#snailbreeding

Ideal Place and Soil Suitability

Selecting the ideal plot of land for a snail farm is the most crucial and significant decision a snail farming business needs to take. Snail farmers need to take in to account the adequacy of the land they set up their farm for many reasons, like whether the soil is adequate for plants to grow and feed the snails. Another factor farmers should consider is whether the wind and to what extent it will affect the dryness of the soil. Additionally, a farmer is required to eliminate pests and others predatory insects which may prey on snails. For this reason, the plot should not be covered with big trees so as to avoid unwanted pests and insects that are attracted to such environments. Due to all the above reasons, farmers are required to examine the soil in order to ensure plants and crops will grow. The ideal settings are plots of land whereby the soil analyses should be between PH 5.8 to 7.5 as well as having high calcium levels.

Furthermore, the texture of the soil should be light enabling snails to move freely and lay eggs. For instance, clay soil is viewed as heavy, whereby snails have difficulty moving and laying their eggs. Another factor to take into consideration is the moisture of the soil. Snails are able to move with ease when the soil, leaves and ground are moist. Moist soil also means that plants and crops grow more rapidly.

Snail farmers should also make certain they install an appropriate and effective drainage system so as to ensure water is not collected in puddles. Rainfall and irrigation are additional factors potential snail farmers need to consider.

Suitable Size of Snail Farms

The size of the farm depends on the farmer and his requirements. For instance, those engaged in snail farming as a hobby may use a plot that is approximately 1000 to 2000 square metres. Cottage farms are also required to use a plot of land anywhere between 1000 to 2000 square metres. However, those setting up a small Snail Farm are required to use anywhere between 3000-10000 square metres. Those starting up a large-scale need at least two hectors of land. As time passes and the snail farm’s business increases, the plot should also increase respectively. Several large-scale snail farms can cover a land of 30 hectors.

Setting up a Snailery

There are various types of snaileries that can be constructed. Before constructing a snailery, specific factors should be considered. For instance, farmers should take into account the snails’ habit and development stage. The most important factor to consider when constructing a snailery is safety. That is, snail farmers must make certain the snails will not be able to escape and they must make certain the snails are protected from predators. The material used for the construction of the snailery is another important factor. Snail farmers need to make sure the timber they use will not be affected by termites and will not decay. The timber most commonly used are, Milicia Excelsa, Lophira Alata and Nauclea Diderrichii. Other materials that are needed include mosquito nets, polythene sheets as well as sancrete blocks. The above materials are required to construct any of the types of snaileries outlined below:

·         Trench Pens

·         Hutch Boxes

·         Mini-Paddock Pens

·         Free Range Pens

·         Moveable Pens

·         Feed

 The majority of snail species is vegetarians and feed on a diverse variety of greeneries. It has been noted that the snail breed that feeds on a variety of greeneries is the Achatina Achatina.

Variety of Food Sources

Studies have revealed that Achatina Achatina feed on a diverse variety of food. Generally, this species favours green leaves, flowers, tubers as well as fruit. In comparison to other snail species, the Achatina Achatina prefers to feed on fruit and leaves that are not on the main plant. In general, snails tend to prefer feeding on wet leaves as opposed to dry ones. Snails prefer to feed on the food sources outlined below.

·         Leaves: cassavas, eggplants and paw paws;

·         Fruits: Pawpaw, bananas, mangoes, oil palms, pears, tomatoes and figs;  

·         Tubers: cassavas, plantains, yams, potatoes;  

·         Flowers:  paw paws.

In addition to the above food sources, snail farmers should offer snails a mixture of food in order to enhance their growth.

Reproduction

Snails are hermaphrodites, meaning each snail has both the male and female organs. The reproduction process entails two snails of the same breed. In some occasions, even snails of the same species, which originate from different countries, reject one another. During intercourse, snails act as either males or females, but both snail partners are fertilized. In general, the mating procedure occurs during the end of spring or the beginning of summer. After the mating process, snails have the ability to store semen for up to one year, even though the majority lay eggs within a few weeks.

The soil needs to be at least to inches deep for snails to lay their eggs. Additionally, snail farmers need to make sure the area is free of pesticides such as millipedes, earwigs and ants, which feed on the snail’s eggs. The suitability of th soil should also be taken into consideration. For instance, clay, dry and heavy soil is not suitable because such types of soil reduce the ability to reproduce as well as decreasing the ability for the eggs to hatch. The eggs hatchability depends on a variety of factors including the soil’s composition, temperature and humidity levels. The soil needs to be moist. Furthermore, studies have shown that approximately one-third of snails die after giving birth to eggs because they lose a large amount of weight.

Snail Diseases

Clean and hygienic environments prevents the spread of disease whereas increases the growth and health rates of snails. Thereby, snail farmers should take precautions as to avoid the spreading of disease. For instance, snail farmers are required to replace snail’s food on a daily basis as well as add earthworms in the snail pen, which help keep the snail’s environment clean. Snail farmers should also protect the snails from intestinal infections due to the reception of bacteria like Pseudomonas. Snails need to be protected from fungi, arthpods, parasites as well as nematodes, especially when a dense number of snails are gathered together in one place. Snails also need to be sheltered away from predators such as birds, weasels, moles, mice and rats.

