Interesting snails. Interesting. Features of the behavior of Achatina

A snail is a unique living creature that is protected by a shell and can live not only in the wild, but also at home. This species of animal belongs to the class of gastropods (gastropods), the type of molluscs. The word snail comes from the Old Slavonic "snail" - hollow because of its house (shell), which is empty without an animal.

Snail - description and characteristics

The body of a snail consists of a head, a leg, an visceral sac, and a mantle fold. The movement of the mollusk occurs on the sole, which covers the lower part of the leg. This process is the result of muscle contractions that create a kind of wave. To make sliding as comfortable as possible, the epithelium of the limb secretes a lot of mucus.

Snails of small size can move with the help of the beating of cilia.

The visceral sac is located inside the shell in the form of a spiral or cap. In the mantle of snails that live in water, gills are located. This body must be constantly washed by a stream of water, in order to organize this process, the mantle is equipped with:

• inlet siphon through which the liquid enters;
• outlet siphon through which water is removed.

Also inside the mantle are:

• kidney ducts;
• excretory system;
• intestines;
• sexual apparatus;
• lung (for those living on land).

In order for air to enter the respiratory organs, there is a special hole. It is located on the edge of the shell or on the front side of the body.

The head consists of:

• stalks with eyes;
• tentacles (organ of touch);
• oral cavity.

The shell of a snail, like other mollusks, consists of several layers:

• The periostracum is a thin layer that covers the structure from the outside. It is made up of a protein called conchiolin.
• Ostracum is a calcium carbonate middle layer wrapped in conchiolin.
• Hypostracum (mother-of-pearl) - a layer located inside. It includes plates of calcium carbonate coated with conchiolin.

The shell is an integral part of the snail's body. The external skeleton of the mollusk protects it from enemies, external negative factors, and retains moisture.

A snail is born with a shell, only in babies it is thin and transparent.

The shape of the external skeleton: conical, in which all the organs of the mollusk are located asymmetrically or flat spiral. The surface is smooth or with outgrowths. The turns in the helix are arranged from left to right, but there are very rare cases when the opposite is true. Sizes and colors may vary.

Some snails have a reduced shell - this is a calcareous plate inside the mantle. Basically, these are slugs that can be found in any garden.

Teeth

Representatives of gastropods are distinguished by a special organ in the oral cavity - the radula. This organ performs the functions of the tongue and teeth. The radula consists of a cartilaginous plate on which there are several rows of teeth of various shapes.

Vegetarian snails have small teeth, predators have large ones in the form of a pike or gaff. The number of teeth in a cochlea can reach 25,000. Basically, the radula includes 120 rows, each with 100 teeth = 12,000.

Poisonous snails mainly have teeth with a cavity through which poison flows from a special gland, paralyzing the victim.

In nature, snails live, which feed on animal food. Such species are distinguished by teeth in the form of a drill. It can drill into the oyster shell or other hard protective shells, which helps the mollusk get to the meat.

Clam mucus is a compound that is very important for the snail. It consists of a complex protein (mucin) and water.

The unique properties of this substance are widely used today in cosmetology as a rejuvenating, sunscreen, moisturizer.

Mucin regulates the processes of mineralization and shell formation. Slime is divided into two types:

• The first type helps the mollusk move by moistening the surface.
• The second type is produced by a special gland, as a response to any stress and mechanical damage to the shell. The main components of such mucus are polysaccharides, mineral salts, which have restorative, regenerating properties.

The snail lives in all climatic conditions on all continents except Antarctica and arid deserts. The mollusk lives in warm waters the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean and in the cold environment of the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea.

Snails feel great in Europe, Africa, Australia, America. It is found in Asia and Russia. The main condition for the existence of a mollusk is high humidity, which will not allow the body of the snail to dry out, otherwise the animal may die.

Everything that a snail eats depends on its habitat. The nutrition of the mollusk surprises with its diversity, it can be:

• soft part of fresh plants.
• plant remains;
• small relatives;
• worms;
• carrion;
• fish;
• insects;
• crustaceans.

Land mollusks are happy to eat leaves, berries, fruits, vegetables, bark, grass. The young prefer fresher food, but as they age, their preferences change, and the old snail begins to feed on rotten plants.

Some species eat flies, midges, mosquitoes, carrion. A delicacy for a street snail can be a rotten tree.

To grind food well, the teeth of the mollusk require calcium. Its deficiency leads to the fact that the snail begins to sharpen its shell, which collapses, leaving the body without protection. This leads to dehydration and death.

Snails in the aquarium can be fed:

• fish food;
• aquarium plants;
• algae tablets;
• chopped vegetables.

So that the aquarium is not left without all the vegetation, the number of mollusks is best taken under control. A moderate amount of snails is good for algae, as they eat all the rot on them and clean the aquarium. It is also recommended to grind eggshells in a coffee grinder to replenish calcium in the body of gastropods.

It is worth monitoring the nutrition of the pet, he should not be given human food. And also it is necessary to put newspapers away, because the snail eats them with great pleasure, but after such a feast it rarely survives.

You can include a diet:

• plantain;
• legumes;
• cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes, bell pepper;
• greens;
• dandelions;
• bananas, watermelon, pears, strawberries, apples.

For land representatives, do not forget to put a bowl of clean water.

Gastropods in most cases are oviparous animals. The process of fertilization and egg laying depends on the habitat of the snail.

