Ten giant snails looking for 'diligent' new homes

The 10 snails need owners who are able to keep a check on their population numbers

Ten giant snails who have been under RSPCA care for the past year and a half are in need of new homes.

The Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk branch received the giant African land snails as part of a group of 20 after their previous owner became overwhelmed by their growing numbers.

The snails can multiply at rapid rates due to possessing both male and female reproductive organs.

Chloe Shorten, head of animal welfare at the branch, appealed for adopters who could take on the snails.

The exotic snails are hermaphrodites due to possessing both male and female reproductive organs

"They are not your average pet but they can make fantastic, fascinating companions," she said.

“They do breed quickly and their enclosures need sweeping of eggs, so anyone taking on a giant African land snail would need to humanely dispatch the eggs to prevent them from multiplying or you will find your number doubles very quickly."

The RSPCA warned potential owners even single snails were capable of laying their own eggs, so diligent adopters would need "to ensure numbers do not spiral out of control".

The snails can grow to shell sizes of 18cm (7in) by 9cm (3.5in) and they enjoy habitats including tropical wetlands and forests of sub-Saharan Africa, so need to be housed in a humid environment of over 20C (68F).

Their varied diet includes the likes of courgettes and dill.