All you need to know about Achatina Marginata Breed of Snail

March 22, 2023May 28, 2023 Agric4Profits

Achatina Marginata popularly known by its abbreviation of “AM” characterized by (big black snail, giant African land snail) is a large snail, generally growing to about 20 cm and a live weight of 500g. The shell is much less pointed than the Achatina species, the roundness being especially obvious in young animals.

Striation on the shell may give the appearance of a ‘woven’ texture. The head of the snail is dark-grey its foot is a lighter shade. This species has been the object of a series of stocking and feeding experiments.

The giant West African snail or banana rasp snail (Archachatina marginata) is a species of air-breathing tropical land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae. They can grow up to 20 cm long, and live up to 10 years or more.

Distribution of Achatina Marginata Breed of Snail

Achatina Marginata is native to the humid African rainforest belt, from Southern Nigeria to Congo, but is now found in other parts of the African rainforest zone.

Growing Conditions of Achatina Marginata Breed of Snail

All you need to know about Achatina Marginata Breed of Snail — Baby Snails (Hatchlings)

Using Nigerian experiments as a case study, juvenile growth was found to be inversely proportional to temperature, falling sharply at temperatures > 30 °C, and directly proportional to rainfall and humidity. Body weight gain slows down significantly during the dry season.

Life History of Achatina Marginata Breed of Snail

Reproduction: The species reaches sexual maturity at an age of around one year, when the individuals reach a live weight of 100-125 g. Reciprocal copulation must occur to produce viable eggs.

Laying eggs: The eggs are comparatively large at 17 × 12 mm, with an average weight of 4.8 g in a stocking trial. For that reason, the number of eggs per clutch is low, 4-18 eggs. Eggs are laid in the soil at a depth of about 10 cm.

Eggs of achatinids are normally laid in the soil, but can be found under leaves or rocks. They produce as many as 40 eggs, which are yellow in color with dark blotches, and their incubation period is about 40 days.

Hatching

In 10 to 30 days, the eggs hatch releasing snails about 4 mm long. These snails grow up to 10 mm per month. After 6 months, the Achatina fulica is about 35 mm long and may already be sexually mature. Sexual maturity takes 6 to 16 months, depending on weather and the availability of calcium.

Hatchlings: The incubation period from egg to hatchling is around 4 weeks. Hatchlings have a thin, transparent shell; they generally remain in the soil for 5 to 7 days before emerging, but sometimes wait even longer.

Because of the relatively high weight of the eggs the number of hatchlings from a clutch is low compared to the other two species. During the first weeks after emerging, hatchlings repeatedly burrow into the soil.

Juveniles: In laboratory trials shell length of the juvenile snails increased by an average of 0.33 mm/day for the first 8 months (c. 8 cm), slowing down to 0.2 mm/day at 15 months. Shell length hardly increases after that time.

Adults: The snails reach sexual maturity at around 10-12 months.

It is called Achatina achatina which luckily is one of the easiest Achatina to identify for a number of reasons. The V is a raised, serrated bump. It is easy to feel if you wet your finger and run it over the tail. Sometimes Achatina snails seem to show a lighter V shape on their tail.

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