in the middle of the night demanding to be fed, or beat each other up, eh?? lol, K.