Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina)

Abstract

Most efforts towards boosting reproduction in snails are directed towards nutrition and soil composition and little emphasis have been placed in exploring other factors that might influence reproduction in snails. The influence of housing types on reproductive characteristics of Achatina achatina was investigated with ninety juvenile snails subjected to each of the three housing treatments in replicates of 15 snails per replicate for 36 weeks. The housing treatments had the same dimensions (120 cm x 60 cm x 30 cm) and were labeled as: - Treatment A (Hutch box), Treatment B (Trench pen) and Treatment C (Mini-paddock pen). The housing treatments and its surroundings were fitted with a digital thermometer and hygrometer to take daily readings of internal and ambient temperature and humidity. The snails in each replicate were fed daily rations of 60 g of dry Guinea corn bran, 50 g ground egg shell and water was also supplied. The reproductive parameters investigated were egg production and hatchability of eggs. Other parameters investigated were temperature and humidity variations. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the means of the reproductive parameters even though the highest yield of egg production and hatchability of eggs were observed in snails subjected to Treatment C. The temperature variation was lowest in Treatment C (4.0o C) and highest in Treatment B (6.9o C). The humidity variation was also lowest in Treatment C (14.5%) and highest in Treatment B (15.9%). The study recommends that any of the housing treatments can be used as laying pens for Achatina achatina since housing has no significant influence on their reproductive characteristics.