Effect of Diet on Growth and Reproduction of the African Giant Snail, <i>Archachatina marginata</i>

Abstract

Aspects of growth and reproduction were studied in a total of 360 specimens of Archachatina marginata suturalis cultured in four dietary regimes, as follows: Group A – paw-paw (Carica papaya) leaves + powdered calcium carbonate; Group B – cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) leaves + powdered calcium carbonate; Group C – paw paw leaves + cocoyam leaves + African spinach (Hybridus amaranthus) leaves + ripe paw paw fruits + powdered calcium carbonate; and Group D – which has the same as in Group C but the soil was not changed throughout the investigation unlike in the three other groups where soil was changed every 8 weeks. Group C snails which were provided the widest range of feed materials grew fastest, matured sexually earliest, and laid eggs most frequently. Group D which were deprived of regular soil change recorded the highest mortality and never reached sexual maturity. The implications of the study for snail culture in cages and pasture systems were discussed.


Key Words: Archachatina marginata, nutrition, growth, reproduction.


Int. J. Agric. Rural Dev., 2003, 4: 22-27