22/09/2021
*Challenges in Snail Farming And How To Overcome Them*
Every business venture or enterprise comes with challenges and snail farming is not exempted.
Snail farming is a lucrative venture if the farmer applies international best practices in the industry. This will help in overcoming the challenges he will encounter.
Below are some of the common challenges in snail farming and how to overcome them.
1. Predators
Activities of predators seem to top the chart of problems encountered in snail farming. Snails are fragile creatures and the fact that they are equally slow makes them prone to predators. In fact snails are very vulnerable and hardly defend themselves as they cannot run nor easily hide away from predators. It is believed that snakes, soldier ants, lizards and rats are the only known snail predators
Land snails are preyed upon by a terrestrial species of snail-like creatures known as slugs. These creatures eat up young hatchlings and even older snails. Other predators include insects, millipedes, crabs, crickets, turtles, frogs, toads, birds etc.
*Solution*
protect the snails by exterminating the predators whenever they’re sighted. Do not raise birds, cows and other predators on the same location with the snails. Also, the snail housing should be elevated and trenches dug around them and filled with water and condemned oil to prevent creeping predators from accessing them.
Predator control structures should be installed to ward off rodents and other creeping animals and more importantly, the snails should be checked at intervals because they are incapable of signalling for help when they are in danger.
2. Soil Type
Soil play a very significant role the life of snails as their capability, health and reproduction largely depend on the type of soil they live on. Soil contamination may initiate a spike in snail mortality on the farm and as such, it must be checked at all time.
*Solution*
The texture of soil on your snail farm should be finely grounded and preferably loamy soil with a low water-holding capacity. The snail farmland shouldnt be acidic, rather rich in calcium which strengthens the shells. Where you have the means, conduct a pH test on your soil, sterilize the soil to get rid of predators and much importantly, change your soil every three months if you are intensive housing system. Sterilize the soil by frying, boiling or pouring boiled water on it.
3. Snail Feed
Snails like every living organism require food to grow. Feeding the snails with the right feed is as important as the air they breathe. Giving snails the wrong feed will most likely affect their growth and reproduction or increase the mortality rate among them. You need to understand that, breeding snails on a large scale requires a large feeding commitment and as such, you should prepare what your snails will eat ahead of your stocking period.
Contrary to our thinking, snails are not slow in growth however, the quality of the food you give them influence their growth rate.
4. Light Intensity
Unlike plants that require sunlight to manufacture their food, snails do not need a large intensity of light. In fact, snails prefer to hide away from light as such, you must ensure you constantly keep the light intensity of your farm to the barest minimum for your snails to experience a consistent growth pattern; mating events and egg-laying activities.
*Solution*
Snails are more active in the night than during the day, therefore, the pen should always be cool at night with less availability of light. Cover them with sufficient mulching materials and put a shade on their pens if using intensive system.
5. Human Activities
There are some changes that man does to his environment that affects the well-being of the snails. As earlier stated, snails thrive in a humid tropical forest zone, hence, activities like bush burning and deforestation can become a hindrance to snail farming.
Bush burning and deforestation make the habitat difficult for the snails to live in because it exposes them to a harsh weather condition, and their eggs to direct sunlight. When this happens, it sends them to extinction as they wouldn’t be able to successfully breed and their matured ones may die.
In a nutshell, ensure you are on the lookout for poachers trespassing into your farm or any man-made activities such as bush burning, chemical spray, cutting of trees etc around your farm as it may affect your snail’s productivity.
*Solution*
To prevent this, the eco-system around the snail farm should be kept tropical and natural as possible. Though the snails are being reared, the pen should feel like a home enough for them i.e. the coziness of a tree root and also secured enough to ward-off uninvited human guests.
6. Diseases and Parasites
This is a major problem of snail farming in Nigeria and cut across all types of farming; it can’t be totally eradicated but can be reduced to the minimum. Diseases and parasites cannot be seen with the ordinary eyes but noticeable once it starts.
Some of the symptoms noticeable in an infected snail are fragile shell. Inactivity in the snail, excessive secretion of serum (oedema), reduced or no tentacles, inability to reproduce, impaired opercula, loss of colour in new shell etc.
Examples of these diseases and parasites include:
Fungal diseases caused by Fusarium spp and majorly affect the snail eggs causing them to die before they’re hatched.
Bacterial diseases caused by Pseudomonas spp causes intestinal dysfunctions in the snails and affects their normal growth process.
Deficiency disease happens due to poor feeding or lack of essential nutrients and minerals that is needed for proper growth and development. Deficiency disease leads to cannibalism in snails as older snails feed on the smaller ones to supplement nutrients that are lacking in them.
*Solution*
A snail farmer must, therefore, be vigilant and observant. Feed your snails with the right diet and essential nutrients in the right proportion. Feed your snails to build their immune system. Ensure to separate diseased snails from healthy ones and embrace best farm hygiene.
7. Climatic Factors
The climate condition of the snail farm determines the survival and reproduction rate of the snails. Snails only survive in high humidity environment, low temperature and a season that is not dry. This is not naturally possible because of the seasonal climate changes that occur in the weather condition. The good news is that if it is not naturally possible, it can be artificially done.
*Solution*
The recommended temperature for the snail farm is from 23 to 28 degree Celsius; any higher temperature will affect proper development, normal feeding, reproduction and daily activities of your snails. The humidity of air in the snail farm shouldn't be lesser than 70-90% and this is achieved during the rainy season. During the dry season, snails die from hot air; therefore, the pen housing the snails should be regularly sprinkled with water.
