L197 Giant African Land Snails CONTENTS

Giant African Land Snails L197 July 2006 July 2006 L197 Giant African Land Snails CONTENTS

Page 1 Introduction 1

2Housing 3

3 Diet 5

4 Handling 6

5 Sources of supply 7

6 Breeding 7

7 Disease 8

8 Health and safety 9

9 Humane killing 10

10 Appendix, including addresses of suppliers, sources of information 11 and books

This Guide is a revision of L 197, originally published in April 1992.

This guide combines material from the first edition of Guide L197 and information originally published in the Guidelines series by the ILEA Centre for Life Studies, hence the ‘g’ on the front cover. Following the closure of the Centre, CLEAPSS acquired the copyright of all the CLS publications.

Strictly confidential – circulation to Members and Associates only

© CLEAPSS® 2006 CLEAPSS Brunel University Uxbridge UB8 3PH Tel: 01895 251496 Fax: 01895 814372 E- mail: [email protected] Web site: www.cleapss.org.uk MAINTENANCE NOTES FOR THE GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS (and other land snails and slugs) 1. Introduction

GIANT AFRICAN In many parts of the world the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) is LAND SNAILS a serious native or introduced pest to agriculture. As its name suggests, it is a large, land-living snail that was originally native to East Africa. There are also other species of large terrestrial snails from Africa which are now bred in the UK; Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina originate from West Africa and are becoming increasingly common. Achatina fulica is, however, regarded as the ‘giant African land snail’, more for its notoriety than anything else.

In many respects, the giant snails show few differences in appearance when compared with the snails commonly found in British gardens. They do, of course, grow to a much larger size and in general have a more pointed form to the spiral of the shell. (The world record snail is ‘Gee Geronimo’, weighing in at 900 g and measuring 39.3 cm from head to tail with a shell length of 27.3 cm!) Like all snails, they move along on a single foot. A gland at the front of the foot produces a lubricating slime over which the foot slides. The foot of the giant African land snail also spreads out further when compared with that of native species.

Achatina fulica is the largest and commonest giant African land snail and, although originally from East Africa, it is now distributed throughout the tropics. It may reach maturity in captivity in just over one year but this can take four or five years in the wild. It lays small, yellowish-white eggs about 4 mm in diameter.

1 IDENTIFYING FEATURES With a shell length averaging 250 mm in adults, the snails generally weigh OF THE DIFFERENT about 250 g. The shell is a brown colour with weak, darker markings that SPECIES appear as bands across the spiral. The mantle, the fleshy part inside the shell through which the foot protrudes, is a pale yellowish colour. The columella, the smooth inner surface to the opening of the shell (see diagram), is also yellow. The ‘head’ portion of the foot is light brown but the rest of the foot is paler with thin, net-like markings.

Achatina achatina grows to about 200 mm and has a much more patterned shell than A. fulica. The shell is more yellow with distinct brown jagged bands. On the shell can be seen striations that are distinctly and regularly broken. The columella is purple and the eggs are about 6 mm in diameter with a distinctly yellow colour. This species comes from West Africa, ranging from Liberia to Nigeria.

Archachatina marginata is again about 200 mm when fully grown. The shell is much less pointed than the Achatina species and this ‘roundness’ is especially obvious in young animals. The columella is white and the eggs are comparatively large at 17 x 12 mm. The striations on the shell may give the appearance of a ‘woven’ texture, especially when looked at under a magnifying lens. The head is a dark grey but the rest of the foot is a lighter grey. Its range stretches from Zaire to the Ivory Coast.

SNAILS AROUND THE The snail’s ability to eat virtually any form of plant material, combined WORLD with its capacity to build up large populations rapidly, means that it can be a serious agricultural pest. Indeed, in suitable habitats, the snail is able to maintain populations averaging 150 per square metre. Achatina fulica has been introduced into a number of tropical ecosystems in the Far East and Pacific islands, sometimes by accident but also deliberately. It has competed with native species of snail and reached such large numbers that predatory species of snail, such as Euglandina rosea, have been introduced, disastrously in some areas, to control the giant African snails. In Polynesia, Euglandina has attacked snails other then the giant African species and caused the extinction of dozens of species of native tree snail. In 1928, the giant African land snail was introduced into Sarawak as poultry food and, during the second world war, the Japanese forces took the snail as human food to New Guinea and other occupied territories. Related West African species are also extensively used as a food source. In Ghana, for instance, they constitute the greatest single source of animal protein.

