CALCBIOME — GIANT SNAIL CALCULATOR

What enclosure do your giant snails need?

Enclosure size, litres of substrate, daily food, calcium, temperature and humidity, by species, number of snails and shell length.

6 SPECIESLissachatina fulica, immaculata, Achatina achatina, Lissachatina reticulata, Archachatina marginata…
ENCLOSUREFloor space, height and litres of substrate.
CAREFood, calcium, humidity, egg management.

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Your snails

Result

Keeping giant snails: the basic rules

Space: about 60 × 45 cm of floor for 2 adults of 15 cm, more beyond that.
Substrate: 5–10 cm of fertiliser-free soil or coco fibre (more for burrowing species), damp but not soaked.
Food: lettuce, courgette, cucumber, carrot, fruit, and always calcium.
Climate: 22–28 °C depending on the species, 75–90% humidity.
Breeding: one snail can lay hundreds of eggs. Never release snails in the wild.

Guidelines for 2 adults

Species	Adult shell	Enclosure	Temperature
Achatina achatina	18 cm	100 × 50 cm	25–28 °C
Archachatina marginata	18 cm	100 × 50 cm	24–28 °C
Lissachatina fulica	15 cm	60 × 45 cm	22–27 °C
Lissachatina immaculata	12 cm	60 × 30 cm	22–27 °C
Lissachatina iredalei	5 cm	30 × 20 cm	22–26 °C
Lissachatina reticulata	18 cm	100 × 50 cm	24–27 °C

Average values. More space means less stress and fewer shell problems.

How we calculate

Area per snail (cm²) = 1,350 × (shell ÷ 15)², at least 250 cm². Total area = that figure × number of snails, rounded.
Enclosure = the smallest standard tank that is big enough, from 30 × 20, 40 × 30, 60 × 30, 60 × 45, 80 × 45, 100 × 50, 120 × 60 and 150 × 60 cm. Beyond that, you need several tanks.
Height = shell × 2.5, rounded up to the next 5 cm, at least 30 cm.
Substrate depth = shell × 0.5, rounded, between 5 and 10 cm. For burrowing species: shell × 0.8, at least 10 cm.
Substrate (L) = tank area × depth ÷ 1,000, rounded up.
Food (g/day) = 10% of one snail’s estimated weight (0.025 × shell³ in g) × number of snails, rounded, at least 2 g.

Example

2 Lissachatina fulica with a 15 cm shell. Area = 1,350 × 2 = 2,700 cm², so a 60 × 45 × 40 cm tank (height 15 × 2.5 = 37.5, rounded up to 40). Substrate: 15 × 0.5 = 7.5, rounded to 8 cm, so 2,700 × 8 ÷ 1,000 = 21.6, so 22 L. Estimated weight ≈ 84 g per snail, so ≈ 17 g / day of food for both.

Sources: RSPCA (60 × 45 × 40 cm for 2 snails), Royal Veterinary College (75–90% humidity). These are guidelines: more space is always better.

Frequently asked questions

What size tank for 2 giant African land snails?

For 2 adults with a 15 cm shell, the calculator gives 60 × 45 × 40 cm. That is also the minimum recommended by the RSPCA and the Royal Veterinary College.

How deep should the substrate be?

Between 5 and 10 cm depending on shell size, and at least 10 cm for burrowing species such as Achatina achatina.

How much food per day?

About 10% of the snails’ weight in fresh vegetables and fruit. Remove anything uneaten after 24 hours.

What should I do with the eggs?

Check the substrate every 3–4 days and freeze surplus eggs. Never release snails into the wild.

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