Call us on 07063642538*Challenges in Snail Farming And How To Overcome Them*
Every business venture or enterprise comes with challenges and snail farming is not exempted.
Snail farming is a lucrative venture if the farmer applies international best practices in the industry. This will help in overcoming the challenges he will encounter.
Below are some of the common challenges in snail farming and how to overcome them.
1. Predators
Activities of predators seem to top the chart of problems encountered in snail farming. Snails are fragile creatures and the fact that they are equally slow makes them prone to predators. In fact snails are very vulnerable and hardly defend themselves as they cannot run nor easily hide away from predators. It is believed that snakes, soldier ants, lizards and rats are the only known snail predators
Land snails are preyed upon by a terrestrial species of snail-like creatures known as slugs. These creatures eat up young hatchlings and even older snails. Other predators include insects, millipedes, crabs, crickets, turtles, frogs, toads, birds etc.
*Solution*
protect the snails by exterminating the predators whenever they’re sighted. Do not raise birds, cows and other predators on the same location with the snails. Also, the snail housing should be elevated and trenches dug around them and filled with water and condemned oil to prevent creeping predators from accessing them.
Predator control structures should be installed to ward off rodents and other creeping animals and more importantly, the snails should be checked at intervals because they are incapable of signalling for help when they are in danger.
2. Soil Type
Soil play a very significant role the life of snails as their capability, health and reproduction largely depend on the type of soil they live on. Soil contamination may initiate a spike in snail mortality on the farm and as such, it must be checked at all time.
*Solution*
The texture of soil on your snail farm should be finely grounded and preferably loamy soil with a low water-holding capacity. The snail farmland shouldnt be acidic, rather rich in calcium which strengthens the shells. Where you have the means, conduct a pH test on your soil, sterilize the soil to get rid of predators and much importantly, change your soil every three months if you are intensive housing system. Sterilize the soil by frying, boiling or pouring boiled water on it.
3. Snail Feed
Snails like every living organism require food to grow. Feeding the snails with the right feed is as important as the air they breathe. Giving snails the wrong feed will most likely affect their growth and reproduction or increase the mortality rate among them. You need to understand that, breeding snails on a large scale requires a large feeding commitment and as such, you should prepare what your snails will eat ahead of your stocking period.
Contrary to our thinking, snails are not slow in growth however, the quality of the food you give them influence their growth rate.
4. Light Intensity
Unlike plants that require sunlight to manufacture their food, snails do not need a large intensity of light. In fact, snails prefer to hide away from light as such, you must ensure you constantly keep the light intensity of your farm to the barest minimum for your snails to experience a consistent growth pattern; mating events and egg-laying activities.
*Solution*
Snails are more active in the night than during the day, therefore, the pen should always be cool at night with less availability of light. Cover them with sufficient mulching materials and put a shade on their pens if using intensive system.
5. Human Activities
There are some changes that man does to his environment that affects the well-being of the snails. As earlier stated, snails thrive in a humid tropical forest zone, hence, activities like bush burning and deforestation can become a hindrance to snail farming.
Bush burning and deforestation make the habitat difficult for the snails to live in because it exposes them to a harsh weather condition, and their eggs to direct sunlight. When this happens, it sends them to extinction as they wouldn’t be able to successfully breed and their matured ones may die.
In a nutshell, ensure you are on the lookout for poachers trespassing into your farm or any man-made activities such as bush burning, chemical spray, cutting of trees etc around your farm as it may affect your snail’s productivity.
*Solution*
To prevent this, the eco-system around the snail farm should be kept tropical and natural as possible. Though the snails are being reared, the pen should feel like a home enough for them i.e. the coziness of a tree root and also secured enough to ward-off uninvited human guests.
6. Diseases and Parasites
This is a major problem of snail farming in Nigeria and cut across all types of farming; it can’t be totally eradicated but can be reduced to the minimum. Diseases and parasites cannot be seen with the ordinary eyes but noticeable once it starts.
Some of the symptoms noticeable in an infected snail are fragile shell. Inactivity in the snail, excessive secretion of serum (oedema), reduced or no tentacles, inability to reproduce, impaired opercula, loss of colour in new shell etc.
Examples of these diseases and parasites include:
Fungal diseases caused by Fusarium spp and majorly affect the snail eggs causing them to die before they’re hatched.
Bacterial diseases caused by Pseudomonas spp causes intestinal dysfunctions in the snails and affects their normal growth process.
Deficiency disease happens due to poor feeding or lack of essential nutrients and minerals that is needed for proper growth and development. Deficiency disease leads to cannibalism in snails as older snails feed on the smaller ones to supplement nutrients that are lacking in them.
*Solution*
A snail farmer must, therefore, be vigilant and observant. Feed your snails with the right diet and essential nutrients in the right proportion. Feed your snails to build their immune system. Ensure to separate diseased snails from healthy ones and embrace best farm hygiene.
7. Climatic Factors
The climate condition of the snail farm determines the survival and reproduction rate of the snails. Snails only survive in high humidity environment, low temperature and a season that is not dry. This is not naturally possible because of the seasonal climate changes that occur in the weather condition. The good news is that if it is not naturally possible, it can be artificially done.
*Solution*
The recommended temperature for the snail farm is from 23 to 28 degree Celsius; any higher temperature will affect proper development, normal feeding, reproduction and daily activities of your snails. The humidity of air in the snail farm shouldn't be lesser than 70-90% and this is achieved during the rainy season. During the dry season, snails die from hot air; therefore, the pen housing the snails should be regularly sprinkled with water.
Call us on 07063642538
