Achatina fulica (Achatina fulica): care and maintenance

The name of the snail Akhatin fulika is translated into Russian as "giant ahaatin". Due to its large size and calm disposition, it becomes the home favorite of many. Indeed, these are social beings who are not afraid to be in the person's hand. In addition, many of them like it when they are affectionately touched by the neck. Surprisingly, when the snail becomes scared, she, hiding in the house, begins to squeak.

Habitat

The birthplace of Akhatin (a photo of the mollusk shown below) is Africa. But over time, a person has transported this creature to other continents. In most countries where these mollusks were able to settle down, they became considered pests, because they feed on cultural vegetation and multiply rapidly. Meat Akhatin is not tasty, it is not accepted to eat even in African countries. This makes snails not popular with many peoples. Only in the territory of the CIS they were loved and started to start as pets.

Features Akhatin

The largest land snails of the Akhatina in the world are the most unpretentious. Unlike their small relatives, they are intelligent enough and can have conditioned reflexes. Despite the fact that this shellfish does not pretend to pay special attention, it is able to learn to react to the owner's hand and understand where the stranger is, and where his owner is.

Description of the coch

The giant snails of Akhatina are the largest representatives of their kind. The shell of this creature sometimes grows to 25 cm in diameter, and its body is up to 30 cm in length. But the average size of their torso is 20 cm. The shell is necessary to protect the mollusk during the danger, and it also allows it to dry out. Surprisingly, the color of the shell and its pattern can vary depending on the snail's diet.

This unusually large mollusc has internal organs - the brain, kidney, heart, lung. But in addition he breathes with the help of the skin.

Akhatins are completely deaf. They have eyes that are located on the tentacles, and with their help they determine the objects at a distance of a centimeter. Also, snails are able to sense the degree of illumination, perhaps in this they are additionally assisted by photosensitive cells on the body, from which the mollusks do not tolerate too bright illumination.

These land snails are good at detecting odors, for this they are equipped with sensitive skin from the front and tentacles. The sole of the mollusk allows you to understand the texture and learn the shape of the object.

Species of giant snails

About 100 snails of this genus are known in science. The conditions of the maintenance are practically the same in all individuals and do not differ significantly. The most undemanding in content and the most common in our country is Akhatina Fulik. The shell of these representatives is colorful, but its tone can vary depending on what the shellfish feed on. The soft body has a brownish-brown tone, and on the skin are noticeable bugorochki. This kind of leisurely and loves to relax.

If you want diversity, you can consider as a variant of Akhatin reticulum. It is also a common pet among the Russian population. The shell design has strips and dots, and the skin color varies from dark brown to black. On the stalk a light border is visible. These representatives differ in character from the fulic, they are curious and active, often in order to view the object of interest, they stretch out their head.

Snail Akhatin fulica: content at home

The maintenance of a cochlea usually does not require additional expenses for the house and its arrangement. If there is an old aquarium or a plastic box, it is quite suitable for her for a home. A cardboard box is unsuitable for snails, as they can make a hole in it and crawl away. The volume of the house in one individual should be 10 liters or more. If the plans to settle several pets together, then the volume of the house increases to 20 - 30 liters.

As a cover, Plexiglas with small air holes is suitable. If there are no holes, then when closing, always leave a small slit. To keep the house open is not recommended, otherwise your pet will run away.

Housing arrangement

After the chosen house has been chosen for the cochlea, it needs to be arranged. At the bottom lined loose soil layer of about 10 cm. It is needed in order to Akhatin fulik deposited and buried eggs. As a primer, you can use a coconut substrate, it is purchased in flower shops. But make sure that there are no fertilizer mixtures in the purchased soil. Sawdust or clay soil is not allowed to cover the bottom of the terrarium of Akhatina. Care for your pet can be individual, for example, if you want to experiment with the composition of the soil. So a snail can like a layer of bark of needles, membranes of walnuts or simply sand.

Any kind of soil in the terrarium should be maintained in a wet condition, but at the same time do not make it too waterlogged. Such a measure will allow maintaining a suitable moisture for the cochlea. Akhatina herself will tell if her moisture is enough. So, if it climbs the walls, the humidity in the terrarium is high. If she does not like to stick out of the sink - in the air it is too dry and you need to add some water. The soil must be replaced every two months.

It can be noted that Akhatin fulika is not averse to bathing, so in her house, install a small container with water. But the "pool" for the cochlea must be stable and heavy, so that during the procedures it does not roll over. Water pour "on the bottom" so that your pet does not choke. Clean the container once a week. Some owners sometimes bathe snails under a flowing warm water stream.

The shellfish does not need additional lighting. But for him it is important to clearly expressed night-day. Akhatins are mostly night residents, and in the daytime they prefer to hide. Therefore, it is necessary to make secluded places in the terrarium, laying a snag, a large stone or other objects. If planted in a pot fern or ivy, which will be in the possession of the shellfish, it will become not only an ornament, but an additional delicacy.

Temperature in the terrarium

Before you buy a giant snail, it is important to think about how you will maintain the necessary temperature. 26 degrees will be most comfortable for ahatina. Care and conditions will help create a lamp with a dim light. It is better if the thermometer is periodically dropped into the terrarium to check. If the temperature in her home is less than 24 degrees, then the snail will become sluggish.

Nutrition Ahatiny

You can say that the snail eats everything. But each individual can have its own taste preferences. Despite the "culinary predilections" the main item on the menu is plant food. So they should eat apples, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, pumpkin, zucchini. Akhatins do not refuse to eat bananas, crusts from watermelons, berries, corn and others. In summer, young herbs such as clover and dandelions are added to the diet. It is noticed that these fagots do not like potatoes and carrots.

The menu of the pet can be diluted with oat flakes or fresh dry biscuits. Sometimes you can pamper your favorite snail with protein from eggs or poultry.

Natural chalk and ground eggshells should always be in the terrarium, as Akhatin fulika needs calcium.

Very young individuals need to be fed daily. It is better to give food at night, when they become active. Adult representatives can be fed in two or three days.

Reproduction of the cochlea

You can safely say that the Akhatin (photo snails are represented on this page) are hermaphrodites. Your pet can perform the functions of a female or male. In rare cases, when the population falls, the individual is able to fertilize independently. But about your pet you better take care and give a friend. Well, if the role of the female will perform a larger and larger snail.

Akhatina lays about 200 eggs. If the temperature is suitable, then in a week you will have many five-millimeter snails. Six months later the kids will become sexually mature. It is noteworthy that growth continues almost all of life.

Advantages of pet - snails

Anyone who wants to have an animal, but does not have time to walk, can safely buy a giant snail. It can be left for a couple of days without feeding, and she will not suffer from hunger. If you need to go on vacation, Akhatin will go into hibernation without food. Returning, you will sprinkle the pet with water, and he will wake up. And if you have time, you can start training the mollusk so that he develops conditioned reflexes. Also, in free moments, you can admire this amazing creature or take it by hand, feeling like a giant snail is slowly crawling on your arm.