Snails with lungs living in fresh waters and on land are hermaphrodites. Such mollusks have both female and male sexual characteristics. In this connection, during mating, fertilization occurs cross.

Freshwater snails lay their eggs in capsules, and land snails in dug holes. At a time, the mollusk is able to lay up to 85 pieces. Eggs ripen within 28 days and may have a different color:

• transparent;
• green;
• white;
• pink.

The development of this snail takes place without stages of transformation. After passing the prescribed ripening period, a formed individual with a transparent shell is born, which eventually hardens and gets its color.

Snails with gills are heterosexual creatures. Males are endowed with a testis and a vas deferens. Female mollusks have an ovary and an oviduct.

Egg laying takes place in a special cocoon with a lid that dissolves at the time of development of the larvae. For the safety of future offspring, the outer row of eggs is not filled, this allows you to leave the predator without lunch.

The development of gastropods takes place with transformations from egg to larva (veliger). With the help of outgrowths with thin cilia, it moves and feeds on small particles of food of plant and protein origin. After a few days, the mollusk forms and sinks to the bottom.

There are unique species of gill snails that do not lay eggs, but go through a gestation cycle. The fetus remains in the mother's body until it is fully mature and only then is born.

Snail diseases

Snails can suffer from the following diseases:

• Broken shell, holes, cracks. In this case, the animal should receive the maximum amount of calcium, rest, high humidity and the correct temperature.
• Shell lamination. This process can occur against the background of improper maintenance, stress, poor heredity.
• white bloom on the sink. The problem arises against the background of poor conditions, as an age change or it can be a simple wear.
• Burns. They are thermal, chemical. In this case, the snail hides in the shell and hardly moves. You can alleviate the condition by increasing the humidity and increasing the amount of juicy vegetables and fruits in the diet.
• Poisoning. It happens due to poor quality food.
• Self-gnawing. The snail begins to eat itself due to calcium deficiency, stress or heredity.
• Prolapse of organs.

Enemies in the wild

Gastropods are among the most inconspicuous organisms on earth. But, despite this, the individual has enough enemies:

• sea ​​gobies;
• sardine;
• sea ​​stars;
• mackerel;
• whales;
• herring;
• hermit crabs.

For land snails, the danger is:

• moles;
• thrushes;
• wild boars;
• lizards;
• hedgehogs.

Freshwater clams should be afraid of:

• trout;
• storks;
• frogs;
• herons.

Snails are slow and cautious, which helps them to protect themselves from enemies. They avoid heavily lit areas, and stick to the thickness of the substrate.

How long does a snail live? Lifespan

Snails have good stress resistance, but they do not live more than 25 years. In nature, the mollusk is exposed to constant dangers that significantly shorten the life of the gastropods.

For example, grape snails can live for 20 years, but most often their lifespan does not exceed 8 years.

In captivity, the snail lives as long as it was originally measured out. The main thing for this is to follow all the rules of keeping and properly feed the pet.

The snail has more than 110,000 species; 2,000 of them are found in Russia.

The most poisonous gastropod is the Geographical cone, living in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It produces enough toxins to kill ten people. An antidote for the poison of this mollusk has not yet been found.

The poisonous snail affects its enemies by releasing a cloud of high levels of insulin, which instantly lowers the victim's blood sugar.

The smallest mollusk is Angustopila dominikae. Its size is 0.8 mm. For example: 4 of these snails can easily fit in the eye of a needle.

The Australian trumpeter is recognized as the largest gastropod. The giant snail weighs 18 kg. It belongs to the class of predators, lives at a depth of 30 m in the coastal region of Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and eats worms.

Snails are divided according to their place of residence into:

• marine;
• land;
• freshwater.

There are pulmonary, gill.

Large-sized land snail habitat, which is European part our continent. The shell of this species is 50 mm, spirally curved in 5 turns.

The length of the leg is from 35 to 52 mm, and the width is 22 mm.

The color varies from cream to brown with a red tint. The first 3 turns along the entire diameter alternate with light and dark stripes. Small ribs are clearly visible on the outer side of the shell. In the wild, the mollusk lives from 8 to 20 years.

In winter, the snail is at rest for three months, attaching its sole to the substrate, clogging the shell with special mucus. During wintering, the snail loses up to 10% of its weight. After activation, the mollusk recovers within a month and a half.

The grape snail is able to tolerate low temperatures down to -7 ° C, but not more than 10 hours.

Grape snail at home is bred for a long time. To date, special snail farms are opening in some countries.

Meat of gastropods consists of:

• 15% - protein;
• 8% - carbohydrates;
• 35% - fat.

It also contains a number of essential minerals and vitamins.

The grape snail is a delicacy, and in Europe it is eaten as a complete, useful product. It is also bred for use in cosmetology and the pharmaceutical industry.

Grape snail at home is bred in special terrariums, instead of other exotic, but not always safe animals. Mollusks are hermaphrodites, therefore, it is enough for breeding, heterosexual individuals of sexually mature age.

Grape snail at home eats plant foods. They can be fed vegetables and fruits. The appetite of the gastropod is good, and therefore it is necessary to ensure that he has food all the time.

The grape snail is kept at home in a glass or plastic jar, a box with good ventilation and a large bottom.

You can cook the clams as follows:

• 100 pieces. gastropods;
• 1 liter of white wine;
• 2 carrots;
• 800 g of special snail oil;
• 200 g vinegar 3%;
• 2 onions;
• thyme, salt, parsley to taste;
• Bay leaf;
• 3 tbsp flour.

