FACTS about SNAILS
By Oluwatomi Olatoye
|
- Farming Snail is the act of raising Snails.
- Snails are shell bearing animals.
- Snails are nocturnal animals.
- Snails are sensitive to vibration, frequent touching and dirty environment.
- Snails can be raised indoor or outdoor.
- Edible land snails enjoy cool environment.
- Snails hibernate during the dry season.
- 99 per cent of snail activities occur in the night.
- The protein content of snail is between 16 – 18%.(FAO).
- FAO recommends 65grams of snails to be taken
daily. - Snail meat contains very little cholesterol or fat..
- Snail meat contains 9 of all the essential 10 amino-
acids for the human body. - In Europe, snail meat is called escargot.
- Snail meat has both local and export potentials.
- Snails are quiet animals and easy to raise.
- The snail shell is one third of the total weight of
snail. - Snail growth is measured by shell size.
- The shell sometimes indicates the age and
maturity of the snail. - Shell growth is influenced by food type and
calcium availability. - Low calcium intake reduces snail growth and
causes the shell to be thinner. - Edible land snails range in size from one
millimetre to 312mm(1foot). - GALS means Giant African Land Snails, these are
snails native of Africa - The shell of a matured GALS has 5-6 whorls.
- Life span of snail is 2-5years,
- The body of the snail is divided into the head, foot
and the visceral mass. - Snails produce slime to keep their bodies moist
and also assist with locomotion.
From Oluwatomi Olatoye
08052069264
To be continued - The speed movement of snail is between 10cm – 15cm per minute.
- Snails are hermaphrodite i.e have both male and female reproductive organs.
- Snails mate with snail of the same species in other to lay fertilized eggs.
- The best temperature for hatching eggs is between 310C– 320C.
- Sexual maturity in snails take between 8 -16months depending on weather and availability of calcium.
- Hatchability of eggs also depends on soil temperature, soil humidity and soil composition.
- The size of Giant Africa Land snail egg is between 2 mm- 5mm.
- Snails do well on slightly alkaline soil with P.H range of 7.5 – 8.5.
- The first food of the newly hatched snail is their own egg shell.
- Newly hatched snails are sensitive to extreme heat.
- Newly hatched snail is about 4mm long.
- Young snails enjoy soft vegetables like lettuce.
- Giant Africa Land snails eat about 500 different types of plants.
- Snails eat vegetables and fruits.
- Snails drink fresh water.
- Snails also enjoy fresh Beer. So give them once a while.
- Snails grow faster when you supplement their food with formulated feeds.
- Snails also eat some food crops, grains and tubers.
- Snails eat boiled meat and snail meat.
- Snails hate salt and salty foods.
- Snail greatest enemy is Sun.
- Other enemies of snail are snake, soldier ants, lizard, rats, house flies and Termites.
08052069264