I am getting a giant African land snail and I have been told that I need a heat pad for its tank but as we normally have the heating on in our house is a heat pad essential?

Hi, m8

No it is not essential but it is quite important if your house is not warm.

If you do not buy a heater and you have a central heated house you will find that the temperature will drop at night and the snail will become less active and then hibernate if your snail dose do this in the spring you will need to pick up your snail and scrape the hard cap of the bottom of the snail and then you will have to wet him with some warm water then he will come out. (when scraping the cap of the bottom of the snail be sure to use your fumand do that genitally).

If you have any other questions please feel free to e-mail me on: harryrobertpowell@btinternet.com (sometimes i might not reply for a wile)

Good Luck