Snails are flooded cold water and after boiling, cook for about 7 minutes. It is washed, dried, the shell is removed, the black tip is cut off. The finished product is poured with white wine with the same amount of water, chopped vegetables, seasonings and herbs are added. Salt in a proportion of 10 g per 1 liter. Cook for 3.5 - 4.5 hours, then leave to cool. The sinks are thoroughly washed in a weak soda solution and rinsed in running clean water.

Sauce or special oil for shellfish: 100 grams of grated onion + 2 cloves of minced garlic + parsley + salt, black pepper + 800 g softened butter. Mix thoroughly.

The shell is filled with ready-made butter and the finished snail, heated in the oven before serving.

The gastropod reel is a freshwater snail that lives in ponds with lush vegetation and little current. The mollusk survives even in very polluted waters with minimal oxygen content.

The shell is a tightly twisted spiral in several turns with a seam visible to the naked eye. This type of snail is now common among aquarium keepers, in which the mollusk grows up to 1 cm in the wild, the size of the gastropod can reach 3.7 cm.

Color - from brick color to rich red. The gastropod coil is able to move like a shell down the surface of the water with the help of air accumulated inside. Sensing danger, the snail releases the remaining oxygen and falls to the bottom.

Coils are:

• horny;
• horny red;
• Far Eastern;
• keeled;
• wrapped.

The coil cleans the aquarium well, eating rotten parts of plants and food residues.

The garden gastropod is a large pest in garden plots, which their owners are actively fighting. The snail eats fresh crops with pleasure and spoils young leaves, shoots, sometimes causing irreparable harm.

But there are also benefits from these mollusks. They process the remains of vegetation, acting as orderlies.

The garden snail does not have any features that distinguish it from other relatives. She lives on the ground, hiding in the shade during the day, and leaving it in the evening for food.

This mollusk is not whimsical and very often it is kept in aquariums at home. This is the most economical option for breeding snails. The garden snail does not require special care and eats everything that grows in the garden.

A mollusk called Neretina is one of the most popular aquarium snail species. Bright, variegated color is individual for each individual and does not repeat, making each gastropod exclusive. It is not difficult to keep such an animal.

Neretina snail grows up to 3.2 cm, has a flat oval (round) shell, decorated with a variety of patterns with a beautiful, noticeable color. The body of the mollusk is large and dark in color.

Neretina snail is divided into four types:

• zebra - striped color;
• brindle - orange-black stripes;
• olive - color similar to the name;
• horned - the head is characterized by horns-mustache.

The mollusk was born in Africa, where it lives in all available water bodies. Neretina is not whimsical, it easily manages for a certain period without feeding, eating up waste from other inhabitants of the aquarium and rot on the walls.

At home, the snail should be periodically pampered with calcium supplements. You can also include chopped vegetables, fish food in the form of a powder, grated shells from chicken eggs in the diet.

The mollusk was distributed only on the African continent for a long time, but today this snail is often found as a pet.

Achatina giant is distinguished by the most large sizes shells, which can reach 20 cm and weigh up to 0.5 kg. AT natural conditions In Russia, the mollusk does not survive; here it is kept at home in special terrariums.

The Akhata shell of an individual has a conical shape, twisted clockwise. The color is made up of stripes. Brown color different shades. There are also albinos who are completely white. The mollusk feeds on plant foods. By gender, it performs the functions of a male and female individual, that is African snail Achatina, which is a hermaphrodite.

Makes 6 clutches per year, each of which can bring 200 eggs. Achatina lives for about 7 years, but with proper care this figure can rise to 10.

During the day, the African snail Achatina prefers to sleep and stay awake at night. If you increase the humidity in the aquarium, the mollusk will become active during daylight hours.

Helena mollusk is a freshwater mollusk that lives in the region of Southeast Asia. The gastropod has a not very good reputation, as it periodically eats its relatives. Aquarium keepers most often keep this species of gastropods to exterminate other snails.

Helena has a positive attitude towards running water, but at the same time they feel good in artificial reservoirs, lakes and aquariums. The substrate is chosen sandy or silty.

The individual feeds on live snails, carrion. The shell is conical with pronounced irregularities, can reach 20 mm, the color is yellow with brown stripes. The body is grey-green. Helena snail lives a little, about two years.

At home, the gastropod feeds on the same small mollusks. Large individuals do not suffer, since the helena snail cannot cope with them. The process of eating occurs with the help of a tube on which the mouth is located, it is inserted into the shell of the gastropod and sucks out the body of the gastropod. The individual also feeds on ordinary fish food, krill, and frozen shrimp.

Helens are heterosexual animals and breed well in captivity. Mating between a male and a female can last for hours, quite often other relatives join them and the created group sticks together, continuing the process. The female lays one egg, which develops very slowly.

According to aquarists, the Helena snail can seriously reduce the population of other mollusks, so the number of this individual must be controlled.

Slugs are a snail without a shell, which is completely similar to its relative. Some species have a small inconspicuous shell covered by a mantle.

Basically, the size of the mollusk does not exceed a few centimeters. But, despite this, there are individuals that can reach 32 cm!

Color - gray-brown, chestnut, black, red, yellow, depending on the species. Slugs live on all continents in areas where there is high humidity. The absence of their own house makes them seek shelter from the effects of the sun, winds, and cold.

