Tag: Snail Farming

Snail is a common name for almost all members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in a general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. Otherwise snail-like creatures that lack a shell (or have only a very small one) are called slugs. Snails survive best in about 27ºc to 28ºc temperature with high humidity of over 80%, the soil of the snail house must be loose with good calcium high in organic matter and water…

It is recommended to use sexually mature snails, weighing at least 100-125 g, as initial breeding stock. Farming should preferably start at the onset of the wet season, because that is the time snails normally start to breed. Until snail farms become self-sustaining, farmers may have to collect snails from the wild or buy them cheaply in the peak season and fatten them in captivity in the off season. In relatively undisturbed forest areas, snails can be collected on days following rains. Snails are active at night and on cloudy…

The type and dimensions of your snailery depend on the snail growing system you choose, and on the quantity of snails you intend to produce. As far is housing is concerned, your snail farm could be extensive, semi-intensive, or intensive, in increasing order of complexity, management and financial inputs. Three options might be considered: Extensive system: outdoor, free-range snail pens. Mixed, or semi-intensive system: egg laying and hatching occur in a controlled environment; the young snails are then removed after 6-8 weeks to outside pens for growing or fattening or…

Snails are vegetarian and will accept many types of food. All snails will avoid plants that have hairy leaves or produce toxic chemicals, like physic nut (Jathropa curcas). Young snails prefer tender leaves and shoots; they consume about twice as much feed as mature snails. As they get older, mature snails increasingly feed on detritus: fallen leaves, rotten fruit and humus. Older snails should be fed the same items as immature snails. If a change in the diet has to be made, the new food items should be introduced gradually.…

Snail farming is a very lucrative business, not just is it less capital intensive, it also have a huge profit potential. Today, we are going to be discussing about some of the materials that can be used in building snail houses depending on their cost and available, they include: 1. Decay and Termite-Resistant Timber: In West Africa favorable tree species are iroko (Milicia excelsa, local name – odum), opepe (Naucleadiderrichii, local name – kusia), or ekki (Lophira alata, local name – kaku). While in South East Asia poles can be…

With soil being a major part of a snail’s habitat. Soil composition, water content and texture are important factors to consider in site selection due to the following reasons: The snail’s shell is made up mainly of calcium derived from the soil and from feed. Snails derive most of their water requirements from the soil. Snails dig in the soil to lay their eggs and to rest during the dry season. Because of all these reasons, it is essential that the soil is loose and that its calcium and water…

Aestivating snail sealed into its shell by a calcareous layer. Snails aestivate if the temperature is too high (> 30 °C) or if the air humidity is too low (< 70-75%) relative humidity. Snails hibernate if the temperature drops below 5 °C. For the snail farmer the result is the same: his (or her) snails become inactive and stop growing, losing valuable growing time, while expenses for housing, tending and protection continue. Consequently, it is in the snail farmer’s interest to prevent or at least reduce dormancy by selecting the…

There are some basic factors that needs to be considered when selecting a desirable site for your snail farm in order to avoid related issues in the nearest future. Some of those important basic factors to be considered include but not limited to the following: 1. General Considerations Snails are generally very used to escaping from enclosures. A priority in setting up a productive snail farming venture, therefore, is to construct escape-proof housing. There are several types of snail housing to choose from depending on the size of the venture…