Breeding Achatina Snails at home: key tips

Many beginner snail enthusiasts, upon learning about the prolific breeding ability of Achatina snails (one snail can lay up to 500 eggs at a time), often decide to breed them professionally. This way, they can combine their passion with a potential income. However, before starting, it’s important to understand that despite their low-maintenance nature, breeding Achatina snails can come with challenges.

For instance, breeding Achatina can negatively impact the health of adult snails. Pregnancy may stunt their growth, making it difficult to achieve both large-sized snails and viable offspring. Additionally, the breeding process can weaken the adult’s shell, causing cracks or delamination. This is because the eggshells and the young snails’ shells are made of calcium, which they derive from the mother’s body.

Preparation is also key to handling the high fertility of Achatina snails. Owners must plan where to house the baby snails, decide how to care for them as they grow, and arrange for their feeding and eventual rehoming. With proper preparation, the breeding process can bring joy instead of stress.

Achatina Breeding Process

Achatina snails typically reach sexual maturity at 5–7 months of age, depending on the quality of care and environmental conditions. The more comfortable the conditions, the sooner they mature. Despite being hermaphroditic, self-fertilization is rare, so at least two snails are needed for mating. They should be placed in a separate enclosure.

In most cases, the larger snail in the pair will act as the female, as pregnancy requires significant energy. However, there are instances where both snails produce offspring simultaneously. Simply housing the snails together is not enough; they need an environment mimicking their natural habitat to encourage breeding.

Avoid using sick snails or those from the same clutch for breeding, as inbreeding can result in weak or genetically defective offspring. Snails under one year old are also unsuitable for breeding, as they are still in their active growth phase.

Conditions for Breeding

  1. Temperature Control: Maintain a constant air temperature in the terrarium, ideally 27–28°C (80–82°F). Even slight fluctuations can disrupt the process.
  2. Substrate: Use a moist coconut substrate at least 10 cm (4 inches) thick at the bottom of the terrarium.
  3. Calcium Supplementation: Provide additional calcium through cuttlebone, crushed shells, or mineral blocks, not only during pregnancy but also after laying eggs to help the snail recover.
  4. Cleanliness: Regularly clean the terrarium to maintain a healthy environment.

After mating, pregnancy lasts about 1.5 months. The snail will then dig a hole to lay its eggs, which it covers with substrate. Each clutch can range from a few dozen to several hundred eggs, making it difficult to predict the exact number of hatchlings.

Egg Care

Egg care requires stable conditions, particularly a consistent temperature of about 28°C (82°F). The substrate should remain moist but not wet, as excess water can lead to egg rot.

Handling eggs is best avoided unless absolutely necessary, such as when eggs are scattered around the terrarium. In that case, gather them carefully, place them in one spot, and lightly cover them with substrate. Hatchlings usually emerge within a month, though some eggs may remain empty, which is normal. On average, 70–80% of eggs are viable.

Additional Insights

The reproductive organ of an Achatina snail is located on its neck. To determine if a snail is ready to mate, look for its reproductive organ, often referred to as the “love dart.” In mature snails, it appears as a small, light-colored bump.

When selecting snails for breeding, prioritize strong, healthy individuals capable of producing robust offspring. Snails intended for size growth should not be bred and should be housed separately.

Conclusion

Breeding Achatina snails at home is possible but requires careful planning and attention to detail. With proper preparation, it can be a rewarding experience for both the owner and the snails.