The mollusk shows activity at night, when the heat subsides and a gentle coolness sets in. A relative of the snail hibernates deep in the soil.

The slug moves with the help of the sole, which contracts in waves, for a more comfortable glide, an abundant amount of mucus is released. In search of food, despite its slowness, the individual is ready to overcome decent distances.

Most of mollusks eat plant foods. They eat everything:

• leaves;
• flowers;
• fruit;
• berries;
• mushrooms.

The slug also eats:

• carrion;
• feces;
• lichens.

Predators eat worms, their relatives, newborn mice, hatched chicks. The process of nutrition occurs with the help of a radula dotted with teeth.

Hermaphrodite reproduction occurs once a year, it lays up to 40 eggs. Slug for many gardeners is a pest that must be destroyed. But it is worth noting that this mollusk has the largest male genital organ among its relatives, which, after mating, it can bite off to unstick from its partner. Over time, the body is restored.

Bithynia

A small freshwater mollusk with a smooth spiral shell. Size within 15mm. Color: brown, gray, olive. Life cycle last up to 5.5 years. It lives on the American and Eurasian continents.

Luzhanka

A freshwater gastropod with a blunt-conical shell up to 43 mm long and 31 mm wide, curled in several turns. The color depends on the habitat and can be: greenish, brown, red, brown.

The Luzhanka snail is a viviparous mollusk.

Gastropod lives in all regions of Europe, except for the northern regions.

Buccinum (trumpeter)

A large marine snail with a shell measuring 24 cm diagonally and 17 cm vertically. Color - light brown. The surface is embossed or smooth.

The mollusk belongs to predators and paralyzes its prey with poisonous saliva. Lives only in northern oceans with cool water.

ampoule

An aquarium snail that requires special conditions of detention. This mollusk loves to eat a lot, and when there is a shortage of food, it begins to spoil the plants. The size of the gastropod reaches 15.5 cm.

Fiza

The 2-centimeter Fiza snail is popular with experienced aquarists. The special shape of the shell helps the mollusk hide in the most secluded places.

The gastropod feeds on living algae. The presence of lungs allows the physio to exist without water. It is recommended to control the number of this species of snail, since it reproduces very quickly.

The mollusk is a good aquarium cleaner from plaque and bacterial films on the walls. Water will be used hard with a temperature not lower than 21 degrees.

tilomelania

Thylomelania is a colorful mollusk that will decorate any aquarium. Special care is required for him, since the snail eats a lot and does not get along well with its other relatives. The length of the gastropod reaches 13 cm.

The color of the shell can have any color, the surface is smooth or with spikes. Water for the mollusk is best made soft with high acidity.

The snail needs to be fed three times a day. In food, she is not picky, loves a large number of light, requires a lot of space.

Melania

Mollusk Melania is an aquarium snail that reproduces quickly and instantly cleans the aquarium of waste. Gastropod feels comfortable in water with a temperature of 17 to 29 °C. Color is grey-green. Shell conical shape. Melania is omnivorous.

Pagoda (brotia)

This mollusk requires sufficient oxygen content in the water and prefers sand in the form of soil. Feeds on algae and fish food. The pagoda lives very little - only six months.

Maryse

The large mollusk Maryse is unpretentious in food, she does not need complex care, and she has the ability to rise to the surface of the water and breathe air. Mariza feeds on algae and food for aquarium fish.

• To live a snail, you need to prepare:
• terrarium;
• Plastic container;
• aquarium;
• house for rodents.
• The capacity for the mollusk, in the worst case, should not be less than 10 liters per individual, at best - 20 liters.
• To prevent the pet from running away, you need to take care of a tight cover.
• For oxygen to enter, it is recommended to make several holes in the lid.
• More attention should be paid to the height of the aquarium than to its width.
• Snail housing is best hidden from bright light, and electric lighting can be excluded.
• The soil can be:
• land for flowers;
• peat;
• coconut substrate;
• tree bark;
• sawdust.
• Comfortable water temperature in the aquarium for snails is +25° - +30°.
• For land mollusks, it is necessary to periodically treat their place of residence with fresh water from a spray bottle to maintain normal humidity.
• Don't forget to put drinking water in a small container and constantly change it.
• If you take care of the mollusk incorrectly, he may die or hibernate.
• The terrarium should be regularly kept clean.

Proper feeding of the snail is the key to its health and the ability to live as long as the snail lives in the maximum good conditions.

• Almost all snails prefer plant food, for which you can prepare a special tray with low edges.
• Snails are very fond of bananas, but if you give them often, they stop eating other food and require only this delicacy.
• You can not offer the mollusk food containing salt and sugar - this is deadly.
• For a beautiful, healthy shell, you need to feed the snail with calcium.

If snails are properly cared for, they very quickly become tame and get used to their owner.

A snail is not just a resident of an aquarium or a pest in a garden, a mollusk has a lot of useful properties which people have learned to use as efficiently as possible.

