Hand-raised baby Giant African Land Snails from a sunny corner of Ottenbach, Switzerland — each one bathed, fed, and fussed over by a nine-year-old who knows them all by their spirals, and her family of snail lovers.
Born here in Ottenbach, they've been taken care of since hatching. How can you not fall in love with those adorable eyes?! They go home in twos — Giant African Land Snails are surprisingly social and don't like being on their own.
...and a few more peeking out from under the leaves.
Bringing home a snail shouldn't mean a panicked trip to the pet shop the next morning. Your pair comes ready — food for the first few days, calcium, and a care book that answers the most common questions.
A few days worth of fresh greens and the dry mix we feed them, plus a list of safe favorites for week two onward.
Calcium for a strong, shiny shell. We rasp the back so they can start nibbling right away — no setup needed.
if you'd like
A small clean-up crew that keeps the enclosure tidy without any extra work. We send them along if you'd like — just say the word.
A kid-friendly little book written for the people who'll actually be holding the snails — clear answers, big pictures, no panic.
Your snails will feel right at home from the first night — if everything's in place. Here's what to have ready before you come to collect them.
Glass or plastic with a ventilated lid — at least 30 × 20 × 20 cm for two babies. They grow fast, so bigger is always better. Ours is 60×45×45.
Coconut coir (Kokoserde) or plain topsoil, 5–8 cm deep — no fertiliser, no peat. Keep it just slightly damp, like a wrung-out sponge.
18–28 °C — room temperature works perfectly. No direct sunlight (it overheats them fast).
Spray the walls inside once a day with plain water. Or find a Mist Machine in the shopping list so that it’s always at the right humidity level.
Shallow water so that your baby snails can drink, but not drown.
Essential for shell strength — prop one in a corner or clip it to the side. We include one in your starter kit.
Most snail-care guides on the internet are written for adults.
So you have a snail now. Congratulations — you have one of the slowest, calmest pets in the world. Here is everything I learned in my first year with mine.
First thing: give them a name. They don't know it, but you'll feel better.
— 4 —Pretty much every vegetable in your fridge. But they have favourites!
Scarlett is nine, and she's loved snails for as long as anyone can remember. She slowly turned the whole family into snail-lovers, too — and now she spends her afternoons giving little baths to her own two snails, Shiny and Spiky.
When her snails started having babies, we couldn't keep them all. So we decided to find them homes — proper ones — where they'd be cared for the way Scarlett cares for hers. That's all this is.
Scarlett's two Giant African Land Snails have been together for two years. They're calm, healthy, and apparently very fond of cucumber — the babies get their good temperament from somewhere.
Send us a quick message — how many snails, when you'd like to pick up, and any questions you've already got brewing.
You choose your snails when you get to see them in person. They are in different sizes and each shell is unique.
Come by the house, meet your snails in person, and head home with the full starter kit and care book.
If anything comes up — they're hiding, won't eat, look different — write to us. We've seen most of it.
Giant African Land Snails are more social than people expect. On their own they tend to get sluggish and stop eating; in a pair they explore more, eat more, and live longer. It's our one firm rule.
Full-grown, the shell can reach 15–20 cm long. They take their time — most of the size comes in the first two years — so you'll get to know them at every stage.
Five to seven years with good care.
Yes — they're calm, quiet, easy to hold, and don't bite, scratch, or run off. They're also a beautiful first lesson in patience and gentleness. Younger kids should always hold them with grown-up hands nearby.
No — pickup only, here in Ottenbach. Shipping is stressful for the snails and the rules vary by canton and country. We'd rather you came by, met them, and asked everything in person.
A glass or plastic terrarium (around 30 × 20 × 20 cm is plenty for two babies), a few centimetres of coconut-fibre soil, a shallow water dish, and somewhere humid and out of direct sun. We send you the full list when you reserve.
We cannot wait to introduce you to your new pets.