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Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica)

Lissachatina fulica

The Lissachatina fulica (Giant African Land Snail). It is by far the most bred terrestrial snail in the world, famous for its colossal size (the conical shell can exceed 8 inches) and for the docility with which it lets itself be handled. A nocturnal and crepuscular species, it loves a hot-humid climate and darkness, spending its days half-submerged in the soft potting soil and then emerging in the evening to relentlessly explore the terrarium in search of vegetables and, above all, pure Calcium (cuttlebone) essential for the construction of its huge brown and cream mottled shell. Despite appearances, it is a lively animal, long-lived (up to 10 years) and of rudimentary but fascinating intelligence, capable of recognizing habits and textures. It is sadly known as a highly invasive species (banned in some regions like the USA) due to its hermaphroditic ability to lay hundreds of white spherical eggs in a few weeks: the careful management of the litters, or the systematic freezing of the eggs, is the only real, inescapable obligation for the beginner.

Taxonomy

Class:Gastropoda

Order:Stylommatophora

Family:Achatinidae

Subfamily:Achatininae

Genus:Lissachatina

Species:Lissachatina fulica

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

70 - 90 %

Day temperature

20 - 25 °C

Night temperature

20 - 22 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement.

Taxonomy and Genetics: EPPO Global Database gives Lissachatina fulica as the preferred name with authority (Bowdich), and lists Achatina fulica Bowdich as another scientific name. It places the species in phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda, order Sigmurethra, family Achatinidae and genus Lissachatina. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts.

Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts.

Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The UF/IFAS field profile used here does not establish a terrarium setup, dimensions, substrate, or furnishing protocol for Lissachatina fulica.

Lighting and Heating: The source describes field activity but does not establish lighting or heating parameters for captivity.

Humidity and Hydration: UF/IFAS describes this species as principally active at night and during wet weather above 50% relative humidity; in dry weather it can become inactive through aestivation. This is an ecological observation, not a captive humidity or hydration target.

Feeding and Supplementation: UF/IFAS reports that it has been observed feeding on at least 500 plant types, many of them crops. The source does not establish a captive diet or supplementation protocol.

Compatibility and Coexistence: The source does not establish compatibility, grouping, or coexistence guidance for captivity.

Health and Common Diseases: In its Management section for giant African snail, UF/IFAS states that gloves or an implement are important for picking up snails because some can carry diseases transmitted to humans by touch. This is source-attributed invasive-species collection and management context, not general captive-terrarium or health advice; the source does not establish a veterinary protocol.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Africa Orientale (Coste umide, giardini e foreste tropicali in Kenya, Tanzania e Madagascar).

Origin

Cosmopolitan or introducedNorth AmericaAfrica and MadagascarEast Asia

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 20 cm
Lifestyle/Microhabitat: No verified data available
Activity cycle: No verified data available
Sociality: No verified data available
Reproduction: No verified data available
Venom level: No verified data available
Handling tolerance: No verified data available
Brumation: No verified data available
Molting: No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica)

Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica) (Jadatzi)

Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica) (White Jade)

Unicorn Snail (Subulina octona)

Recommended companions

False Tomato Frog

Phantasmal poison frog

African helmeted turtle

Iberian Ribbed Newt

Similar care

Rustic Asian Isopod (Cubaris murina) (Jupiter)

Rustic Asian Isopod (Cubaris murina) (Panda King)

Rustic Asian Isopod (Cubaris murina) (Rubber Ducky)

Cuban Brown Snail (Zachrysia provisoria)