• Snail meat is very healthy and in many countries it is cooked as a regular dish.
• Mollusk mucus is distinguished by a large number of biologically active substances:
• elastin;
• amino acids;
• collagen;
• vitamins;
• natural antibiotics;
• allantoin.
• The protein content in mollusk meat is one and a half times more than in a chicken egg.
• Snail meat is recommended for dietary nutrition.
• The mollusk does not cause allergies.
• In ancient times, snails were actively used for therapeutic purposes.
• AT modern medicine shellfish mucus is used to treat silicosis, bronchitis, whooping cough. Since a special composition tends to glue cells with bacteria. Our grandmothers planted a snail on a piece of lumpy sugar and waited for it to be covered with mucus, after which they gave it to the sick person to eat it.
• The content of mucus in the snail allows it to independently restore the shell.
• In cosmetology, ordinary mucus has become the basis for many anti-aging, regenerating, antioxidant agents.
• Also with the help of snails make effective masks.
• On the basis of mucus, drugs are produced to combat stretch marks, acne, scars, warts, age spots.

The snail is a unique creature that is the oldest living creature on earth. Therefore, there are a lot of interesting facts in the life of this mollusk:

An ordinary snail can bring many benefits, the main thing is to know about its unique abilities.

Snails belong to the class of shellfish. Their body is asymmetrical and consists of a leg with a sole, a torso and a head. The head and leg are drawn into the shell with the help of a very strong special muscle that covers the entire body of the snail.

Snails live both on land and in water. Even when humanity interferes with their environment, they are able to survive and adapt to a comfortable existence next to us. Scientists also confirm the fact that snails are much smarter than we think about them.

These creatures have a brain divided into four sections, thanks to this property they have the ability to think. Snails can even make different decisions based on their life experiences.

These creatures mainly move by slowly sliding on the sole of the foot, with movement carried out by waves of contraction running from back to front along the sole.

The mucus that is secreted during the movement of the skin makes it easier to slide, because it softens the friction. When the snail moves, its body is on a kind of slime cushion, so even if it crawls along the blade, its body will not be damaged.

Snails live on average about 15 years. Their viability is amazing: during unfavorable conditions, they can hibernate even for six months!

With the onset of the cold period of the year, the mollusk draws its leg and head into the shell, having previously hidden under the leaves or in the ground. The entrance is sealed with mucus, which hardens over time.

This dream lasts until the onset of spring. Thus, snails can tolerate extreme cold and heat. For example, garden representatives can withstand temperatures down to -120 degrees. With the onset of the warm season, the snails wake up and greedily pounce on food.

When the forces are restored, nature tells the mollusks to start thinking about offspring.

It turns out that most snails are hermaphrodites, very rarely heterosexual creatures are found. They reproduce by laying eggs.

In one period, the snail lays an average of 85 pieces. The egg maturation period lasts 3-4 weeks. Babies are born with a transparent shell, as they grow, it becomes denser. The strength of the snail shell depends on the amount of calcium in its food: the more it consumes, the more reliable its "house".

In almost all types of snails, the shell twists to the right, i.e. clockwise. But sometimes, very rarely, there are left-handed shells.

These cute creatures live in small groups. When it gets cool, mostly at night, they crawl out of their shelters to feed. Snails are not able to chew, they grind food with their 25 thousand teeth, which are arranged in the form of a grater.

They eat everything: small larvae, grass, leaves, worms. They search for food by touch, with their tentacle horns. These creatures drink not only with their mouths, but also with the help of the outer integuments of the skin.

Dried specimens have absorbed through the mucous membrane such an amount of water in six hours that is equal to half of their total weight. At dawn, snails drink dew with their outer covers, shaking it off the leaves. They see very poorly, their microscopic eyes can only distinguish night from day.

But at the same time, their sense of smell is at its best: for example, a snail without a shell can smell food at a distance of up to two meters. Hearing in these creatures is completely absent. They are unable to make sounds. Snails interact with each other by touch.

The horns of these creatures are the nose, but turned inside out. All the receptors that we have inside are extended into these horns. In addition to all this, these mollusks have organs of chemical sense and balance.

Interesting fact! In France, the Burgundy snail lives, which sleeps in winter in frost and in summer in drought, but when it rains warm, quiet, it begins to “sing” - it makes sounds that resemble melodious singing.

Not so long ago, Achatina snails were a rarity and a real exotic. Moreover, not only the mollusks themselves were lacking, but also information on how to properly handle them, what to feed them and how to keep them. Currently, there is no such problem, and in our country there are more and more lovers of these unique animals.

Domestic snails are rapidly gaining popularity: spectacular photos with huge mollusks can often be found in in social networks and on the forums. Probably the reason for this lies in their unpretentiousness, because many of us want to get a pet, but there is simply no time to care for a cat.

Achatina snails practically do not require special equipment, in addition to the terrarium (which is suitable plastic box with a lid), soil, a plastic bowl, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as vitamin supplements. Achatina snails are the most popular among lovers of these mollusks. In good conditions, they can live up to 10 years in captivity, with an average age of about 5 years. Achatina snails lead nocturnal lifestyle and, therefore, they should be fed in the evening, and in the morning, remove the uneaten remnants of food so that they do not deteriorate.

Types of snails Achatina

Achatina tincta (the last turn of the shell is dark, and the sharp end is pinkish),

achatina glutinose,

Achatina albopicta (marble shell),

Achatina iostoma (requires more space than other types of Achatina),

Achatina reticulata - albinos (beautiful and popular, grow faster than other types of Achatina),

Achatina Zanzibarica (viviparous, small size - up to 10 cm),

spotless Achatina immaculata (found in a variety of shades, stripes on the shell),

Achatina Shtulman (elongated shell),

Achatina balteata,

lemon Achatina iradeli (viviparous, with a yellow shell),

• ordinary Achatina (the largest land snail, differs from others in the special structure of the tail, the same as that of the archachatina),

• (the most widespread).

