U.S. Friendly giant snails.

[artaxlives]

Hi there, I'm a bit new to the snail owning community. I've become aware that Giant African Land Snails, along with many similar species, are illegal to own in America. I'm interested in knowing if there are any similarly sized snails I could look into. Barring that, I'd be interested in any relatively large, legal snail species that would make acceptable starters. While new to snails, I've owned many herps and inverts over the years, and I'm confident I could handle one that requires intermediate levels of skill.

[HazelSnail]

Unfortunately, there aren't any GAL sized land snails that are legal in the US. Not that I'm aware of, anyhow. But there are some very beautiful native Florida species that are legal, including Bulimulus species, Orthalicus species, Rabdotus species, and Drymaeus species, which are all tree snails. (I'm fairly sure all of those tree snails are legal, but correct me if I'm wrong..) Caracolus marginella are gorgeous land snails that are also legal, and are pretty good sized. Other legal options are local, native snails. They can be collected but just not transported across state lines, unlike the species I mentioned above.

Again, I am fairly sure all of this is right, but correct me if it is not... I'd hate to be accidentally giving out wrong information.

[Liguus]

Welcome to snail keeping!, and sorry that you live in the USA. It's hard to get snails here.

Unfortunately, no, there is nothing too similar to a GALS that you can keep. As of this year, Orthalicus tree snails are the largest snails you will be able to legally keep in the USA...other than possible introduced european species in your state (i.e. if you live in California you can get Helix aspersa or if you're in Michigan or Missouri you can get Cepaea nemoralis).

Orthalicus floridensis and Orthalicus reses nesodryas are the two legal Orthalicus species, while O. reses reses is protected. Being relatives of Liguus they highly likely require a UV light bulb above their enclosure to synthesize nutrients correctly. They also need to eat a smoothie mix smeared on the walls and will not eat solid food. They can grow to have shells that are a little over 2 inches long.

Caracolus marginella is also legal and found in FL, along with all three Drymaeus species in FL (although they are not very big).

I plan to collect Caracolus this July. Last time I found 60 in half an hour so it should be no issue to get everyone about 2 or 3. The Orthalicus are a different story. They are not as common, and in addition to that you have to climb about 15-20 feet up the trees to get them and they're not easy to spot in the thick hardwood hammock in the first place. maybe I will have some for the first people who have been interested, and from then on hopefully I can breed them in captivity to have more to sell.

[artaxlives]

Thanks you guys, that's some really comprehensive and useful info. Hazel, I'll definitely have to look into those species you mentioned, I'm excited to see if they're legal in my area. I'll give an update if there are any major developments, thanks a ton!