The giant African land snail – usually just referred to as GALS – is the classic pet of many a classroom, a perennial favourite and often the gateway species to exotic pet keeping. Simple to keep and impressive as an adult, they are an ideal first species for those who are interested in invertebrates, but have no experience of their husbandry.

Their original range of Kenya and Tanzania has expanded massively, as they have become introduced to a vast range of tropical countries where they have become a major agricultural pest. They have an enormous variety of colours and shell patterns, but the commonest is a mid brown shell with paler wavy lines and a greyish body colour. Albinos are quite common, some of which have a normal coloured shell and a white body, and some of which are white with a pale yellow shell. They can weigh up to 600g!