Within each species, there are many varieties and colors.

At the tips of the upper tentacles, Achatina are located eyes. They are not able to distinguish colors, but in general they see well, especially when compared with other mollusks.

The lower tentacles give the Achatina much more useful information: and surrounding them smells, and the possibility touch object of interest (food, snag or other snail).

The Achatina snail removes its tentacle by contracting a special muscle - the retractor. The back of the tentacle is straightened due to the influx of blood plasma.

— hermaphrodites, each of them performs both female and male functions at the same time, producing eggs and sperm. Mutual fertilization is possible, and in rare cases even self-fertilization. As a rule, the functions of a "woman" are taken over by larger individual, because she needs more strength in order to produce offspring.

If you decide to become the owner of this glorious mollusk, be sure to prepare for the meeting with it in advance: get a terrarium, a coconut substrate for bedding, stock up on fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs.

It is better not to buy a snail in the market, because often sellers come there, but not breeders or even Achatina lovers. Try to get a pet from a knowledgeable and passionate person, who will be happy to tell you about the features of keeping snails, and also help with overexposure if you are going on a long vacation.

The content of the article:

These are some unearthly, cosmic creatures. Looking at them, you can sit and meditate for hours. They evoke incredible feelings. Some people say they are gross and nasty, while others like them a lot. Do not rush to draw conclusions, weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes you get to know them better enough and your opinion changes.

Someone does not have enough time for pets, but they want to communicate with a living being. Many people suffer from allergies, so they also cannot get a pet for the soul. These are the creatures that can solve these problems. And, by the way, whether to start them or not is a purely personal matter - it's up to you to decide.

The history of the distribution of giant snails

Land gastropod mollusks are distributed in almost all continents of the globe. Their diversity is amazing. And this is expressed not only in color, the shape of their shells, but also in size. Achatina are giants in the world of snails. Some individuals reach from 28 to 30 cm in length. These are tropical inhabitants, lovers of humid climatic conditions. They are mainly found on the mainland of Eurasia and the African continent. They say that Achatina appeared and gradually adapted to the conditions environment in east Africa, the island of Madagascar for a very long time. Gradually, they spread along the entire coast of the Indian Ocean, and then the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Achatina also got to the warm regions of the United States of America, where they multiplied very quickly, causing harm not only to plants, but also to the homes of Americans. The snails ate the plaster that people's dwellings were covered with. This was all because they didn't have enough calcium to develop their shells. Since these mollusks reproduce very quickly and eat a lot, a whole disaster has begun in this country. People were forced to take appropriate measures to combat the Achatina invasion in order to prevent natural changes due to the damage they caused. Now in America, these snails are banned, even as pets. For their maintenance, you can be jailed for up to five years. In countries with cold environmental conditions, they are not dangerous for agricultural land. Because they simply cannot survive there. The temperature at which Achatina can feel good should be at least 22 degrees Celsius all year round.

At home, Achatina are not a "natural disaster" and do not bring so many problems, because their numbers are regulated by another snail - "partulidae", which eats not only plants, but also its own kind. In fact, if snails live in stable numbers, they are beneficial. These are "forest cleaners" who eat decomposed parts of plants and their fruits, animal excrement, etc. Only young specimens of gastropods can harm. They eat not only fresh leaves and shoots, but also the ovaries of various fruits.

In almost all countries of their natural habitat, these mollusks are eaten. In some countries, they are even considered medicinal. So that also regulates their numbers. In Japan, there are entire farms for their breeding. They are considered a real delicacy and many different culinary dishes are prepared from them. They are also made in Belgium. Snails of a certain age are suitable for food. Adults are not tasty.

In countries with cold environmental conditions in which Achatina cannot survive, oddly enough, they are brought home as pets.

Types of Achatina

1. Achatina fulica. In captivity, it grows 20 to 22 cm. The color of the shell and legs is varied. Shell pigmentation: orange, brown, black. Not whimsical and easy to maintain. Therefore, it is this type that is most planted. Life expectancy is 5–8 years. They breed well. They lay up to 290 eggs. More slow. They take turns eating so as not to interfere with each other.
2. Achatina reticulum. Breeders are happy to keep this type of snail. The color of her legs is not uniform: the head and neck are darker (brown or blackish), and the edge of the legs is light. Drawing on the sink in the form of dots or stripes. Among the species there are also albinos. They are smaller but very pretty. More curious and sociable in their behavior. They grow faster than others. They can lay up to 300 eggs.
3. Achatina immaculata. Distinctive feature their colors are a stripe starting from the head and going along the leg, and a shell rim of pink or light purple tones. Color shades are very variable. Among the species and colors there is a panther. The content does not require special care. Clutch up to 200 eggs.
4. Achatina albopicta. Outwardly, its shell is similar to Achatina reticulum, but smaller in size up to 16 cm. At the end, the shell has a pink tip, and along the rim it is white or yellow. Differs in great gluttony.
5. Achatina was irradiated. Its shell has a distinctive color with a yellowish tint, so the species is called "lemon". They are small in size, up to 6–8 cm. In cultivation and care, they do not differ from other snails. It does not lay eggs, but gives birth to live snails up to 28 pieces.
6. Brown Achatina. Looks like a fulick. It differs only in the structure of the shell, the turns on it are more round. It is somewhat bulkier. When in contact with a person, she is not at all shy. More rare in snail collections. Contains the same as fulica.
7. Achatina Achatina (common Achatina or tiger). The largest type of shellfish. Under natural conditions, they reach up to 30 cm, and in apartment conditions up to 28 cm. Coloring depending on the subspecies. The central tone color is light yellow or orange. Uneven stripes go along the shell: wider or narrower, even and broken. Their color is brown or black. In nature, the color of their legs is rich black, in captivity, lighter. They live from 7 to 10 years. Calm, not active. They like to sleep in a dark house. Ready to lay eggs after two to 2-3 years of life. The eggs are larger.

