The image and the motto “I carry everything with myself” on the coat of arms of the Italian Dukes of Gonzag aptly perpetuated the image. Most of the species are miniature, but there are those that "carry all of their own" very much - real giants. So, get acquainted: the biggest snails in the world!
10. The Moon Snail | up to 5 cm
Moon snail (Neverita didyma) - is a predatory sea snail, reaching sizes up to 5 cm. It has a spherical shell of white color with a smooth surface and a small curl. The dimensions of the shell are relatively small 1.7-3 cm.
9. Earth snail | up to 5 cm
Earthen snail (Rumina decollata) - has a shell in the form of a truncated cone and reaches a size of up to 5 cm. This species was discovered in North America in 1758, subsequently transported to Europe and became also an inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea. The snail is nocturnal and eats plants.
8. Turkish snail | 4-6 cm
Turkish snail, which is often called mountain. Just for the first time this species was described in Turkey. In general, this gastropod lives in the mountainous regions of southern Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the Crimea. That is, this snail can be called the largest of the Russian. It resembles a South American scutalus in lifestyle. It prefers river valleys and creek surroundings. May fall asleep during a drought. It is one of the largest in Europe, especially in the Middle East (where humidity is not very good). The diameter of the shell is 4-6 cm.
7. Grape snail | up to 9 cm
Grape snail - the native European is inferior in size to the two types described above, but clearly the record holder among the northern species: the leg (body) can stretch up to 9 cm. The "house" is large, twisted counterclockwise. It is not exotic. Agricultural pest. Headache of winegrowers. However, it feeds on shoots not only of grapes, but also of other garden plants. But she can be avenged by eating! In the territories of modern Italy and France, it has been bred as a delicacy since ancient times. Since it is used as a food product, it is dangerous to human health (very vulnerable to various parasites).
"Grape" is unpretentious, lives long (up to 5 years, a record with home maintenance - 30 years!).
6. Tropical woody | 5-9 cm
Tropical woody (Caracolus sagemon), originally from Central America. A distinctive feature is an unusual flat striped orange-black shell, twisted counterclockwise, outwardly resembles a motley inverted cup or a pyramidal pebble (name of the species from Latin). Different body color options give a very beautiful coloring, for which snails are very loved by those who keep them at home. Exceptionally vegetarian (except for foods containing calcium), a lover of open water (literally swims). Feels better next to his own kind. As for the size, it is very dependent on nutrition, living conditions. When everything is just wonderful, a caracolus can be considered a giant, growing up to 15 cm. But this rarely happens, the usual leg length is 5-9 cm.
5. Fire limicolaria | up to 10 cm
Fire limicolaria (Limicolaria flammea) - African, but also spread to the Asian tropics. He wears a tubular shell. It wears: sometimes it rises so high above the leg that it seems to be some kind of appendage. Prefers a night lifestyle. Unpretentious. You can’t say about her: "Slow, as you know, who." Quite the opposite: fast, with some kind of feline agility. Therefore, for an inattentive owner, this belly-legged creature with black and red contours on the sink can famously “leak” from the terrarium. Grows up to 10 cm.
4. Scootalus | up to 10 cm
Scutalus the owner of the "author's" (its shape is very unusual) shells live on shrubs of rocky plains of the Peruvian highlands. Humidity is not very good here, but it is not very important for the scootalus. Sizes up to 10 cm. The unusual shape attracted the attention of artisans from ancient Maya: decorative items were found using the scootalus “house”, not to mention simple beads.
3. Achatina giant | 5-10 cm
Latin name (Achatina fulica) already notes that she is a fulika - giant. The average size is 5-10 cm. Specimens up to 20 cm are marked. Naturally, the older it is, the larger.
The birthplace of the largest land mollusk is considered to be East Africa (because it is also called the African giant). In the north, she did not survive, but where the climate is close to her own, it flourishes. For local residents, it is not exotic. They even fight with her! She is a pest, which is to blame for the terrifying appetite for crops. Especially loves sugarcane. Moreover, juveniles who prefer fresh plants do the most harm.