EATING GIANT In Europe and North America the snails are also eaten, but in upmarket, AFRICAN SNAILS gourmet restaurants. The traditional European species of ‘escargot’ is relatively small and slow-growing, so the demand for snail meat has been partially satisfied by the flesh of the giant African land snail, ‘Escargot achatine’. The commercial success of farming and ranching ‘Escargot achatine’ may be appreciated by the observation that as far back as 1977, over 1,500 tons of canned snail meat, worth US $3 million, were shipped to Europe from Taiwan alone. The giant substitute is said to be slightly inferior to the edible European snails as it is ‘rubbery’ and too often ‘swampy-tasting’. When highly flavoured with garlic, chopped and stuffed into the shells of genuine escargot, however, most of the people eating the African snails are effectively deceived.

OTHER LAND SNAILS Although these maintenance notes have been written specifically for giant AND SLUGS African land snails, most of the essential details apply equally well to other species of terrestrial snail or slug, including native British species. Native species, however, will only thrive if they are kept in conditions below room temperature and obviously do not require a source of heat. A north-facing window sill, away from radiators, will often be suitable.

2 2. Housing

Giant African land snails are most conveniently housed in aquaria or vivaria. As the tanks are not required to be watertight, aquaria that leak and are no longer suitable for fish, may be given a new lease of life. Alternatives include large plastic propagators. Some suppliers1, (including Blades Biological, Bugs Direct and Small-Life Supplies) sell snail kits, which they call starter or school kits and these consist of a container and all other items needed to keep snails for the first time. AVOID Young snails can be kept in small tanks or even troughs but, as they grow, OVERCROWDING thought should be given to the final display container for the adults. Except for short periods, do not attempt to keep more than four adults in a tank measuring 100 x 30 x 30 cm. COVERING THE TANK An escape-proof (but not air-tight) top is necessary and preferably one that allows the fitting or arrangement of a light source. A sheet of glass or Perspex, slightly raised on small pieces of plasticine, will often suffice to cover the container for small to medium specimens. Larger animals are quite strong and will require a more secure lid. Purpose-built metal tops for aquaria (with space for a light bulb fitting) are available from some specialist suppliers. A SOURCE OF HEAT The snails need to be kept warm (other than in the warm temperatures of the summer months) and the heat from a 60 watt bulb will often be ade- quate for most purposes. Additional heating may be necessary over longer holidays when school heating is turned off. A temperature between 24°C and 30°C will ensure continuous activity. If necessary, the heat from a bench or Anglepoise lamp can be directed into the tank through the top cover or sides. 60 watt basking spot lamps could be used and these are available from local pet shops or specialist suppliers selling equipment for keeping reptiles2.

An alternative (possibly preferable - see below) to using a light source for warming the snails is a heating mat3 such as the Mini-Heat mat (approx. 130 x 100 cm) or the HabiStat heat mat (in various sizes). Those used in seed propagators (available from Philip Harris and the Stewart Company) could also be employed.

The purchase and fitting of electrical items used to heat or light the snails’ tank should comply with any safety requirements made by the employer. Only equipment which is suitable for the intended purpose should be used and this must be safe in operation. Schools should contact CLEAPSS for advice on equipment they intend to use.

SLOWER GROWTH IN Although providing heat from a light source is convenient, it does have THE LIGHT one drawback. The snails are mainly nocturnal when they feed most readily. Thus in bright light, the snails feed less and grow more slowly. A coloured lamp or a heat mat could be used, but it may be necessary to accept the snails’ reduced activity and slower growth in the light.

HUMIDITY Whichever method of covering the snails’ container is chosen, it should allow a build up of humidity, since dampness is a critical requirement for giant African land snails to be active. The careful use of a hand mist sprayer, filled with water, is beneficial.