Features of the behavior of Achatina

These are the perfect pets. You don’t need to walk with them, they don’t need to be combed out, they will never bite or scratch you, they are not allergic. Moreover, in addition to their cosmetic benefits, they also treat the nervous system. When you watch or communicate with Achatina, it kind of fascinates and calms. It is very pleasant to contact them. When you pay attention to them, after a while, they recognize their master. The owner of the snail is distinguished by the structure of the skin. They never hide, reach out to him with their horns and even know his movements.

They love to sit on their hands for a long time, to look at everything around. They stretch their long necks so bizarrely that they look like horses. Achatina are moisture-loving and love to swim. But this does not mean that they need to be immersed in a basin of water and they will float there. They need to be sprayed with water from a spray bottle or planted in a small plate with a small amount of liquid.

Achatina diseases

Snail breeding

Achatina are hermaphrodites. Each snail itself determines whether it will be a girl or a boy. On the side of the cheek of the snail there is a small dot-hole. When they meet, they begin to embrace and, with the help of an organ that emerges from this hole, they exchange seminal fluid. When fertilization has occurred, even both snails can lay eggs. For reproduction, an individual of the same species is needed. If the snail lives alone, it can also lay fatty eggs, but none of them will hatch.

If we are going to start Achatina, then for this we need a container. You can keep them in glass and plastic containers. Their size must be increased as the "pet" grows, based on one adult individual of at least 5 liters. The arrangement of a terrarium for snails must include certain rules.

It needs a backing. It can be soil that does not contain fertilizer. Coconut shavings or cover forest moss are best. You can sew a special non-woven mattress, and a synthetic winterizer is put inside. He is very comfortable. Firstly, it does not need to be changed like soil, but it is enough to rinse it under water and squeeze it out. So it will already contain the necessary moisture for snails. The base with which you decide to cover the bottom of the container is sprayed every day with water from a spray bottle.

You can put an additional source of moisture, a plate where a little water is poured, depending on the size of the snail, from 2 to 4 mm. If you fill it more than necessary, then Achatina may choke.

After all, the spiracle of the mollusk is located directly under the shell. Many people incorrectly think that he has a nose that is on his head and that he breathes like a human. On his muzzle there are two pairs of horns: the upper ones are the eyes, and the lower ones are the tentacles with which he orients himself in space. He finds his friends, food, finds out where it is dangerous for him and where it is safe.

You can decorate Achatina's home with fancy wooden snags. They should not be thin and sharp. Before organizing the interior, they need to be scalded hot water. The snails will "travel" on them and eat the bark of the tree.

Additional lighting is not required for snails, as they live by burrowing into the rainforest litter. But they love warmth. If in winter period it is cold in your apartment, you can additionally heat the terrarium. One way is to fill a small plastic bottle with hot water and wrap it in newspaper so that the Achatina do not get burned. The bottle is placed in the center of the container.

In a cold room, it is better to keep them in a plastic rather than a glass terrarium. After all, glass cools faster, it has low thermal conductivity. Do not forget about cleaning the container in which the snail lives. This must be done at least once a week. Its walls are washed with a damp sponge and the substrate is replaced. Change the water in the bowl for bathing and drinking regularly, every two days.

Achatina feed on plant debris. Don't put too much food in, it might start to stink. Little is better, but often. You can feed it with any vegetables and fruits, except for citrus fruits: cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, apples, cabbage, bananas, peppers, etc. Eating colorful vegetables and fruits, the Achatina shell will acquire their shade. Many breeders claim that Achatina have their own food preferences. For example, they are very fond of cucumbers and bananas. And some individuals are so spoiled that if they are not given their favorite food, they will completely refuse to eat and fall into hibernation.

A great delicacy for these molluscs is paper, but not waxed. They also eat cereals, for example: hercules. They love to eat the juicy bitterness of aloe. But before eating, you need to cut off its spines and cut it in half. Achatina need calcium to build a good, strong shell. For an additional source of it, you can buy mineral cuttlefish shell at the pet store, put ordinary chalk or scalded eggshells.

Achatina are very fond of "bath" procedures, under a warm stream of water. You can lightly wash their shell with a brush.

They cannot salt and sugar, as well as various human dishes. Direct sunlight is contraindicated. Like all living beings, a draft is harmful. They should not be kept in cold rooms.

Achatina are very inquisitive. They love to climb on the owner and look at everything around. But when you take your pet, you need to do it carefully. The edge of a snail's shell is called the growth zone and is soft. If you press down a little more, you can break it. They take the mollusks under the leg, starting from the head. Try to hold them by the sink - don't drop them. Falling from a great height can damage their "house".

