4 Common Mistakes Snail Farmers Make in Snail Farming

Agric4Profits March 12, 2023May 28, 2023 0 Comments Snails

As a snail farmer or an intending snail farmer who want to venture into snail farming business, there are some basic mistakes that almost every snail farmer neglect maybe because they feel that it does not matter for the business but sincerely, they do matter a lot in the business.

Today, we are going to be discussing about those basic common mistakes in snail farming below:

1. Lack of requisite knowledge

There is this popular saying that knowledge is power and snail farming business is not left out of this category because snail farming is a knowledge-based venture. It is quite unfortunate that many people view it a goldmine and dabble into it without first attempting to acquire sound knowledge of this creature.

The brunt is high rate of mortality, consequent frustration and eventual abandonment of the venture which am certain that no snail farmer or intending snail farmer will want to go through this bad experience.

2. Lack of Mentorship

Snails are wonderful creatures of various species passing through series of events in their life cycles. Various life stages possess special features and pose different challenges.

Going into snail farming without a mentor, you may have to pay the learning price dearly. To succeed in a snail farming business, you need a mentor, at least a successful snail farmer who you can take after.

Someone that can be able to guide you properly especially when you start experiencing some challenges in your snail farming business as a beginner.

3. Choosing wrong snail species as foundation stock for a commercial snail farming

Most times, newbies complained of high fertility and high mortality incidences at their farms, in most cases these budding snail entrepreneurs might have chosen AF or AA as their foundation stocks.

It is highly advisable you start your snail farm with AM as these giant snails are mainly recognized for commercial purpose in our dear country, though not as prolific as others but they grow bigger faster than those mentioned above.

4. Poor daily practice and farm management

Many acclaimed snail farmers perform poorly when it comes to daily practice in a snail farm, some mulch their snail with wet plantain leaves, some don’t know how to wet their snail farms during dry season, poor feeding system, ineffective pen, poor planning, to mention a few.

Important Daily Management Activities on your Snail Farm

Soil

You must keep the soil moist by mulching and watering in the dry season as that can greatly affect their activeness as well as feeding rate which in return increases their growth rate and weight resulting to yielding more income for the snail farmer. Change soil in the cages every three months.

Hygiene

Check the pens for any dead snails and remove them immediately. Do not use insecticides or herbicides in your snailery. Handle your snails carefully and wash them with water from time to time.

Recording

Record inputs and output of your snail farm daily. Include your own labour or that of family members, and inputs, like food or repairs to the pens to keep track of your expenses.

Seasonal and Daily Management

Just like any other livestock farming operation, good management practices are the key to success. In semi-intensive or intensive snail farming, farmers keep and care for hatchlings, growers and breeding snails in separate hutch boxes or pens.