Marketing of Snails

Snail’s slime is primarily promoted as the ideal solution for those suffering from acne as well as doing wonders for burns and scars.

Apparently, snail’s slime has been used as a cosmetic product since antiquity. The ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, treated inflammation by applying crushed snails on bare skin. Additionally, many beauty creams throughout Europe include snail’s slime.

Approximately 15 years ago several snail farmers in Chile accidently discovered the therapeutic qualities and potential of snail’s slime after noticing their scars and skin inflammation healed while harvesting and preparing snails to be exported to France. After their accidental discovery the snail farmers brought in to the market Elicina, a product made of the slime of snails. 

Snail-based products have been thriving all over the world during the past years. A company named Missha in 2010 launched super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream in Korea. The cosmetic product has taken over the beauty world due to its rejuvenating properties. Apparently, the cream works wonders as it treats, soothes and regenerates skin. Seventy per cent of the miracle-product is made up of snail extract. To make sure the quality of the cream is top-notch, the snails used to make the cream feed on red ginseng.  Furthermore, the popular Korean It’s Skin company has also launched another snail-based product named Prestige Cream D’Escargot, which 21% of the cream is made up of snail’s slime.

Other snail-based beauty creams are Capibell, Andes Nature, De Tuinen, Alfa as well as Labcconte USA. All these beauty products are available for sale on-line as well as found in shops.

So what qualities does the slime of snails contain that have led snail-based products to thrive? Helix Aspersa Müller Glycoconjugates, which is the literal name for the slime of snails, contains various ingredients such as glycolic acids, elastin as well as proteins, which protects snail’s skin from infections, damage and UV rays. Although, the properties of snail’s slime are presently famous, some still have not warmed up to the idea of applying the slime on their faces!

A well-known blog, Beauty Brains, reports on researches and studies that have been conducted proving that the slime of snails credibility concerning its bioactive properties and qualities. For one, surveys have proven that the slime helps stimulate collagen, thus when applied on skin, the collagen helps the skin to maintain water and also treats and heals wounds. The latter results however do not prove that that cosmetic products which include snail’s slime leads to skin rejuvenation. Regardless of this fact, cosmetic products that consist of snail’s slime are extremely popular, as on-line reviews have shown. On-line consumers talk enthusiastically about their less blemished, rejuvenating and softer skin, which is the result of applying a cosmetic product that contains the slime of snails.

In order to collect the slime of snails, experts use technical and mechanical means to induce the snails’ stress levels, which leads to the secretion of slime. The slime collected is then purified by filtering the mixture before it is packaged and dispatched.

The most beneficial attribute of snail’s slime is the fact it does not contain any chemical.  The slime of snails is yet another ingredient humans have used in order to remain young and beautiful. Many other animals have also been used during the passage of time for the same reason. For instance the marrow of chickens, the feces of birds , the venom of snakes as well as oil extracted from sharks and semen of bulls have all been used in cosmetic products.

Beetles, flies, mites and other species of snails are land snails invertebrate predators while birds; reptiles, mice, shrews and amphibians are their vertebrate predators.

Land snails are also prey for other larger-sized animals like birds, snakes, toads and frogs. The majority of larger-sized animals capture land snails easily, eating large numbers of them, because of their small size and slow pace.

Depending on the area, the land snails have settled their predators differ. For instance, in occasions where land snails are located near ponds, where ducks and geese usually settle, it is quite common for the birds to eat them.  Although passerby and visitors usually feed ducks and geese, they still possess an innate instinct to seek and hunt different kinds of prey like land snails.

Domestic pets like cats and dogs also eat land snails, not because they are hungry but mainly due to the fact, they are curious or territorial. Some domestic pets may eat land snails while others simply kill or play with them. Land snails are also victims of field mice.

Protection from Predators

Snails cannot protect themselves from their predators. The natural colour of their bodies camouflages them. In actuality, your garden may be packed with snails but you are unable to detect them unless you are intentionally looking for them. The only real means of protection snails have is their shell. They place their entire body inside their shell, even though most predators can break their shell easily.

Shells that are thick and hard, better defend snails from their predators. Another means snails protect themselves is by exuding increased amounts of mucus.

Human Danger

Humans are a great threat to snails because some species are consumed as a delicacy, especially by the upper social classes. Thousands of tonnes of snails are consumed by humans every year. The majority of snails consumed are taken from snail farms.

The fact they are taken from snail farms ensures that the ones humans consume are healthy. When harvested they follow a special diet in order to make sure they taste better than those found in the wild. Naturally, the snails harvested from snail farms are more expensive, but most people find their taste is worth the extra money.

Although snails are preyed by so many predators they still succeed in surviving. The fact they mate up to six times a year and deliver approximately one hundred eggs each time is the key feature attributed to their survival. Although snails have a very high mortality rate, their numbers are kept high because of their constant breeding.