The response towards our new snails has on the whole been very positive. Nik and I have spent much time peering into their tank trying to locate them (they will grow into it, like you did your old school blazer), cheering Joey the Lip as he scales dizzy heights of the side and watching with some degree of horror and fascination as their food makes its way along their long necks. The cats are being cat like and totally indifferent to their presence, we are not entirely sure they have even noticed them.

However, I feel that I should respond to the numerous (2 and from different members of the same family) comments I have had regarding whether we have in fact, been conned.

Of course they are not giant yet, they are only babies! They will eventually be as large as a fist (not that we are entirely sure whose fist, mine would be a very different snail to Pat Jennings' for example) Although I can see a great idea for a boot sale, collect garden snails, sell them as Giant African Land Snails then scarper, never to be seen again! You wont be around when small children sob at their pet's stunted growth, instead you can be sunning yourself on the Costa Brava funded by your illgotten gains!