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The risky trend of pet giant snails

10/3/2024

Translation: Elicia Payne

Stroking and cuddling giant snails is impossible. Yet, their slimy skin seems to be appealing to more and more people. Is the controversial trend justifiable, and what do you need to bear in mind when you keep one? I put out feelers to a breeding facility.

A wobbly mass sucks itself onto an eyelid, two slippery tentacles feel their way along a lower lip. It’s definitely possible that you’ve come across videos like this on social media recently. Influencers are putting giant African snails, also known as agate snails, right on their faces. Apparently, the mucus is said to have a rejuvenating effect on the skin.

Recently, a study by the University of Lausanne warned that humans who take part in this trend could become infected with rat lungworm. Other scientists gave the all-clear, and explained these parasites couldn’t survive at our body temperatures. Snails from domestic breeding are supposed to be harmless. I wanted to see for myself what it’s all about, so on a Monday afternoon I stopped by the breeding facility «Lorica» in Zofingen.

The pet of the future?

Managing Director Simone Piovan is the «dad» of a total of 2,500 exotic animals. He’s been selling agate snails for around 13 years, currently around 15 per month. «Interest has increased significantly in the last ten months,» he confirms. «Retirees, business people, schools – the fascination runs across all demographics. It seems giant snails are the pets of the future.»

But why are people attracted to snails when you can’t pet them, play with them nor interact with them? «It’s difficult to say,» says Simone. Many people simply like to watch them grow, eat and reproduce. «A little boy told me he has the snails on his bedside table. When he watches them in the evening, it puts his mind at rest and he can fall asleep.»

Not a pet

Time to get to know real agate snails. Simone gets two specimens, about five and ten centimetres in size, out of the enclosure – an Achatina Immaculata and an Achatina Achatina (giant African land snails). He sprinkles both with a little water. The smaller snail doesn’t react. «She doesn’t seem to be in the mood,» says Simone. The larger one, on the other hand, starts to poke some of its body out the shell. As the manager holds the snail up higher, the two little tentacles look him in the eye.

Apparently, someone’s home at Agate House.
Source: Darina Schweizer

Simone shakes his head at the thought of putting the snails on his face. But he believes it’s almost impossible to get a parasite infection. In his 20 years of snail farming, he’s not heard of a single case. And in principle, it’s up to the individual what they do with the snails. But agate snails aren’t animals that should be taken out of their enclosure all the time. «I take mine out every two weeks at most. And even then, as I’m doing now, I only hold them in my hands for a short time so they don’t get stressed.»

How to keep them

Keeping giant snails is relatively simple once you’ve bought a suitable enclosure and substrate and feed them a varied diet of vegetables and fruit (no citrus fruit!). Nevertheless, you have to keep an eye on the snails. Or more precisely, on their eggs. «Depending on the species, a single snail can lay up to 500 eggs. You should continually remove them from the enclosure, otherwise the snail population will explode,» says Simone.

«You have to be a certain type of person to like agate snails,» says Simone Piovan.
Source: Darina Schweizer

The little animals live for five to ten years, so it’s important you’re interested in them for the long-term. Not much happens in the enclosure, says Simone. The most exciting thing is when you feed them cuttlebone to strengthen their snail shell. «They really dive into it and it crunches really nicely when they chew. But if you need more action from your pets, giant snails aren’t for you,» says the managing director. He even advised a friend not to buy one because he knew he wasn’t the type. «If there’s no interest, the snails are soon neglected.»

Beautiful to look at – the patterned shells often found on the giant snails are fascinating.
Source: Darina Schweizer

A pet to slow you down

Simone Piovan carefully puts his two giant snails back in their enclosure. When the body of the larger one touches the ground, it suddenly pulls back its tentacles. It ventures out again, very gradually, and pulls itself up a stone millimetre by millimetre. I notice how I feel more relaxed as I watch them. «Really calming, isn’t it?» says Simone Piovan. I nod and notice even my frown lines have smoothed out. And all this without having to stick a snail on my forehead.

The first cosmetic products with snail slime were developed in Korea in 2009. They’re now in demand worldwide. Manufacturers advertise that they protect against dryness, pathogens and UV radiation while rejuvenating the skin. The only thing that has been scientifically proven is that snail slime contains anti-inflammatory antioxidants. So far, there’s no significant research on how this exactly affects the skin. Removing snail slime in a stressful manner, for example by means of electric shocks, is also criticised by animal welfare organisations.

Would you keep giant snails as pets? Let me know in the comments!

41 people like this article

Darina Schweizer

Senior Editor

Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.ch

I like anything that has four legs or roots. The books I enjoy let me peer into the abyss of the human psyche. Unlike those wretched mountains that are forever blocking the view – especially of the sea. Lighthouses are a great place for getting some fresh air too, you know?

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The risky trend of pet giant snails

The pet of the future?

Not a pet

How to keep them

A pet to slow you down

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Kokedama trend – my (literal) Kate Moss

Cool walking routes for dogs on hot days

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Not a pet

How to keep them

A pet to slow you down

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The risky trend of pet giant snails

The pet of the future?

Not a pet

How to keep them

A pet to slow you down

Snails and beauty

These articles might also interest you

Kokedama trend – my (literal) Kate Moss

Cool walking routes for dogs on hot days

Caught between repulsion fascination: in the land of a thousand creepy crawlies

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Top 10 categories

Go to

Not a pet

How to keep them

A pet to slow you down

Snails and beauty

11 comments