1 Addresses of all suppliers are given in the Appendix. 2 For example, EuroRep, Faunology and the Northampton Reptile Centre. 3 For example, from Blades Biological, Bugs Direct UK, Virginia Cheeseman or Euro Rep.

3 SETTING UP THE TANK For successful breeding, a base layer of coarse gravel4 of about 20 mm depth is recommended, which will allow the humidity to be provided by water trapped in the gravel. Make sure the gravel is washed well before use. Additional layers above this are a matter of personal choice or experience, but a generous layer of sphagnum moss is desirable because of its moisture-retaining properties. It will provide a soft, damp layer beneficial to the egg-laying process. In addition, in extreme circumstances there is the possibility that the moss will be utilised by the snails as a food source although their preference is for more-appetising foods. Sphagnum moss has the advantage that anaerobic bacteria which can cause unpleasant odours are unlikely to develop in it; it is also quick and convenient to replace during cleaning.

Once these two layers are established and adequately watered to produce damp gravel and damp moss, the tank can be landscaped with cork bark and rocks according to personal taste. Ideally, space should be left for two dishes, one for water and the other for food. Lumps of chalk5 or cuttlefish ‘bone’ as sources of calcium should also be included on the surface (see section 3).

A CAGE SUITABLE FOR GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS

ALTERNATIVES TO In place of sphagnum moss, it is possible to use a layer of sphagnum moss SPHAGNUM MOSS peat [or coir (cocopeat) a preferred substitute for Irish sphagnum moss peat to help in conserving peat heathlands] or soil and leaf litter over gravel. As with moss, the peat, coir or soil and the lower levels of leaf mould should be kept moist but not wet.

Once established, it should not be necessary to clean the tank out more than once every four to six weeks, depending, of course, on the substrates used, numbers of snails present, etc. If soil is used, it is important to clean out the container as soon as the soil itself starts to smell.

There are also soft liners6 that can be cut to size and placed on the floor of the container. These are machine washable and must be changed weekly.

4 Suppliers of items in bold italic font include most pet shops, horticulturists, florists and garden centres. 5 Available from rock and mineral suppliers such as Offa Rocks. 6 Available from Small-Life Supplies.

4 3. Diet

A DIET OF FRUIT Giant African land snails feed mainly at night and, in the wild, they return AND VEGETABLES to a regular ‘home base’ after their nocturnal forays. The snails feed on both live and rotting vegetation as well as carrion. Their teeth are carried on the radula (a flexible strap) in the mouth. This radula is used like a file, scraping away at the food source. In captivity, snails will accept most fruit, vegetable and salad foodstuffs. Some will show a preference for certain foods and much good science can be achieved from investigations involving these choices. (See, for example, the CLEAPSS guide, L213, Science with Minibeasts: Snails.)

A basic diet of cabbage, lettuce, raw potato and apple is normally quite successful (although the use of cabbage often causes problems of unpleasant odours).

SYNTHETIC DIET Alternatively a synthetic diet based on pelleted small mammal diet7 can be given. A suitable formulation such as CRM, RGP, SG1, 41B or FFG is made into a mash by soaking overnight in a little water. This is then mixed with a powdered form of calcium carbonate8 to produce a stiff paste. Some suppliers recommend mashing rabbit pellets with about 10% (by quantity) of Repti-sand or Vita-sand9 as a source of calcium carbonate. Batches can be made up, stored in a refrigerator and fed as required. These artificial diets are generally accepted quite readily and have a reasonable ‘cage-life’. Snails occasionally sip water from droplets sprayed onto surfaces, but if a moist diet is supplied, drinking water is often ignored.

THE IMPORTANCE OF One vitally-important dietary factor is the provision of a source of calcium. CALCIUM Calcium, in the form of its carbonate, is needed for shell formation and wild snails have been known to strip the whitewash from buildings in their efforts to supplement their diets. If calcium-enriched artificial diets are not being used, powdered calcium carbonate9, made up into a paste with water, is easily offered in shallow dishes. Alternatively, lumps of natural rock chalk10 may be included in the cage and act as both décor- ation and food. Note that ordinary school chalk should not be used as this is not usually calcium carbonate.

