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

Received: 13 October 2013    Accepted:     Published: 10 November 2013
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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.

Published in American Journal of BioScience (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11
Page(s) 54-58
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Housing, Reproduction, Achatina Achatina, Snail

References
[1] Ademolu, K. O., Idowu, A. B., Matiana, C. F. and Osinowo, O. A. (2004). Performance proximate and mineral analysis of African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata) fed different nitrogenous sources. African Journal of Biotechnology 3 (8): 412 – 417.
[2] Agbogidi, O. M, Okonta, B. C. and Ezeanya, E. L. (2008). Effects of two edible fruits on the growth performance of African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata Swainson) Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 6(2): 201 – 203.
[3] Ajayi, S. S., Fewe, O. O., Moriarty, C. and Awesu M. O. (1978). Observations on the biology and nutritive value of the African Giant snail (Archachatina marginata). Wildlife Journal. 3: 85-95.
[4] Akinnusi, O. (1998). Introduction to snail and snail farming. Omega science publishers, Lagos. 141pp.
[5] Akinnusi, O. (2002). Introduction to snail and snail farming. Triolas Exquisite ventures. Abeokuta. 25pp.
[6] Awah, A. A. (2000). Introduction to Mini-livestock Development as Sustainable Agriculture Business. Workshop paper presented at Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme during Monthly Technology Review. 25pp.
[7] Beeby, A. and Richmond, L. (2001). Calcium provision to eggs in two populations of Helix aspersa by parents fed a diet high in lead. Journal of Molluscan studies. 67(1): 1-6
[8] Cobbinah, J. R., Vink, A. and Onwuka, B. (2008). Snail farming, processing and marketing. Agromisa Foundation, Wayeningen. 78pp.
[9] Ebenso, I. E. (2006). A note on the effects of water on incubating eggs of edible Tropical land snail Limicolaria aurora. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 18 (10): 17 – 23.
[10] Ejidike. B. N. (2001) Comparative effect of supplemental and complete diets on the performance of African giant land snail (A. marginata) Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production. Vol 26: 151 - 153.
[11] Ejidike, B. N., Afolayan, T. A. and Alokun, J. A. (2004). Observations on some climatic variables and dietary influence on the performance of cultivated giant land snail (Archachatina marginata): Notes and records. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. 3 (6): 362 – 364.
[12] FAO (1991). African Research Bulletin. Food and Agricultural Organization of The United Nations Rome. Nigerian Livestock Subsector 53pp.
[13] Imevbore, E. and Ademosun, A. A. (1988). The nutritive value of African Giant land snail (Archachatina marginata). Nigerian Journal of Animal production. 15: 109 – 112.
[14] Jess, S. and Marks, R. J. (1998). Effects of temperature and photoperiod on growth and reproduction of snails. Journal of Agricultural Science. 130 (3): 367 – 372.
[15] Okon, B., Ibom, L. A., Williams, M. E. and Akpakpan, I. E. (2009). Comparative evaluation of reproductive performance and some egg quality parametes of black and white skinned snails. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol 8(1): 77 – 80.
[16] Omole, A. J. (2010) Performance and Carcass analysis of growing snails fed Calopogonium mucunoides (Calopo) and Pueraria phasioloides (kudzupuero). Nigerian Journal of Animal Production. Vol 37 (1&2) 85 – 90.
[17] Orisawuyi, Y. A. (1989). Practical guides to snail rearing. Gratitude Enterprises, Lagos. 27pp.
[18] Su, X. Q., Antonas, K. N. and Li, D. (2004). Comparison of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of wild and cultured Australian abalone. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition. 55 (2): 149 – 154.
[19] Ugwu, S. O. C., Ogbu, C. C. and Amaechi, C. C. (2011). Effects of soil type and soil depth on the reproductive performance of two species of giant African land snails in the humid Tropics. International Journal of Science and Nature. 2 (2): 176 – 182.
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    Mogbo Tochukwu Chinedu, Okeke John Joseph, Ufele Angela Nwogor, Nwosu Moses Chukwuemeka, Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka. (2013). Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina). American Journal of BioScience, 1(4), 54-58. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11

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    ACS Style

    Mogbo Tochukwu Chinedu; Okeke John Joseph; Ufele Angela Nwogor; Nwosu Moses Chukwuemeka; Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka. Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina). Am. J. BioScience 2013, 1(4), 54-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11

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    AMA Style

    Mogbo Tochukwu Chinedu, Okeke John Joseph, Ufele Angela Nwogor, Nwosu Moses Chukwuemeka, Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka. Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina). Am J BioScience. 2013;1(4):54-58. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11,
      author = {Mogbo Tochukwu Chinedu and Okeke John Joseph and Ufele Angela Nwogor and Nwosu Moses Chukwuemeka and Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka},
      title = {Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina)},
      journal = {American Journal of BioScience},
      volume = {1},
      number = {4},
      pages = {54-58},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbio.20130104.11},
      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.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Preliminary Investigation of the Influence of Housing Types on Reproductive Characteristics of Snail (Achatina Achatina)
    AU  - Mogbo Tochukwu Chinedu
    AU  - Okeke John Joseph
    AU  - Ufele Angela Nwogor
    AU  - Nwosu Moses Chukwuemeka
    AU  - Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka
    Y1  - 2013/11/10
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11
    T2  - American Journal of BioScience
    JF  - American Journal of BioScience
    JO  - American Journal of BioScience
    SP  - 54
    EP  - 58
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0167
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20130104.11
    AB  - 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.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

  • Department of Biological Science, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria

  • Department of Biological Science, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria

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