Snail is the traditional food for numerous people in the ACP countries (Africa, Carribean and Pacific). Snails belong to the family of animals called Molluska, a group of animals with Soft body (Mollusks). They are generally found in the wild mainly in forest zones but sometimes in grassland.

Snails are invertebrate (without bone), shell bearing that is passive or inactive during the day but very active in the night, at dusk or when it rains and usually found in a cool place. Snail production was given little or no attention in the past but in resent times, there is growing interest in snail rearing due to human attempts or endeavors in domesticating them. Snails are intensively hunted in Nigeria almost to a point of extinction therefore the need for snail farming known as Snail culture” OR “heliciculture” OR “helicicultura” OR “elicicoltora Its husbandry is grouped ‘among the-micro-livestock known as “Mini-livestock
A snailery is a place where snails are reared.

In African countries in spite of many steps and trials on small scale in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria, snail production business does not seem to exist.
However, European research is very advanced and commercial snail productions are already working.

Advantages Of Snail Farming:

1. Snail farming if a high profit- yielding venture which requires a relatively low capital when compared to other forms of animal farming.
2. Snail farming provides a cheap source of high quality animal protein for human consumption.
3.  Snail offal may be used as a source of protein and its shell as calcium source in animal formulated feeds.
4. Daily routine in snail farming is comparably an easier, less laborious exercise than those of other animal farming.
5.  They are generally harmless, gentle and slow moving; easy to control and can serve as a job for all even the less privilege.
6. Since each land snail is hermaphroditic in nature, the population size and density is expected to increase geometrically.
7. The faecalis dropping may be gathered as organic manure for horticulture.

common Breeds and species of snail

There are many breeds of snail farmed by different regions in the world. But in Nigeria, there are two major breeds that are of interest. These include: the Achatinidea and Archachatinidea. Under the family of Achatinidea, we have 13 common species but only two are of economic importance while in the family of Archachatinidea we have about 12 species out of which only one is of economic importance in Nigeria.

EDIBLE LAND SNAILS OF AFRICAN ORIGIN Edible land snails of African origin generally referred to as Giant African Land Snails (GALS) can occasionally grow up to 326mm (1foot) in length and can last long up to 9 years. Average longevity is about 4 ½ years.

There are prominently three species of edible GALS, namely:
(i) West African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata)
(ii) Tiger Snail (Achatina achatina)
(iii) East African Land Snail (Achatina fulica)

There are different breeds of edible land snails found in Nigeria. The common ones are:
Archachatina marginata: West Africa land snail
It is commonly called “Giant Snail ,Escargot Geant or Tiger Snail” The breed is mostly common in Ghana, Republic of Benin, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states in Nigeria. In dimension, can grow up to 20cm in height and 10cm in maximum diameter

The shell has no definite coloration and it is wider at the posterior end compared to others. It is bigger in size than others. Old matured adult can reach 600-800g and are more adapted to unfavourable climatic condition than Achatina achatina. The fleshy part is dark-brown in colour. It is the most common breed found in South Western Nigeria. They are of 2 types:
⦁ Big Black Snail
⦁ Big White Snail
The big White, most of the people do not eat, because of superstition belief that it is for sacrifice to Idols. The Black snail is readily available in all the markets in South-Western Nigeria.

Achatina achatina: Tiger Snail
This is the largest land snail species in the world. This breed is mostly common in Ghana, Republic of Benin, Rivers and Akwa- Ibom State in Nigeria and other parts of Southern Nigeria.

Snail Feeds and Feeding:

Nutrition is the most important factor in snail growth, egg production and attainment of early maturity. Other factors include stocking rate, relative humidity and soil moisture content. Snails feed mainly in the night, dusk or by day when there is rain or if there is dark cloud. Numerous teeth like projections called radula are present in the mouth, which serve as the teeth. The digestive system is well developed. Snail feed on wide varieties of fresh, decayed, plants and animals.
For proper understanding of nutrition, it must be noted that all feeds whether of plant or animal origin is made up of nutrients (Feed constituent that aids the support of animal life).

Snail Feeds

Snail feeds include the following: tuber, agricultural by products, fresh vegetables, fruits, leaves, cereals, fibers, drinks, and concentrates.
Virtually all human consumable food items are eatable by snails with few exceptions especially when the concentration is relatively high; hence they are omnivorous

1. Vegetable: pumpkin, cabbage, lettuce, okra, water leave, spinach, garden egg plant, amaranthus, all green vegetables eatable by man.
2. Fruits: breadfruit, cucumber, green beans, nectarine melon, peach, plums, paw-paw, banana, plantain, orange, apple, pineapple, grape, tomatoes, ripe pear, avocado, all edible fruits.
3. Leaves: leaves of paw-paw, cocoyam, banana, sweet potato and cassava.
4. Tuber: yam, sweet potato, cocoyam and cassava could be cooked or processed.
5. Drinks: water, soft drinks & beverages, fruit juice and wine.
6. Agricultural by-product: wheat bran, rice bran, corn, soya bean, residue bran, palm kernel cake, peel of plantain and banana, fresh maize chaff.
7. Cereals: dried and processed maize, groundnut cake, soya bean meal, and sorghum.