EGG SHELLS OR In situations where calcium carbonate is difficult to obtain, calcium may be CUTTLEFISH provided in the form of cuttlefish ‘bone’ or egg shells. The shells should be washed, crushed and baked dry in a hot oven for 20 minutes.

7 Available from pet shops, the educational supplier Timstar Laboratory Suppliers and, in larger quantities, from Lillico. 8 Available from suppliers such as Philip Harris and Timstar Laboratory Suppliers. 9 Available from Euro Rep, Northampton Reptile Centre and other suppliers of materials for keeping reptiles. 10 Available from rock and mineral suppliers such as Offa Rocks.

5 4. Handling

HANDLE ONLY No special techniques are involved in handling land snails, except that BY THE SHELL they should be grasped by the shell and not by the fleshy foot. If the snail has a secure grip adhering to a surface, this must first be released before attempting to lift the animal. Gently prise the foot free by sliding a finger underneath and thus releasing the suction by which the snail holds on.

AVOID GROWING SHELL Care should also be taken not to damage the shell by too-rough handling. MARGIN The growing margin may be especially thin and it is best not to touch this area at all. (See diagram below.)

INDUCING A SNAIL TO To induce a contracted snail to emerge from its shell, it can be placed in a EMERGE little tepid water for up to ten minutes (but not much longer). Be very careful to wash your hands before, and particularly after, handling these creatures. As with many molluscs, there is a slight possibility of Salmonella bacterial contamination. This is particularly true if the snails are not cleaned out regularly.

If conditions are allowed to become too dry or cool, the snails will become inactive and withdraw into their shells, with the opening closed off by a secreted membrane. In these cases it will take much longer to make the snails active once more.

6 5. Sources of supply

There are a number of suppliers of live snails, selling direct to the educational or ‘pet’ markets. Details and addresses are in the Appendix. Local pet shops may also have colonies of these animals and are worth trying.

ADVERTS IN Sometimes adverts for giant snails appear in various publications, so MAGAZINES consulting the classified sections of ‘Exchange & Mart’, ‘Cage & Aviary AND PAPERS Birds’, ‘Loot’ or ‘Practical Fishkeeping’ may be fruitful.

LOCAL BREEDING Major sources of supply are often the people who have already set up COLONIES breeding groups of giant snails. These include many schools and estab- lishments such as zoos and specialist centres that keep the animals. Local enquiries to neighbouring schools and teachers’ centres may reveal flour- ishing stocks from which young animals or eggs can be obtained free or at low cost.

6. Breeding

SNAILS ARE Giant snails begin breeding when about a year old and, like their smaller HERMAPHRODITE relatives, are hermaphrodite, ie, individuals have both male and female reproductive organs. However, a snail needs to mate with another indiv- idual in order to fertilise its eggs. The snails breed by shooting ‘love darts’ into each other. You may see a dart as a white bulge just beneath the snail’s eye on the right hand side. They lay eggs that are spherical or ellip- soidal in shape, lemon-yellow and about the size of small peas (4.5-5.5 mm in diameter). Eggs are deposited 40-500 at a time, in or on the soil every two or three months. The young usually hatch within 10 days. A single snail, by presumably storing sperm after mating, can lay eggs months after isolation and can produce a complete colony.

REMOVING THE Once eggs are laid it is advisable to remove them carefully using a spoon EGGS or something similar and place them in a small tank on their own, this being a miniature version of the adult container. Careful removal of the eggs will avoid damage to them in the snails’ tank or to the small young snails as they hatch.

As the snails are prolific breeders, it may be wise to destroy some of the eggs before they begin to develop; see section 9.

7 7. Disease

SNAILS’ Giant African snails seem to be relatively disease-free; certainly their LONGEVITY resistance to most ailments has contributed to their success. Records show that these snails can live for up to 9 years in captivity. As the snails can have periods of inactivity, sometimes lasting up to a year, it is difficult to draw precise conclusions about the snails’ longevity.