Application of Achatina

Achatina are used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. Various products are made from them, which bring a healing, restoring and rejuvenating effect. Their mucus is rich in the presence of collagen, which gives impetus to excellent tissue regeneration and renewal. Scientists have found that best effect they bring live snails, not products prepared from them at the factory. Their natural mucus contains not only collagen, but vitamins and allantoin. Breeders in the city of Chile have noticed that after a lot of "talking" with Achatina, the skin on the hands becomes smoother, radiant and softer.

Cosmetologists, having learned about such wonderful properties of snails, decided to apply the innovation in beauty salons. Experimenting gradually, cosmetologists began to come up with various procedures that brought visible healing effect. Achatino-cosmetology helps in reducing wrinkles, has a resolving effect different kind scars, scars, lightens age spots and freckles, reduces unpleasant rashes.

One of the effective procedures used in salons is massage. If you have these wonderful creatures, you can carry out such manipulations at home.

They do it like this:

• First of all, you need to wash yourself with natural soap or herbal infusions;
• the leg of the snail is washed under running water;
• moisturizing face natural juice aloe or cucumber, for better clam sliding;
• then Achatina sits on the face and is left to crawl there for 15 minutes;
• Mucus at the end of the procedure is left for 20 minutes, and then washed off.

To obtain a stable result, the procedure is carried out several times a week. It takes twenty to thirty minutes in time. With regular use, the result will pleasantly surprise you.

If you do not want to breed Achatina, and they postponed laying, then do not worry, you can use this to your advantage. Eggs need to be collected, washed and placed in the freezer for a couple of weeks. After freezing, you can crush them and eat them as an additional source of protein and trace elements.

Achatina can grow up to 2 kg in weight. They see it in their own way. Scientists claim that snails distinguish between light and darkness. Their teeth are in the form of a grater and there are more than 24 thousand of them. Mollusks are deaf, they communicate with the help of the organs of touch - by touch. They can crawl on very sharp and thin surfaces, and will not get hurt, their mucus serves as their protection. When the snail "runs", it develops a speed of 6-8 cm per minute. Achatina meat contains more protein than a chicken egg.

Their nervous system consists of approximately 20,000 neurons. Nowadays, mollusks are used as donors of nerve tissue for the treatment of brain diseases. The first successful experiments were carried out on rats.

Purchasing giant snails

Achatina is best purchased from breeder collectors. They are good with types. You will know which variety you bought. Experts will explain how to care for the snail. Adults of giant mollusks cost from 500 rubles, small ones - from 50 rubles. Pure albinos will cost more than 1000 rubles.

For more information about the content of Achatina, see here:

Do snails have teeth? May 30th, 2016

I saw this picture and somehow doubted. You know that everyone writes "on the Internet", and then it turns out to be utter nonsense. Snail teeth... come on!

But it's still worth checking out...

So, all snails have one big leg located on the underside. These creatures are equipped with one or two pairs of antennae, or horns. They have two eyes, which can be located both at the ends of the antennae and at their base, and a mouth. It often expands into a tube, at the end of which are small sharp teeth, with which the snail can scrape off parts of plants.

Some snails eat animal food. The oyster borer, for example, the yellow-shelled sea snail, bores through the oyster shell and feeds on its flesh. The teeth of the snail are located on the tongue, with which it cuts and grinds food.

A snail has about 25,000 teeth. They are not arranged in rows, but in the form of a “grater”, with which they grind food.
Nature provided the American garden snail with the largest number of teeth. Her tongue is lined with 135 rows of teeth with 105 teeth in each row. When a snail "gnaws through" an underground corridor, it wields... .14 175 teeth!

It is worth noting that these are not exactly the teeth that we usually have in mind. In the oral cavity of the snail there are so-called radulas - a special apparatus, more like a grater. Here, rather, it is important not how many teeth a cochlea has, but how they work. Located on the surface of the odontophore (a kind of “tongue”), the radula serves not for biting, but for scraping and grinding food. It consists of a chitinous basal plate (radular membrane) and chitinous teeth arranged across in several hundred rows. This whole apparatus operates on the principle of a dredging machine, which has as many buckets as a snail has teeth. It is these horn formations that scrape off nutrient, which then enters the digestive tract. Some species of gastropods use the radula as a drill, with which the snail opens the shell of its prey.

Some interesting facts from the life of snails

AT nervous system cochlea contains approximately twenty thousand neurons.

The human brain, for comparison, consists of several hundred billion.

The olfactory receptors, located inside the human nose, are located on top of the horns in snails. In other words, the horns are the nose inside out.

It is believed that snails do not see in the truest sense of the word, but only distinguish between light and darkness. How many teeth a snail has depends on the variety.

Usually their number is in the range from 15 to 25 thousand.

Most snails are hermaphrodites.

The giant snail Achatina fulica reaches a length of 20 cm, but moves more slowly than a grape snail. The meat of this mollusk contains more protein than egg. In addition, it is rich in calcium, iron and fatty acids. For this reason, they are eaten.

No matter how many teeth a snail has, it has only one leg, and therefore it moves very slowly.

The maximum speed that the animal develops is about 7 cm / min.

The most gigantic snail ever found weighed sixteen kilograms, and its house was seventy centimeters long.

Most snails have a clockwise (right) twisted shell when viewed from the twisted end.

Twisting counterclockwise is much less common. Snails were used as medicinal product during treatment gastrointestinal diseases and eye inflammation, as well as to stop bleeding.