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      Snails for Sale

      Giant African land snails and smaller pet snails for sale, posted Monday to Thursday to anywhere in Great Britain with the live arrival guarantee. This page brings together every snail I list: the common giant African land snail, its Rodatzi and Albino Rodatzi forms, the Pink-lipped giant African land snail and the little unicorn snail.

      They are legal to keep in Great Britain with no licence, and straightforward once the basics are in place. Stock of the giant snails comes and goes, and a sold-out listing's Notify me when available button emails you as soon as it is back in stock.

      Which snail?

      • Giant African land snail (Lissachatina fulica, formerly Achatina fulica): the classic pet snail. Adults usually carry a shell of 5 to 12 cm, and they commonly live 3 to 6 years.
      • Rodatzi: a golden-shelled form of the same species, L. fulica rodatzi, with the normal dark body.
      • Albino Rodatzi: the same golden shell on a white body. The albino part is the body, not the shell.
      • Pink-lipped giant African land snail (Lissachatina immaculata): a separate species, told apart by the pink columella, the central column you can see inside the shell opening, and as big as the common giant snail or bigger.
      • Unicorn snail (Subulina octona): a slender, spiral-shelled snail of around 1.5 cm, kept warm and humid, and prolific.

      Keeping giant African land snails

      My giant African land snail care guide goes through each of these in full.

      • Warmth. They do best at about 21 to 25°C. An English home averages around 19°C through the heating season, so for most of the year that means a heat mat or heat cable on a thermostat, on the side of the tank, never underneath.
      • Humidity. A damp substrate and humid air; the listings give 75 to 90%.
      • Substrate. Enough damp substrate for them to dig into, which is where they lay their eggs. Coco coir, which I would never use as a base for isopods or millipedes, is fine for snails.
      • Calcium, always. A snail builds its shell from calcium, so keep cuttlebone or crushed oyster shell in the tank all the time.
      • Food. Fresh vegetables and leafy greens, with fruit as an occasional extra. Take out whatever they leave before it spoils.

      The unicorn snail care guide covers the small species, which lays eggs with the young already well developed inside.

      Eggs, and the law

      Giant African land snails are legal to keep and sell in Great Britain. No licence is needed, and they are not on the list of invasive species you can't keep. The law that matters is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: it is an offence to release a non-native animal, or let one escape, into the wild. They lay a lot of eggs, so check the substrate and freeze any eggs you don't want for at least 24 hours before throwing them away. Never put live eggs or snails in a garden, compost heap or outdoor bin, and rehome snails rather than release them.

      Frequently asked questions

      Where can I buy giant African land snails in the UK?
      Right here. They are listed on this page and posted Monday to Thursday to anywhere in Great Britain with the live arrival guarantee. When a listing is sold out, its Notify me when available button emails you when it is back.

      Are giant African land snails legal in the UK?
      Yes. They are legal to keep and sell in Great Britain without a licence. Releasing one is an offence, so unwanted eggs are frozen and snails are rehomed, never put outside.

      How big do giant African land snails get?
      Most adults of the common species have a shell of about 5 to 12 cm, and around 20 cm is the ceiling. The Pink-lipped species grows at least as big.

      How long do giant African land snails live?
      Usually 3 to 6 years, and some reach 10 with good care.

      Do giant African land snails need a heat mat?
      In most homes, yes, for most of the year. They do best at about 21 to 25°C, which is warmer than an English home usually runs, so fit a heat mat or heat cable to the side of the tank and run it on a thermostat.

      Are giant African land snails safe to handle?
      Yes, with ordinary hygiene: wash your hands after handling them, as you would with any pet. Wild snails in the tropics can carry a parasite called rat lungworm, but it is not known to be present in captive-bred UK stock.

      For calcium and food, see invertebrate food and supplements, and for the other unusual animals I keep, other invertebrates.

      5 products
      4 marbly white colour thin long snails
      Unicorn Snails (Subulina octona)
      from £1.50
      Sold Out
      large snail with cracked shell looking like spider web on the shell
      Pink Lipped Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina immaculata panthera)
      from £9.00
      Sold Out
      An Albino Rodatzi snail with a tan shell and cream body on a green lettuce leaf in a pale speckled dish.
      Albino Rodatzi Giant African Land Snails ( Lissachatina Fulica)
      from £12.50
      Sold Out
      snail with typical shell shape sucking to stick to twig
      Rodatzi Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina Fulica)
      from £10.00
      Sold Out
      A Giant African Land Snail with a brown and yellow striped shell on green lettuce in a cream dish, a second at the right edge.
      Giant African Land Snails - Lissachatina fulica
      from £9.00

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