Home snails are land. How to care for snails

Snails are terrestrial and unpretentious pets. Many breeders believe that these gastropods have a very high intelligence, while watching them is a pleasure.

It should be noted that a land snail at home is not that rare. The popularity of these gastropods is determined by various factors. So, snails are not at all boring, as it may initially seem. In addition, they are incredibly convenient in the content, because large financial costs and special care are not required.

They can be left at home alone with a calm soul, going on vacation, as walking such creatures and at times to show the vet is not necessary. In most cases, domestic land snails can not be parasites and other diseases, in addition, they are hypoallergenic.

Advantages of snails

Further, let's consider what the land snail favorably differs from other domestic animals:

• Do not make noise;
• Does not require walking;
• Does not smell;
• Practically everyone eats;
• Do not spoil clothes and furniture with wool;
• Does not require expensive, complex or frequent care;
• Does not scratch and does not bite;
• Does not occupy much space;
• You can take a snail with you on vacation, and leave one at home;
• Practically does not get sick and lives for a long time;
• Do not cause allergies.

Types of land snails

These creatures are great for home keeping. For example, the land snail Akhatin is considered the most popular inhabitant of terrariums.

Akhatin fulica is a large snail, in which the shell reaches 20 cm in length. In nutrition, it is not fastidious, but it is very inert. Most of the time the snail rests.

Akhatin imaculum is distinguished by a strip along the entire head, as well as a pinkish rim running along its shell.

Akhatina reticulata is a curious and mobile representative of the family.

The landed snail of Ahatina vulgaris has tiger coloring and giant dimensions, its shell reaches 20 cm in length. At home, it has more modest parameters.

In addition to akhatin, domestic breeders are also popular grape snails, which are characterized by a huge variety of colors, while much smaller sizes than the ahatine. Their shells in length reach 5 cm and 4.5 cm in height.

Advantages

The main advantages of these pets is their low demand for content. A snail land at home lives perfectly in terrariums or small aquariums. It is clear that such a pet is not necessary to walk. When caring for animals, financial costs are also insignificant, they can be fed with fruits and vegetables in small quantities. For land snails, the replacement of soil can be done only once a month, while its cost is low.

Content

It should be noted that the maintenance of land snails is very simple. This requires a 10-liter glass terrarium. The upper part of the terrarium should have small holes for normal ventilation so that pets can not crawl through them. In the terrarium, the temperature should be constant and not exceed 27 ° С.

It is advisable to place the heating sources on the outside of the aquarium - they can be thermocouples or thermocouples. At the same time, internal heat sources for land snails are dangerous, as they can get serious burns.

As a primer, it is better to use a coconut substrate. The thickness of the flooring at the same time should correspond to the total size of the snails, which will enable the gastropods to fully dig in during the daytime sleep. It is necessary to maintain a constant moisture of the ground, for which it will be enough to spray it lightly with water once a day. Do not overmoisten it.

Periodically the soil must be loosened. But in the terrarium it is necessary to plant green non-toxic plants, for example, leaf salad or cat grass.

Continuing to figure out how to care for snails by land, it is worth noting that their aquarium needs a weekly general cleaning. Every day, its walls are recommended to wipe with a damp cloth, while not using household chemicals.

Snails are very fond of water procedures. For this, they can be bathed under a thin trickle of lukewarm water or in a shallow separate bowl. Special care also requires a sink of pets, it must be cleaned while bathing with a soft brush from dirt.

If something irreparable happened - for example, a shell broke, or a hole appeared in it, try gluing it with glue "BF". In such a snail, the chances of surviving are very small, but they do exist. In this case, in young animals, any damage to the shell without any problems is prolonged, while adults suffer much more (although their shell is more durable). But a snail with a shattered shell can not be saved.

Food

In land snails, the basis of nutrition is plant food. Pets gladly eat all kinds of greens, as well as fruits and vegetables, which are served in sliced small slices. Solid products should initially be passed through a grater.

Home snails land as a supplement to their vegetative diet with pleasure use a variety of protein foods - fish food, puree from seafood and meat, gammarus, daphnia. Such feeding is necessary for pets to be offered every week several times.

Home snails can not offer a variety of salty foods, because salt is a poison for any gastropods!

For proper development and strength of the shell in the diet of their pets, you can enter calcium in the form of sepia or pounded eggshell.

Reproduction

Snails are hermaphrodites, which means that the content of two or more individuals in one terrarium can lead to their fertilization. The majority of such mollusks lay eggs, although viviparous species are also found. Basically, the snail digs its masonry into the ground, and it is advisable not to miss this moment, as the masonry from the terrarium is seized and placed neatly into a separate container.

At the same time, it is necessary to observe the same soil consistency and humidity, where adult individuals live. Soon, small snails hatch, then climb out to the surface. Kids are completely ready for life and are fed by the food that their parents use, but until the shell gets stronger, it is better not to plant them with large snails.

Walking

Snails on land do not need walks, like other pets, while fresh air affects them very well - the gastropods improve appetite, activity increases. On the street they are taken out on a non-hot day in a container. They have enough and a very short walk - only about half an hour. At this time, you must carefully monitor that the skin of the snail does not dry out, for this it is recommended to spray it from time to time with water. Keep container away from direct sunlight.

Do not need your pets to release on the grass - snails land can attract predators, as well as catch parasites. These are very fragile creatures that are difficult to treat because it is very difficult to find a veterinarian for such a pet. In any case, you do not need to risk their health and life.