The numbers
Enclosure
20 L+ ventilated tub with locking lid (escape/quarantine control)
Diet
Leafy greens, veg, fruit, cuttlebone · Fresh food daily
Temperature
24–28°C
Humidity
70–90%
Identity
Order / Family
Stylommatophora
IUCN / CITES
IUCN Least Concern globally BUT major INVASIVE PEST — banned/illegal to keep in the USA & many countries; carries rat lungworm
Difficulty
Beginner
Commonality
Ubiquitous/free in Thailand (agricultural pest)
Adult size
Shell up to ~10–20 cm
Lifespan
5–7 yrs (up to 10)
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Nocturnal terrestrial herbivore
Temperament
Docile, slow
Venom / defense
Harmless; can carry rat lungworm parasite — wash hands after handling
Price (THB)
0–100 (often free; pest species)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C
Humidity
70–90%
Min. enclosure
20 L+ ventilated tub with locking lid (escape/quarantine control)
Substrate
8–10 cm damp coco/soil for burrowing & egg-laying
Hides / decor / water
Cork bark, leaf litter, moss; shallow water dish
Diet
Staple food
Leafy greens, veg, fruit, cuttlebone
Feeding frequency
Fresh food daily
Supplements
Cuttlebone / calcium always available (shell growth)
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Gentle; ALWAYS wash hands after (rat lungworm risk); never release
Communal
Yes – tolerant communal
Defense / stress signs
Retracting into shell, sealing with epiphragm, inactivity
Reproduction
Reproduction
Hermaphrodite; lays 100–400 eggs per clutch every 2–3 months — extremely prolific
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsShell rot/cracks, low-calcium thin shell, dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsNEVER release (invasive); dispose of eggs responsibly; illegal in many countries
Good to know
- Eats 500+ plant species and was eradicated from Florida twice — hence the bans.
Others in this group
Caribbean / Purple Pincher Hermit CrabCoenobita clypeatusRed Apple CrabMetasesarma aubryiIndonesian / Purple Land Hermit CrabCoenobita brevimanusRuggie Land Hermit CrabCoenobita rugosusVampire Crab (assorted Geosesarma)Geosesarma sp. (e.g. dennerle, 'red devil')Giant Pink-foot / Immaculate Land SnailAchatina immaculataGiant West African / Banana Rasp SnailArchachatina marginataConcave / Cavipes Land Hermit CrabCoenobita cavipes