Both novice and seasoned snail keepers can find great satisfaction in breeding Achatina snails. These big, kind snails are well-liked by people who want to learn more about the world of invertebrates because of their easy care needs and intriguing reproduction patterns.
To ensure the health of the adult snails as well as the eggs they lay, it is crucial to comprehend the unique requirements of Achatina snails during the breeding process. You can successfully encourage your Achatina snails to breed and take good care of the fragile eggs that will hatch if you take the appropriate measures.
In order to help you raise the next generation of these fascinating creatures, this guide will walk you through the essential strategies for breeding Achatina snails and offer helpful advice on how to care for the eggs.
| Tactic | Description |
| Preparing the Environment | Create a warm, humid environment with soft soil for the snails to lay their eggs. |
| Monitoring Egg Laying | Check regularly for eggs in the soil to ensure they are not disturbed or damaged. |
| Maintaining Humidity | Keep the humidity high by misting the soil and maintaining a steady temperature. |
| Egg Handling | If moving eggs, do so gently and place them in a similar environment to avoid stress. |
| Feeding the Snails | Provide calcium-rich food to the snails to support egg development. |
| Hatching Care | Once the eggs hatch, ensure the baby snails have access to soft food and a safe environment. |
Achatina snail breeding necessitates close observation of both the adult snails and their eggs. A suitable environment that includes the right humidity, temperature, and substrate is necessary for successful egg laying and hatching. For both inexperienced and seasoned snail keepers, the chances of producing healthy offspring can be increased with consistent observation and careful handling of the eggs.
Preparation for breeding
Only when specific conditions are met in the aquarium or terrarium will the Achatina snail reproduce. Achatina require a partner in order to reproduce, even though they are hermaphrodites. Achatina need to be moved to a different container in order to reproduce.
You must give the mollusks the following living circumstances in order for them to reproduce healthily and produce fully grown offspring:
- the size of the aquarium should be at least 15 liters;
- no temperature changes, it should be kept at about 27-28 degrees;
- it is recommended to cover the bottom of the aquarium with wet coconut soil 100 mm thick;
- add calcium to the food of a pregnant Achatina, as well as after laying eggs;
- the terrarium should be kept clean.
The following are utilized as feed items that contain calcium:
- chalk stone;
- mineral stone;
- sepia;
- small shell rock.
Snail sex
Every breeder is interested in finding out a snail’s sex because, as previously mentioned, there are no sexual differences between them, making it impossible to identify a snail as male or female. Achatina require a partner to mate with; they are unable to reproduce alone. The large-framed older person matures into a female. This is because having a child requires a great deal of physical strength; hence, the strongest representatives are chosen to guarantee the health of the progeny.
Stimulating reproduction
Putting in place all the requirements for mating preparation is the main way to encourage mollusk reproduction. After giving the terrarium a thorough cleaning and washing, the soil should be replaced if it is dry and less than 10 cm thick. The soil needs to be pure. The terrarium’s artificial reservoirs ought to be temporarily taken out. Additionally, it’s critical to confirm that only Achatina mates in good health.
Which Achatina snails cannot be mated
- mollusks from the same clutch;
- snails that grow quickly.
Individuals from the same clutch that mate can result in a variety of mutations and deviations in the development of their progeny.
Mating should be delayed if it is observed that the mollusk and shell are expanding in size and growing actively. Up to a year may pass during this process.
Reproduction of Achatina
Achatina snails can only reproduce once they reach sexual maturity. Achatina, the snails’ reproductive organ, appears as a small tubercle on the neck, signaling that it is ready for mating. An individual is deemed an adult when they reach the age of six months.
The official start of pregnancy occurs right after mating, and this is when the gastropod mollusk lays its eggs. Every woman experiences pregnancy differently. The average time for achatina snail eggs to open is 1-2 months. If you look into Achatina’s spiral, you can see her eggs.
There are documented instances where a snail’s pregnancy terminates with childbirth, leading to the birth of viable small mollusks by Achatina.
The mollusk buries its progeny underground; frequently, Achatina prepare a hole beforehand in which to lay their eggs for this purpose. All year long, akhatinsky snails can reproduce individually or in small groups in some locations.
The female should be well-fed during her pregnancy and should take different supplements as well.
What do Achatina snail eggs look like
Aquarists can watch the eggs’ appearance and development after Achatina lays them. Because the achatina snail lays its eggs in heaps, its clutches resemble fish eggs, which is how they got their second name. The eggs are initially soft to the touch but are composed of elastic, dense mucus. Snail eggs harden during incubation, and a shell develops by the time the eggs hatch. The clutch’s eggshell is colored in shades of brown and green.
There are instances of fake eggs being laid that are transparent and lack a shell. The eggs are consistently round in shape. Achatina eggs range in size from 5 to 7 mm, occasionally being smaller. Since akhatins hatch at home in 17 to 24 hours, all of the progeny can do so in a single day. Although there can be up to 300 eggs, typically only 100 snails hatch. The number of babies born and the number of Achatina offspring laid are different. Both newborn snails and pregnant gastropods need to receive excellent care.
Extra eggs
Since a gastropod can lay more eggs than a breeder needs, certain precautions must be taken to ensure that Achatina does not give birth to extra mollusks. A hatched Achatina may even be found in the trash can, so it’s crucial to freeze extra eggs in the refrigerator to stop the critical processes in them.
How to care for Achatina eggs
The breeder has to provide little care for small Achatina. However, regular attention to the clutch of eggs and observation of environmental cues are required.
If the snail deposited its eggs in a hole without packing it down with dirt, you will need to cover the eggs yourself.
Maintaining the soil’s moisture content is crucial; if needed, add a tiny bit of water, but make sure there’s no liquid beneath the clutch. As previously mentioned, 28 degrees will be the most ideal temperature for egg maturation; sudden changes should not be permitted.
Using your hands to contact the clutch is not permitted. An exception might be if the snail has laid its eggs on the terrarium’s territory in which case it will need to carefully move the future offspring into a single hole with the aid of an object. Human hands can become harmfully hot.
A young mollusk grows very slowly, and its parents tend to it during this period. The baby’s shell is fragile; handle it with care.
What to feed small Achatina snails
The mollusks spend several days inside the substrate right after birth before gradually making their way to the surface. Initially, the young consume both fake eggs and the eggshells from their own eggs. Additionally, feeding small mollusks in the same way as an adult is advised. Food should always be available and should be fed on a regular and frequent basis.
A calm, patient approach and meticulous attention to detail are necessary for the successful breeding of Achatina snails and the upkeep of their eggs. You can support the growth and well-being of these amazing creatures by being aware of their needs and creating an environment that suits them.
Ensuring the health of adult snails and their eggs requires proper management of temperature, humidity, and substrate. As minor changes can have a big impact, it’s critical to frequently check the situation.
Finally, keep in mind that raising Achatina snails requires responsibility in addition to being a rewarding experience. It will go more smoothly and enjoyably if you are ready for the care and development of the baby snails.
