FACTS about SNAILS

By Oluwatomi Olatoye

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