My Giant African Snails Stopped Breeding

The giant African snail refers to three specific species of snail: Achatina Fulica, Achatina Achatina and Archachatina Marginata, according to "The World of Snails." To ensure that breeding takes place between two snails, the environment that the snails are housed in must be kept at the correct temperature and moisture range, with the health of the snails also a consideration.

  1. Giant African Snails

    • Giant African snails are members of the mollusk family that grow to around 8 inches in length and can survive for between three and seven years on average and in some cases live up to 10 years. The optimum breeding habitat for giant African snails is 2 inches of peat-based, chemical-free compost with a piece of bark. The soil should be kept moist but not saturated, according to the Amateur Entomologists Society. The optimum temperature for giant African snail survival and breeding is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Breeding

    • Breeding giant African snails is relatively easy, according to "The World of Snails." Placing two snails in an optimum environment will usually result in mating and egg-laying beneath the surface of the compost. Giant African snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female sex organs; both parents in a breeding pair will produce a batch of eggs after breeding takes place. The snails of the Achatina species produce between 100 and 200 eggs, with Archachatina producing between 15 and 20 larger eggs.

    Health

    • To continue producing eggs, the giant African snail must remain healthy, supplied with food that contains the required amount of calcium to maintain shell health and strength. Snails are plant eaters, and giant African snails favor lettuce and cucumbers, along with other foods, including apple, banana and cabbage. A common problem encountered with snail health is poisoning, often through chemicals within compost and bark placed in the snails' habitat.

    Environment

    • If the giant African snail is not in a favorable environment, it can stop breeding and eating, according to the Amateur Entomologists Society. An unfavorable environment can result in the snail closing its aperture or opening its shell until the environment is in a favorable condition. To encourage the snail to open its aperture, the handler can place it in a small amount of lukewarm water.