DO NOT KEEP AFRICAN Not much is known about the natural diseases of these animals but it is AND BRITISH SNAILS thought that they can catch infections from native species. This makes it TOGETHER inadvisable to keep African and British species together as there have been reports of tropical snails dying when housed alongside native species. The snails also die if kept too cold or too dry. Care should be taken when deciding if a snail is dead or not. When inactive due to adverse conditions, the snails secrete a mucus seal over the opening to the shell; this then hardens to a crisp membrane. If placed in tepid water, this membrane dissolves and a live snail becomes active once again.

Dead snails usually soon liquefy and become rather offensive. If, however, they die and shrivel up, this indicates that the snails’ container is too dry and this should immediately be remedied for all remaining snails. Most problems will be caused by inappropriate conditions and are solved with experience.

SALMONELLA As mentioned previously, many molluscs, including edible marine var- ieties, can be carriers of the food-poisoning bacteria Salmonella spp. Infec- tion is unlikely but, when handling snails, this should be borne in mind and hands should always be washed immediately afterwards.

INFESTATIONS BY It has been reported that mites may live on the snails and these need to be MITES AND OTHER removed. Sometimes various other pests such as springtails or nematode PESTS worms may infest the tank and, although not posing a direct threat to either snails or humans, they might spoil a good display. All such pests can be removed by completely cleaning out the tank and renewing the contents. The snails should be rinsed in warm water before returning them to the tank.

USE IN MEDICINE The slime produced by the snails contains unusual crystals of the commonly-occurring mineral, calcite. Currently the use of the slime in the treatment of bone fractures and hip replacements is being researched. See the web site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/900869.stm.

8 8. Health and safety

There has been a great deal of misinformation about the risk of catching meningitis from giant African land snails. (In fact, the snails never cause meningitis.) For most situations in the United Kingdom, this health hazard is non-existent. It is worth considering this in more detail in order to gain a true perspective of the risks of keeping the snails.

RISKS ONLY ARISE The health hazard arises from snails recently imported into the UK from FROM RECENTLY- the Far East. These animals may be carrying the larval stages of a parasitic IMPORTED ANIMALS worm (not a bacterium or virus, as has been reported). The life cycle of this parasite begins and ends in the body of a rat; larval stages of the parasite leave the rat in its droppings and these are eaten by a snail. The parasite then becomes established in this intermediate host. The life cycle is completed when infected snails are eaten by rats.

INFECTION OF HUMANS It is possible that the parasite can complete its life cycle by transmission to INVOLVES EATING THE a human rather than a rat. In these cases, the parasite may sometimes RAW SNAIL! cause meningitis-like symptoms. Such cases of human infestation have been recorded in the Far East. There is, however, no reported incidence of human infection in the UK. This is not particularly surprising, since it is thought that the only transmission route from snail to human is for the raw flesh of an infested snail to be eaten! It is not thought that the parasite can leave the snail in its droppings or slime, so simply handling an infested snail should not constitute a risk. Simple hygiene precautions of washing hands, which should always be observed anyway, would also eliminate any hazard.

SNAILS BRED IN THE UK As can be appreciated from the life cycle of the parasite described above, PRESENT NO RISK any snails that have been bred in this country cannot possibly carry the parasite. To do so they would need to have come into contact with infected rat droppings and the parasite is not found in British rats. Since the vast majority of giant African land snails are bred here in captivity and not imported from abroad, they constitute no risk whatsoever.

THE FINAL SOLUTION? If the origin of any giant African land snails already obtained is unknown, there is perhaps a small risk that they may be infected with the parasite. Do not solve the problem by releasing the snails into the wild; this is illegal. To dispose of the animal by humane killing is an extreme action and not warranted by the risks. It is, however, the only effective solution if you must be 100% certain that the chance of infection has been eliminated. A more-appropriate course of action would be to isolate the suspect animals and not allow students to come into contact with them. Once they have bred, there can be no problem with their young.

9 9. Humane killing

DO NOT RELEASE Disposal of surplus giant African land snails by releasing them into the SNAILS INTO THE WILD wild must not be contemplated. It is feared that these snails could become a pest of our own agriculture here in Britain. This seems unlikely as cold is not tolerated at all well and the animals would soon die during the winter months. Nevertheless, the authorities remain cautious. In any case, the release of non-indigenous species is illegal.