The elders, over time, are increasingly turning to the products of decay, sometimes even disdain animal corpses. Love dusk and humidity. They lead a midnight lifestyle, but when it is cloudy, they can go out to eat in the afternoon.
2. Florida Horse Snail | 60 cm
Mandatory character in photographs of the largest snails in the world. It is similar to the Australian trumpeter, although it is inferior in size (60 cm). However, in terms of size, this is the champion of both Americas. It lives along the American coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Lives in shallow water, like a trumpeter, but an even more aggressive predator: it eats not only worms, but almost everything it can. Other "horses" are smaller too.
It has a very catchy appearance due to the incompatibility of colors: a bright orange body and a gray shell. It seems that it scares those inhabitants of shallow water who themselves can eat a “horse” while it is small. The "home" of our heroine is always unique in form, and therefore is a valuable trophy for divers as a souvenir. Especially keen on it even eat!
1. Giant Australian Trumpeter | 90 cm
The name reflects the appearance. The “house” looks like a large horn about 90 cm long. Therefore, I would like to call the trumpeter the more solid word “mollusk”. It lives off the northern coast of Australia, on the shores of the nearest islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Lives in shallow water. Coloring: sand. Predator - a thunderstorm of sea worms. Judging by the fact that the trumpeters gain up to 18 (!) Kg of weight, they eat a lot of worms.
Features of the content of large domestic snails Achatina
It has long been no secret for a wildlife enthusiast that you can look for a long time not only at running water and fire, but also at a creature with a shell on its foot, slowly moving along its snail-cases. It is not surprising, therefore, that they are not uncommon as pets. A number of species from our “giant” top can be kept at home. It’s clear that your bathroom is not enough to ensure the livelihood of a trumpeter or horse, but Achatina, “grapes”, caracolus, limicolaria feel good in an artificial environment.
Let’s tell you about the largest snails kept at home - Achatina, which grow to the size of the palm of an adult. What do you need to be as comfortable as possible? What is good for them and what is harmful?
A simple old aquarium or even a plastic box can become their home. The second option does not bother the inhabitants who already love dusk, but watching your pets will not be very convenient. A cardboard box is definitely not suitable: Achatina are able to eat meat, and they can cope with thick paper: the walls of such a “house” will be nibbled.
Space is important. Consider this: a volume of 10 liters per individual.
Be sure to close the house with a lid (plexiglass or plastic). They are slow, but constantly moving creatures.
In the lid you need to make holes for air.
Loose soil should serve as a “floor”, similar to that in flower shops for transplanting flowers. Pets should crawl on it with no problems. Soil moisture is determined by the behavior of gastropods. Few move on the ground and generally sluggish - too dry, avoid descending on it completely - too wet.
Need a "pool". In nature, “Africans” love puddles. About a puddle in a fixed container should be water. Not more! Achatines love water, but they do not know how to swim, they can choke. Water changes once a week. Soil - once in 1-3 months. You can plant live plants, but do not be surprised that some will surely taste them.
Another important point is air temperature. Our pets are Tropicans: they need plus 26 degrees. They will not die, of course, even at 20, but after 24 their life activity stops: they become lethargic, inactive. The desired temperature can be easily achieved with a dim lamp. However, they do not need light; it even bothers them.
That's all. Only food is needed. And then in two or three days (the babies are fed up to six months later every other day). As experience shows, they eat almost all raw plant foods. Somewhat disdain unless solid vegetables (potatoes, carrots). Some like bread, cookies, oatmeal, grated cereals. You can sometimes diversify the menu with pieces of meat or boiled egg. But they don’t eat a lot of such food, and young animals will not touch it at all. Better to feed at night. Be sure to have a frayed egg shell or natural chalk in the aquarium.
Akhatins allow themselves to be abandoned for almost a month. Not receiving food, water and at low temperature they fall into hibernation, in which they probably dream of a returning owner. They can be returned to active life by spraying with water, increasing air temperature. But the real owner is unlikely to allow the departure of their pets in suspended animation. Proper care will allow them to live with you for about 10 years.