Archachatina papyracea – Wild-type coloration, juvenile (surrender animal)

🐌 About the Species

Archachatina papyracea is also known as Achatina papyracea, Archachatina porphyrostoma, or "Akiko". It comes from the rainforests of Africa, remains small with a shell length of up to 7 cm, and lays only a few eggs.

🐌 Where Does This Snail Come From?

This snail comes from our rescue center. It was surrendered to us – for example, because its owners moved, became ill, or could no longer care for it – and is now looking for a second home. We usually do not know the parents or the exact age; minor cosmetic flaws on the shell are possible (see photo).

🐌 Care

• Experience: Beginners – also well suited for newcomers
• Humidity: 80–90 %
• Temperature: approx. 28 °C during the day, approx. 24 °C at night
• Add calcium carbonate to the soil
• Offspring: usually approx. 8, at most 12 eggs per clutch
• Life expectancy: 5–7 years
• Adult shell length: up to approx. 7 cm
• Group size: min. 3 animals

🐌 Our Care Recommendation

We surrender each snail individually. Nevertheless, snails should never be kept alone. They need companions of the same species to feel comfortable. Please do not keep different species together.

Introduce new animals carefully to the group and make sure they are of a similar size.

Healthy snails mate. Therefore, plan in advance how you will handle clutches so that no unwanted offspring are produced. This applies especially to non-native, invasive species such as giant African land snails: Neither animals nor eggs may ever be released into the wild.

We are happy to help you with any questions.

🐌 Why a Protection Fee?

Like every dog, cat, and reptile from the animal shelter, we also only rehome our snails for a protection fee. It is not a purchase price – our animals are not merchandise.

• It protects the animals: Anyone who pays a protection fee has usually carefully considered taking in an animal. This helps us prevent impulsive adoptions and prevents animals from being carelessly passed on, fed to others, or bred uncontrollably.
• It covers part of the costs that every animal incurs with us: food, calcium, substrate, heat, terrariums, and the time for care, advice, and rehoming.
• It makes our work possible: Every euro goes to the association – to the rescue center and to the care of surrendered and confiscated animals.

The amount depends on the species, size, and care required and is always per animal.

🐌 Shipping & Cost Contribution

Our snails travel with a special private overnight animal transport service. As soon as your snail is on its way, we will send you an email – it will arrive the following day. Unfortunately, live tracking is not possible with this type of transport.

To keep the cost contribution for transport as low as possible, we have the animals picked up in batches. Please therefore be patient if it sometimes takes a little while. For the sake of the animals, we do not ship before weekends and holidays and prefer to wait a few days in case of extreme heat or cold.

In cold temperatures, the animals travel in a Styrofoam box with a heat pack – this is included in the cost contribution.

When your snail arrives, please let it acclimate at room temperature for half to three-quarters of an hour first. Give it the time it needs.

The cost contribution exclusively covers the courier and animal-friendly packaging – we do not earn anything from it.

Tip for Association Members+: As an Association Member+, the snail call is free for you – personal video advice on species selection, setup, and care. An offer in cooperation with slimeside.de.

In cooperation with Slimeside: On slimeside.de you will find everything we consider good and correct for keeping snails – from soil and calcium to the right terrarium. Our snails already live with these products and are accustomed to them – this makes the move to your home easier for them.

The photos show the species. Every animal is an individual and may differ in color, pattern, and minor cosmetic flaws.