Reproduction In Snails

Reproduction In Snails
The most prolific breed of snails is Achatina achatina.

 Maturity: Snails usually reach maturity at an average age of 8 months and at an average weight of 110g.  They breed throughout the year provided there is abundant supply of water (rainfall:  minerals and food. However, like other farm animals, their breeding period is influenced majorly by rainfall in West Africa. Hence, they breed around May-October when rainfall is abundant.

Snails are hermaphrodites, each one has both male and female reproductive organs. However, there is still the necessity for mating between two different snails before fertilization can take place. Otherwise, eggs produced are infertile. Evidence of mating is shown when two sexually matured snails are interlocked together and are difficult to separate.

The eggs are mainly laid at night in clutches having about 8-16 eggs in a smooth wall of 2-6cm in the soil depending on the breed. The newly laid eggs have lemon-yellow shells, are slippery when touched and oval to almond in shape. A snail under a favorable environment lays 4 clutches of eggs per annul which would amount to about 50-60 eggs.
Hatching of Eggs

The average incubation period of a snail is 30 days (with a range of 28-2 days).
The eggs laid can be collected and incubated by the owner by getting a container whose size depends on the number of eggs to be hatched. It is advisable that a minimum of 20-30 eggs be hatched at a time. This is achieved by collecting the eggs as they are being laid and keeping them in a cool and ventilated place until enough number is got. The container is then filled with sand or sandy loam and the eggs are arranged in the container and covered with some sand. The container should have a perforated cover which will allow proper ventilation. If the hatching is delayed, mechanical scarification can be done to increase percentage hatching. The delay can be caused by shell thickness, high moisture content and low temperature of the soil. So, apart from scarification, the environmental temperature can also be increased to increase the percentage hatching. The average hatching percentage is about 65%. About 70% of the newly hatched will survive. The eggs can also be allowed to hatch naturally in the soil (sandy or sandy soil).


Factors Affecting the Reproductive Performance of Snails

• Age and weight: An average of 110g at the age of 8-9 months must be attained before fertile eggs can be produced. 
• Mating snails: Two interlocked mature snails should not be separated.

• Adequate care: Adequate water, feeding, ventilation and dark environment must be provided.

• Avoidance of stress: Stress of moving the animals up and down must be avoided.

• Avoidance of aestivation: Aestivation must be avoided by giving them adequate food, good environment and non-chlorinated water regularly. Aestivation is the act of self-withdrawal of a snail into its shell for time because of unfavorable environment.

• Rearing snails of different ages: Snails of different ages should not be reared together in the same pen to discourage cannibalism. i.e. Snails attacking and eating one another.

• Adequate temperature: Adequate environmental temperature must be given in a hatchery to encourage good hatching percentage.

• Scarification: Mechanical scarification should be done to encourage high hatching percentage.