EUTHANASIA Situations in which it is necessary to kill a giant snail will not normally arise. If, however, an animal has to be killed, a humane method must be used. Several techniques have been suggested for killing molluscs but most involve the use of chemicals often not easily obtained, especially by primary schools. Also these methods are generally used for a specific purpose such as killing the animal in an extended position. As a result, they are not often of general interest.

Euthanasia is best accomplished by placing the animal in a polythene bag and putting it into the freezing compartment of a fridge or a deep-freeze. Of course, such a freezer should not be used for the storage of materials for human consumption.

If the animals are to be killed for other reasons, suitable advice should be sought from the CLEAPSS Helpline.

10 10. Appendix

Most of the equipment and materials required to house giant African land snails can be obtained from the major educational suppliers or smaller specialist companies, but do check if prices quoted include VAT and delivery and if there is a small order surcharge. Most items can often be obtained more cheaply from local shops and suppliers. Check Yellow Pages for the addresses of aquarists, florists, garden centres, horticulturists and pet shops.

NOTES ON EQUIPMENT Aquaria, vivaria, propagators, lamps and heating mats in different sizes AND SUPPLIERS OF can be easily obtained from pet shops etc or from specialist suppliers listed SNAILS below. See also CLEAPSS guide L56, Housing and Keeping Animals, which contains extensive listings of various specialist suppliers, not all of which are included here. Heating mats provide a ‘background’ source of heat, normally without any thermostatic control and can be used under the snails’ container to raise the internal temperature above ambient levels. Models that are available, however, change quite quickly and it is therefore difficult to recommend equipment that has been tested and approved for its electrical safety. Any such base heaters that are used must meet any local requirements for electrical safety and schools may contact CLEAPSS or their local council trading standards service for advice before making a purchase. There are some school kits that provide everything you need to try keeping snails for the first time. These cost about £20 and consist of a tank, between two and five living snails, cuttlefish bone, substrate as well as instructions / an information book. See Blades Biological, Bugs Direct and Small-Life Supplies. The suppliers of items mentioned in the text or in footnotes are listed in alphabetical order below with their contact details. Many of the suppliers listed in the previous edition of this guide are no longer trading.

1. SUPPLIERS OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS AND EQUIPMENT

Company Items supplied Contact details Ameyzoo Giant African land snails and 12 High Street, Bovingdon HP3 0HG. all other equipment. Tel: 01442 834446 Fax: 01442 834446 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.ameyzoo.co.uk Blades Biological Giant African land snails, Cowden, Edenbridge TN8 7DX. starter kits, tanks and Tel: 01342 850242 Ultratherm heat mats. Fax: 01342 850924 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.blades-bio.co.uk Bugs Direct UK Giant African land snails, 2, Well Cottages, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0JU. starter kits and all other Tel: 01803 762409 equipment. Fax: 01803 762409 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: wwww.bugsdirectuk.com Virginia Cheeseman Giant African land snails, 21 Willow Close, Flackwell Heath, High Wycombe HP10 9LH. heat mats and some other Tel: 01628 522632 equipment. Fax: 01628 522632 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.virginiacheeseman.co.uk Coast to Coast Giant African land snails and 124 New Road, Darlington DL1 2EJ. Exotics all other equipment. Tel: 01325 283756 Fax: 01325 255060 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.coasttocoast.co.uk

