Achatina reticulata are fairly common now in captivity, though they appear to be much more difficult to breed than many other GALS, there has been some breeding success’s recently however, and even an albino bodied mutation has recently been available in fairly high numbers.

In the wild they are found on Zanzibar island, East Africa, and appear similar to another East African species, Achatina albopicta, though there are several differences, Achatina albopicta are much smaller, only getting to around 10-12cm, unlike reticulata they have a reddish apex, they’re skin colour is overall more plain and they’re shell less textured than reticulata, but can still look very similar, especially in the case of juveniles.

Achatina reticulata are found in coastal woodland, on sandy soil, every Achatina reticulata in captivity almost certainly descend from 5 snails collected from Zanzibar by Georg Gassner in 1992, as no more snails has been collected or imported from there since.

Like many other East African species, that also include Achatina fulica and Achatina iredalei, they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, and can be kept fairly cool, around 20-22c, and at moderate humidity, they can also be kept at a higher temperature and at higher humidity, around 26-30c and very humid, they seem to grow faster at more humid, higher temperatures. Keeping these snails at higher temperatures may be important for breeding these snails, but it is not proven.

They are one of the largest species of land snails in the world, they are able to get to around 21cm shell length, though in captivity shells of around 12-16cm are more likely for adult snails. Their shells are usually very slender for their size.

Large housing is needed, a 3ft x 1.5/2ft tank is ok for around 3 snails, large storage containers can also be used. Smaller housing is ok for juveniles, this species is fairly fast growing though, and the housing will need to be changed to a larger set-up as the snails grow.

Coir/Soil can be used as substrate, and should be several inches deep, they rarely burrow, but they should be allowed to bury themselves if they wish, this species seem far less likely to aestivate than many other species, which would suggest that they are able to adapt to a wide range of temperatures and housing conditions.

Though crossbreeding isn’t yet proven for any species of GALS, there is a chance that some species (like Achatina immaculata and Achatina fulica) may be able to crossbreed and produce fertile offspring, this isn’t the case with reticulata though, as it has been proven that genetically they aren’t able to hybridise with any other species of snail.

They can be offered a range of different fruits and vegetables, like Achatina fulica they aren’t at all fussy, and will accept many foods, a source of calcium, like cuttlefish bone, must be available to them at all times.

(top) adult Achatina reticulata

(2nd, 3rd) juvenile Achatina reticulata f. albino