Description and content of Achatina albinos

In the 21st century, it has become extremely popular to have rather unusual exotic pets: spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes and even crocodiles. However, the listed reptiles and insects are either very dangerous or too unattractive. Having an irresistible desire to make such a "friend", you can do it without spending huge amounts of money and without feeling a sense of disgust. We are talking about domestic snails. The most common mollusk for this is the albino Achatina.

The homeland of the described mollusk is considered to be the tropical forests of Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. In the wild, snails are characterized by rapid growth and development. In 1-1.5 years, their shell can grow up to 20 centimeters, so at home it looks unusual and attracts the attention of others. All molluscs that belong to the reticulum species have the same characteristic shell, colored beige with brown stripes and specks. By color, they are divided into 3 types.

1. The standard is a snail that has a light body and a brown head.
2. Black-headed is a snail that has a dark head and a light-colored body.
3. Albino is a snail that has completely lost its pigment and is painted white.

The head, body and sole of the albino Achatina snail are white or beige. The shell is brown with a ribbed surface. Often, it shows stripes or spots of a darker shade.The shell for all molluscs is the most precious element, with serious damage to which the snail is most likely to die. The shell can be up to 20 centimeters in size, and the body up to 25 centimeters. Albinos grow more slowly than other species of molluscs, therefore, in size they also lag behind their counterparts.

The albino Achatina is a very friendly and active creature. She always makes contact with people and loves to play. The head is always stretched forward, because she is very curious and wants to be aware of all the events. The snail, according to the owners, is distinguished by its intelligence and learning ability. We can say with certainty that the snail will become a good and beloved pet for you and your children. She does not bite or scratch anyone, absolutely does not smell anything and does not create noise.

Snails are extremely easy to care for. They do not require much attention and care. It takes little effort and investment to maintain a favorable environment. The first thing you will need to take care of is where your pet lives. To do this, you can purchase a special terrarium, but if you suddenly have financial problems and you do not want to spend money, you can use an old aquarium or even a food container. The use of cardboard or plywood for the snail's dwelling is not allowed.

Mandatory requirements for comfortable living conditions in the "snail house":

• the presence of a cover with the possibility of air exchange;
• transparent walls;
• the shape of the container should not be round;
• environmentally friendly material.

If you have opted for a terrarium, then you definitely need to have some information. These devices are available in horizontal or vertical design. The most convenient form is horizontal. In a ready-made container from a pet store, everything is already thought out for you: a mount for a thermometer and a hygrometer, ventilation, and so on. The only significant disadvantage is the price, but it will depend on the materials from which, in fact, the terrarium is made.

Most aspiring African snail enthusiasts choose an aquarium first. It is important that it is rectangular and has a volume of at least 20 liters, provided that 1 individual lives there. If you have a lot more snails, then you will need a lot more space. Here, on your own, you will have to equip ventilation for active air exchange, as well as a cover to prevent the escape of the snail. Unfortunately, the aquarium has many disadvantages, for example, it is extremely fragile, heavy, and inconvenient to use.

Today, the food container is gaining more and more popularity among buyers. It is made from environmentally friendly materials and has quite durable characteristics. There are options with transparent walls, so it is possible to observe the life of these little friends.

Every organism living on our planet needs fresh air. Today there are 2 statements about ventilation for snails. The first is that a few holes are enough for the mollusk to renew the air and dry the soil, preventing it from becoming moldy. The second advocates a more correct position of forced ventilation, since it is important that air not only enters, but also exits. Thus, the holes should be made like this:

• in one of the walls - at ground level;
• in the opposite wall - right under the cover.
• the holes should be no wider than the match head.

The soil that is suitable for snails has several options.

1. Coconut substrate is the most common and inexpensive substrate.Litter that absorbs moisture well and does not stain the terrarium.
2. Peat is also a fairly common soil. It is advisable to use in combination with other soils.
3. Moss is the most accessible type of soil. Perfectly absorbs moisture and prevents annoying midges from breeding. Serves as a kind of indicator of moisture in the aquarium.
4. The land is an excellent soil in which snails feel great.
5. Leaf litter is both independent and additional soil.

It is equally important to maintain the temperature for a comfortable stay. Due to the fact that snails come from a hot country, the temperature should be around 24 to 29 degrees. To create and maintain such a regime, an incandescent lamp or a thermal cord is used, but in no case should the house be placed next to heating appliances. This has an extremely negative effect on the health of the snails.

The terrarium can be decorated to create a cozy atmosphere. So, inside you can add a piece of bark, moss, a few cones and even a coconut shell. In addition, you can plant live plants such as fern, rejuvenated, money tree, ivy and other vegetation. Over time, the plants will have to be updated, since the residents of the house will sometimes feed on them.

Usually the snail is fed 1 or 2 times a day. Mollusks are unpretentious to food and eat almost everything. If necessary, they can endure a week of hunger. It should be remembered that the inhabitants need additional minerals and vitamins, so you can put chalk stones in the aquarium. Some crush the shells and add them to food to strengthen the shells.

Food:

• greens (lettuce, broccoli, parsley, spinach and more);
• vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin);
• fruits (apple, pear, banana, melon, and so on);
• berries (raspberries, watermelon, strawberries, raisins and much more);
• wild vegetation (clover leaves, plantain);
• cereals (buckwheat, rice, pearl barley, rolled oats, corn flakes).

There must be a container with water in the house. She will use it not only for drinking, but also for taking water procedures. It is important to take into account that the bowl is not deep. Replace the water as it gets dirty.

Albino achatina live in pairs and are hermaphrodites, that is, both individuals lay eggs. The clutch should be carefully monitored, and babies should live separately from adults, as they can cause enormous damage to the parent's shell. And, most likely, there will be not enough space.

The individual begins to lay eggs from the age of one. She can bring up to 300 eggs at a time. If the owner does not need so many larvae, then some of them are frozen and ground, and then fed as an additive to strengthen health and shell. Small snails appear on the tenth day or a little later. They must be kept separate from adults until their shell grows to 4 centimeters.

You can take a closer look at this type of snails further.