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Unicorn Snail (Subulina octona)

Subulina octona

The Subulina octona (Unicorn Snail). It is a microscopic land snail (rarely exceeds 0.6 - 0.8 inches in total length) but with an unmistakable design: it possesses a very thin, translucent shell with an extremely elongated (turreted) spiral shape, which faithfully resembles the horn of a unicorn. Due to its tiny size and predilection for hot and constantly wet soils, it is often bred not as an exhibition specimen, but as a very useful 'Clean-up Crew' inside large bioactive terrariums or paludariums for dart frogs (Dendrobates) and crested geckos. Extremely peaceful, detritivorous and harmless to healthy live plants, it is however a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite species with explosive prolificacy: a single snail can autonomously found a colony of hundreds of individuals in the substrate within a few months. The tiny calcareous eggs, similar to pearls, are an excellent calcium supplement for small insectivorous reptiles in the terrarium.

Taxonomy

Class:Gastropoda

Order:Stylommatophora

Family:Achatinidae

Subfamily:Subulininae

Genus:Subulina

Species:Subulina octona

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

75 - 95 %

Ambient temperature

25 °C

Day temperature

22 - 26 °C

Night temperature

18 - 20 °C

Substrate depth

>= 5 cm

UVB

None

Species description

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

Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Subulina octona (Bruguière, 1789) as an accepted species in the genus Subulina, family Achatinidae and order Stylommatophora. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited taxonomic 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: This recovery provides no enclosure or substrate prescription.

Lighting and Heating: This recovery sets no temperature target.

Humidity and Hydration: In a laboratory study, Subulina octona was continuously exposed for 48 hours at 35 °C in either dry black earth or black earth humidified with 40 ml water. Every individual in the dry-substrate box died, whereas every individual in the humid-substrate box survived. The authors concluded that substrate humidity influenced desiccation resistance. These are conditions and results of that experiment, not a humidity or watering instruction.

Feeding and Supplementation: This recovery sets no feeding protocol.

Compatibility and Coexistence: This recovery makes no cohabitation recommendation.

Health and Common Diseases: This recovery provides no clinical or treatment protocol.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Pantropicale (Regioni neotropicali, introdotta globalmente in serre e giardini botanici caldi).

Origin

Cosmopolitan or introduced

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 1.7 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 Ghana Snail (Achatina achatina)

Decollate Snail (Rumina decollata)

Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica)

Giant African Land Snail (Lissachatina fulica)

Recommended companions

Phantasmal poison frog

African helmeted turtle

Common Musk Turtle

False Tomato Frog

Similar care

Powder Isopod (Porcellionides pruinosus)

Armadillo Isopod (Armadillo officinalis)

Cuban Brown Snail (Zachrysia provisoria)

Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)