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Monday, September 01, 2008, 08:00
Ann Dring, 40, bought two giant African land snails 18 months ago as birthday presents for her daughter Gemma, 13.
But the call centre worker was unaware the snails – the largest on earth – are hermaphrodites capable of changing sex and breeding whenever they like.
The two six-inch-long pets laid hundreds of round white eggs three weeks ago which have now hatched into more than 300 babies, which are available to a good home.
Each baby snail is around the size of a 5p piece but could grow as big as their parents – large enough to cover the palm of a hand.
Mrs Dring, mum-of-two, is appealing for any snail lovers to come forward and take them off her hands.
She said: "I was really shocked to wake up one morning and see hundreds of eggs.
"When I bought the snails they all looked the same so I had no idea what sex they were.
"They were really small at the time and now we can't believe how big they've grown – they're huge.
"I thought that if they were to breed only 10 or 15 of the eggs would hatch so it was a massive surprise to see as many as we have now."
Both snails – which are capable of impregnating themselves – laid the trail of eggs overnight in the tank where they live.
Vets and pet shops told Mrs Dring and her husband Barry, 41, to freeze the eggs to stop them all from hatching.
But the animal-lover refused to kill them and incubated the eggs under a heat lamp until they were ready to hatch after a three-week incubation.
Mrs Dring is now trying to find homes for the babies.
She said: "I've asked all my friends if they would like any and I've offered to give them away to pet shops.
"They're nice gentle creatures which are great to keep as pets and everybody I know likes looking at them. But I'm desperate to get rid of them because there's no way we can keep them all – we haven't got enough lettuce!"
Giant African Land Snails are native to the forests of Ghana, Africa and prized for their large size and distinct markings.
Mrs Dring can be contacted on ad5153sb@blueyonder.co.uk.
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