Keynote For A Successful Snail Farming “Heliciculture”

Snail Farming/Heliciculture

Snail farming commonly known as Heliciculture predates human history. It is a common practice among elite countries in ancient times. 

It is recorded that snail farming was very successful in the Greece and Roman Empire where snails were breeds to raise the market for escargot especially during the lent period as the consumption of bloody meat is prohibited. 

Snail farming is a booming lucrative business that can be done almost anywhere using a very small land space. 

Its meat (escargot) has both local and international market values that may pave the way for the farmer to be actively involved in export if the farmer sole wishes. 

Snail farming is environmentally friendly and can be combined with other agribusinesses (such as poultry, fishery, cropping etc) without negatively affecting the existing businesses. 

Snails are not aggressive and can be easily handled. Snail droppings are odorless and form a good source of organic matter which can be used to fertilize the soil for the cultivation of crops.

Snail Pen/Snailery 

The construction of a snail pen depends on several factors. However, the foremost consideration will be determined by how the farmer wants to raise the snails. 

The farmer could raise the snail in their natural habitat usually termed EXTENSIVE SYSTEM or the farmer could raise them in an enclosed environment usually termed INTENSIVE SYSTEM.

Other factors and conditions that must be considered for the construction of the snail pen include;

• The snail pen must be escape-proof
• Relative to the size of the snail, there must be adequate space in the pen. Overcrowding hinders the growth of snails and also increases the risk of diseases
• The pen must be easily accessible for cleaning, feeding, and removal of the snails
• The pen must be well protected from thieves, insects and natural predators 

Free-Range Pen

The free-range pen is an extensive snail farm system. It allows the entire life cycle of the snail (mating, laying of eggs, hatching, developments, growth, and maturity) of the snail. 

In constructing a free-range pen, a fenced area of about 10 × 20 m and above is constructed depending on the number of snails the farmer intends to rear. 

The fence can be made with either block or wire mesh. If the fence is made with block, a roof must be constructed to cover the top to prevent the snail from going out of the enclosed area.

However, if the fenced is made with wire mesh, a roof may not be needed as snail dislike crawling on wire mesh. (Wire mesh is preferable and the fence should be dug to about 20-30 cm into the soil)

Suitable trees, shrubs, and crops/plants are planted in the enclosed area to provide food for the snail and shelter from the wind, sun, and rain thus making the enclosed area look like their natural habitat. 

The free-range pen looks very much like the natural habitat of the snails thus they tend to be at ease and homely. This rapidly contributes to their growth and development. The snails will take shelter in the vegetation or the soil during the day and comes out to feed during the night.

This system is relatively cheap to manage and maintenance is restricted to occasional replanting of crops/plants which serves as a source of food and shelter for the snails.

Trench Pen

The Trench pen is an intensive snail farm system that can also be used for semi-intensive farm purposes. The Trench is to be built away from direct sunlight and any form of heat which could be very harmful to the snails. 

The Trench is partitioned to separate the snails depending on their size and level of development. It can be dug into the ground or raised about 40-50 cm above the ground and external walls are built with blocks/bricks of either mud or sand to enclose the area. 

The trench is filled with suitable treated soil (the soil can be heated in an oven and allowed to cool) to a depth of about 10-15 cm and the top of the trench is covered with wooden or steel framed lid constructed with wire mesh and fitted with a padlock.

The trench is partitioned into hatchery, nursery, and fattening pens with the space available being adapted to the size and number of the snails.

Read Also; The Health Benefits of Snail meat and How to Prepare it

Suitable Soil for Snail Farming

Not all soil is suitable for the breeding snails. A good and suitable soil favors the growth and development of snail by providing additional nutrition as snails dig and ingest the soil. Good soil also contributes to the development of strong and hard shells by supplying iron.

A good and suitable soil for snailery should have a ph of 7 and should contain; 

• Roughly equal amount of sand and clay as snails usually dig into the soil provided. Too much clay would be too hard for them and sand easily dries out.
• Limestone- this should be added at a concentration of 0.5 kg per square meter to enhance the Calcium content of the soil. Calcium is the major component of a snail shell.
• About 20–40% organic matter content- this promotes the cation exchange capacity of both calcium and magnesium respectively. 

NOTE:  The farmer must find a way to prevent the soil from being fouled with mucus and droppings.

Keynote For A Successful Snail Farming “Heliciculture”

Raphael Okhueleigbe

Raphael Osas Okhueleigbe is a Blogger, Content creator, Agricultural Economist, Resource manager, and the founder of greener health.

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