Snail farming is an easier activity than you think, but of course there are several requirements that must be met for these snails to survive and reproduce.
Snails have appeared throughout history, not only as food but also for their presence in religions, in medicine, in art and even according to the importance and uses that the various cultures of the world have given them.
Today the farming of snails has become a widespread practice, and not only for edible use in the home, but also for commercial purposes. In this way it has been possible to create an income at home in an extra way and without the need to invest too much money or work excessively.
Snail farming is also called heliculture, and is recognized as a zoo technical activity internationally.
If you are interested in how to raise snails and earn extra money or raise them for family consumption then these tips will help you in your task.
Choosing edible snails
Not all snails are edible, but there is a wide variety of them, perfect for human consumption and also for breeding. These are: Helix apart, Helix asperse, Helix quorum and Cryptomaphalus asperse.
Snail farming systems
There are several methods of raising snails, so you can choose the one that best suits you, best suits your needs and of course that can be done in the space you have available.
Intensive System: As its name suggests, this method aims to intensively rear snails to produce snails practically every month throughout the year. However, despite thinking that it is the most productive; the truth is that it needs more care and more investment. In addition, until now there have been many problems and difficulties, especially in the fattening stage of the snail.
Complete Biological Cycle System: This system is the natural breeding of snails, since they are simply left outside and let them complete their life cycle. If you want to raise snails for commercial purposes, this method is the least productive, as this system takes around 18 months to harvest the snail harvest.
Mixed system: This method is considered the most productive and economically profitable, as well as being more reliable than the previous ones. With this method the times of reproduction of the snail are altered. In principle, reproduction would be achieved in winter and spring, summer and early autumn will become the fattening months. To use this system, it is necessary to have the appropriate infrastructure and guarantee the optimal conditions so that the alteration of the snail’s life cycle is fruitful.
What is the temperature needed to raise snails:
For the snail to be comfortable during its active life cycle, the ideal temperature should be between 15 and 22ºC. This temperature will be much lower, around 7ºC during their hibernation cycle. Remember that the snail only grows and reproduces while it is active and not hibernating, so if you are going to raise snails you must maintain the right temperature to extend the active life cycle of the snail.
What do you need to raise snails at home:
To raise your snails in captivity you will need an aquarium with a narrow mesh cover, so that the snails do not escape, garden soil and some rocks made of calcium carbonate from which they will obtain calcium. You can also make your own hatchery with some wood and dense mesh.
Obviously you are going to need some snails, you can simply go to a field, especially if it has rained or it has been very humid, and catch a few.
You can also introduce some stone, especially if it has holes, or some brick to have some shelter.
The feeding of the snails
The diet of the snails can be very varied, from only feeding on herbs, plants and vegetables to providing them with a more balanced diet, which is more recommended, since with vitamins and proteins their growth will be optimal. There are also snail foods that are sold in some places like pet stores. But you have to keep in mind that not all these products have a balanced supply of nutrients. You can also give him the remains and waste of vegetables from home.
Some interesting data
- Snails are hermaphrodites, but they need a partner to reproduce.
- France is the largest consumer of snails.
- Snails have a great supply of nutrients (magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium) and low level of calories, they are also very low in fat and their protein content is the same as that of red meat.
As you can see, raising snails is simple because they do not require too much attention; they just have an adequate environment and space and are fed in a balanced way to obtain good results.
