Formulated feed preference for survival and optimal growth of <i>Bulinus</i> species reared in the laboratory

Abstract

Seventy-seven Bulinus snail species were fed for eight weeks with eleven diets consisting of different feed-formulations and vegetables. Snails reared exclusively on grower’s mash, corn fibre meal and fish meal did not survive for up to two weeks. The result from this investigation indicatesthat there isno signiicant difference in body growh gain between lettuce + blood meal, lettuce +groundnut fibre meal, blood meal, lettuce and cabbage. But they showed significant dfference withlettuce + corn fibre meal and lettuce + fish meal. It is therefore recommended that in a situation where lettuce which is well known as the snail’s food is not available as during the peak of rainy season, feeds like blood meal and cabbage can be used as viable substitutes for rearing experimental Bulinus snail species in the laboratory. Also, lettuce + blood meal has been shown bythis study as the best feed formulation for the optimal growth and development of Bulinus sp in thelaboratory.

Keywords: Bulinus snail, Lettuce, Blood meal, Dietary formulations, Survival