SNAIL FARMING Leave a comment
8 MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SNAIL FARMS
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- Ensure proper containment facility requirements: The proper quarantine and containment of live snails are essential as the most important matter is that snailery must be escape-proof and be effective against predators and it permits easy entry to the trend snails.
- Various snail farming systems: Four basic types of snail farming systems are utilized. These include the use of outdoor pens, inside of controlled climate buildings, inside of plastic tunnel houses or greenhouses, as well as a combination approach involving the use of a controlled environment for breeding and hatching, with snails then being moved to outdoor pens to mature.
- Soil: Appropriate soil conditions are required. Soil should be neither too sandy nor too heavy, as snails tend to dry out in the sand, but face difficulty digging in heavy soils. A neutral pH is recommended, with an organic concentration of 20 to 40 per cent. Limestone can be added as necessary. Soil calcium is essential for snail shell growth.
- Climate: Snails flourish in a mild climate (15–25 °C) and high humidity (75% to 95%), although most species tolerate a broader range of temperatures. At lower temperatures, snails stop growing and eventually hibernate. Higher temperatures or dry soil conditions caused by excessive wind may also lead to dormancy. Controlled environment growth can expand the geographic range where snails may be grown.
- Materials Needs: depending upon the type of snail farming system used, major materials you need may include free-range pens, moveable pens, mini paddock pens, trench pens, hatch boxes, mosquito nets, and concrete blocks. Climate control equipment like sprinklers and humidifiers may also be required.
- Feeding The Snails: Most snails are basically vegetarian and accept various types of feed. They prefer cabbage, flowers, tubers, fruits and green leaves as their food. Snails also require drinking water.
- Mating and egg-laying: Snails have both male and female reproductive organs. Generally, mating occurs in spring or early summer, with eggs laid within a few weeks of intercourse. Soil at least two inches deep is necessary for the laying of eggs.
- Harvesting: it takes up to 2 years for snails to be sellable. The brim of the shell of a snail tells if it is matured or not. The thicker and harder the shell, the more mature it is. Once the snails are matured, you can sell the snails and keep a few for breeding.