11 Company Items supplied Contact details Euro Rep Giant African land snails and The Cottage-in-the-Wall, Dawley Road, Hayes UB3 1EF. other equipment. Tel: 020 8573 4311 Fax: 020 8561 1650 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.eurorep.co.uk Philip Harris Propagators, aquaria, Hyde Buildings, Ashton Road, Hyde SK14 4SH. Education calcium carbonate. Tel: 0845 120 4520 Fax: 0800 138 8881 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.philipharris.co.uk Faunology Giant African land snails, PO Box 107, Pontefract WF9 1YW. and all other equipment. Tel: 01977 651187 Fax: 01977 644884 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.faunology.co.uk Lillico Pelleted animal diet, large PO Box 35, Betchworth RH3 7YF. bales of sphagnum moss Tel: 01737 247666 peat. Fax: 01737 246783 E-mail: [email protected] Web site:- Newton Pet Aquatic Giant African land snails and Fermoy’s Garden Centre, Totnes Road, Ipplepen TQ12 5TN. and Reptile Supplies all other equipment. Tel: 01803 812722 Fax: 01803 812722 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.newtonpet.co.uk 1-2 Bridge House, Sherbourne Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QX. Tel: 01626 201219 Fax: 01626 201219 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.newtonpet.co.uk Northampton Reptile Vivaria and all other equip- 159 Weedon Road, St James, Northampton NN5 5DA. Centre ment including spot and Tel: 01604 753823 basking lamps, Repti-sand Fax: 01604 590059 and Vita-sand. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.vivariumonline.com Offa Rocks Rock chalk. Lower Hengoed, Oswestry SY10 7AB. Tel: 01691 650469 Fax: 01691 659051 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.offarocks.co.uk Small-Life Supplies Giant African land snails and Station Buildings, Station Road, Bottesford NG13 0EB. all other equipment, Tel: 01949 842446 including starter kits and a Fax: 01949 843 036 schools package. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.small-life.co.uk Stewart Company Propagators, both electric Stewart House, Waddon Marsh Way, Croydon CR9 4HS. and non-electric. Tel: 020 8603 5700 Fax: 020 8688 3857 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.stewartcompany.co.uk Timstar Laboratory Propagators, aquaria, Timstar House, Marshfield Bank, Crewe CW2 8UY. Suppliers calcium carbonate, pelleted Tel: 01270 250459 small mammal diet (item Fax: 01270 250601 AN00399). E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.timstar.co.uk

12 2. SOURCES OF INFORMATION

There are a number of web sites that have information on giant African land snails. Some of them have made use of the material in the snails guide published originally by the Centre for Life Studies; they are therefore not up to date.

Ameyzoo (see www.ameyzoo.co.uk) provides a 24 hour after-care service and produces Care sheets. The company also has a lecture service for schools.

The BBC (see www.bbc.co.uk) frequently has news items (search for ‘snails’). For instance in July 2006, it reported a glut of giant African land snails at a college in Solihull and the consequent search for new homes!

Bristol Zoo (see www.bristolzoo.org.uk/learning/animals/invertebrates/giant-land-snail/) has information on the giant African land snail and keeps Achatina fulica and Achatina achatina. Local zoos and animal centres may provide information too.

The Malacological Society of London is dedicated to the advancement of education and research on molluscs. There is a student membership of £25 per annum and members receive the Journal of Molluscan Studies and the half-yearly bulletin of the Society. For details, contact: The Secretary, Dr. Richard Cook, School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston KT1 2EE. Tel: 020 8547 2000 ext 62901; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.malacsoc.org.uk.

Northampton Reptile Centre offers telephone advice (as does CLEAPSS!).

Petsnails is an on-line information site that has a FAQ section; see www.petsnails.co.uk.

Small-Life Supplies produces ‘Collectors’ cards that feature a full-colour photograph and information about the giant African land snail and related species. Price £1.20 each.

The Young Herpetologist Club also has information on snails. Contact by sending a SAE A5 envelope to The Education Officer, British Herpetological Society, c/o The Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.

3. BOOKS

For students Slugs and Snails (in the Looking at Minibeasts series) by Sally Morgan ISBN 1929298811, published by Chrysalis Education (www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk). Shows the lives of snails from eggs to adults with lots of photographs. Your First Giant African Land Snail (in the Your First series) by Lucie Mann ISBN 1852791594, published by Kingdom Books, Havant. A basic book for the first-time snail keeper. Colourful illustrations.

For adult reference Land Snails of the British Isles by A A Wardhaugh; ISBN 0747800278, published by Shire Publications (www.shirebooks.co.uk).

Bookfinder4u This provides a search facility to locate books of interest by typing in keywords. A search for ‘slugs and snails’ produces an extensive listing. Use the link below to explore this list. www.bookfinder4u.co.uk/book_search/Slugs_and_Snails.html