Snails are animals that usually appear in the rainy season in large numbers and are often used as food such as satay, chips or even an expensive French food called escargot due to the high nutritional content it contains and can even be used as food in the crop. of sea crabs.

Snail mucus and extract can be used to cure pain during menstruation, inflammation of the lining of the eye, itchiness, heart disease, and many more due to the high content of protein and amino acids it contains.

For this reason, snails are increasingly in demand for their multiple uses and also have a high sales value. Snails are animals that live in groups so they can be kept in large numbers, for those of you who are interested in raising snails, here is a complete tutorial.

1. Cage Preparation

Snails must live in a humid environment, so the best choice of type of cage to use is a plastic or glass cage with good air ducts and a roof cover different than the Japanese ant farming method that requires a cool area.

The size of the cage must also be able to adequately accommodate the snails for them to breed and the cage must also be easy to clean. For the preparation of the cage, there are also several things that must be taken into account, such as:

• Snails need space: small snail cages can be used, but a large snail cage is needed for livestock.
• Snails can climb high: so be sure to prepare a complete cage with a tight lid so that the snails don’t escape and fall off easily.
• Ensure circulation: Snails need a well-ventilated space, so be sure to make several holes in the cage for good air circulation.
• Pay attention to light: Avoid using dim light and can’t absorb light because snails need enough light.
• Make sure of the material of the cage: Do not use cardboard for the snail cage because it can be eaten by snails. For that use a cage made of glass or plastic.

2. Types of cages for snails

In snail farming, this can be done in two ways, namely by separating the large and small snails and mixing the two sizes of snails in one cage. As for the types of snail cages that can be used for snail farming, these include:

• Wooden box cage: made of 1 x 1 meter beams and add wire mesh to prevent snails from getting out of the cage and add a roof which is also commonly used as a quick way to feed caterpillars.
• Cement tank cage: Made of a permanent wall with a base of about 30 cm of earth and earthworms added to loosen and absorb snail droppings.
• Cages dug in the ground: The cages are made by digging 1 meter of soil and the ground must be dry and add raised beds to cover while keeping the cage moist.

3. Cover the bottom of the cage

The atmosphere in the cage should also be made in accordance with the original environment in order to live a healthy life and avoid stress such as in the way of cultivating pond worms. Make sure the material used for the cage mat is clean and free of pesticides and some materials that can be used to line the snail cage include:

• Clay: Clay is not very strong but the moisture level is good and can be added with live plants to support snail life.
• Humus: Humus or compost is a very good nutritional lining material for snails, but unfortunately it can cause pests to grow in the cage.
• Dry Soil – Snails like to be in a dry soil environment, but it can also be a breeding ground for pests and should not be used.
• Ordinary soil: Ordinary soil is a good choice, cheap and good for snails, but make sure the soil is free of pesticides.
• Coir fiber – Coir fiber is also good to use as a cage mat and is commonly used by farmers because it can retain moisture well.

4. Add cage support

Snails need a hiding place, so adding a support facility and a place to climb is different from growing silkworms without mud. Avoid sharp objects like stones or pottery because they can damage the snail, including the shell. For the best support in snail farming, including:

• Tree Stems – These can be purchased at pet stores often used for tortoises, snakes, and other amphibians.
• Hollow logs: Use wood with a hole in the center that the snail can use as a hiding place.
• Plants: Add live plants to support snail growth.

5. adjust the weather

As well as having to ensure good air circulation, snails also need a warm but humid climate, which should also be done in the way of raising caterpillars. The best temperature to use is between 21 to 23 degrees Celsius but it can also live in higher or lower climates.

Make sure the bottom layer of the cage can hold good humidity, and if the air is too cold, add a heater to cover about 2/3 of the cage area so that if the snails feel too hot, they can move around to a cooler area. To maintain the humidity of the cage, spray clean and sterilized water every day so that it can continue to grow healthy.

6. Kindergarten

Not all types of snails can be grown for snail farming and the only suitable species are Achatina fulica and Achatina variegata which can be seen from their shells. For Achatina fulica the shell line is not too conspicuous and for Achatina variegata it has a shell line with a coarse texture and looks like a book.

7. Selection of Seed Candidates

To choose snail seeds, you can collect them directly from nature, such as banana gardens, coconut trees, and bushes, just like how to breed crickets in the rainy season, where the seeds can also be obtained from nature. Choose seeds that are healthy and free of physical defects weighing around 75 to 100 grams per head.

8. give calcium intake

Snails need calcium to maintain growth and shell strength, so be sure to provide a different forage source of calcium than silkworms provide.

Cuttlefish bones can be given as a source of calcium or eggshells can also be given. Use a feeder so as not to contaminate the bottom of the cage, but if you want to give it shells, you have to change it every day.

9. Give nutritious food

Snails can eat a variety of different foods, such as turtle food or special foods that have lots of nutrients. The feed should also be changed every day to prevent the growth of pests.

Snails can also feed in the form of vegetables and fruits such as tubers, cabbage, lettuce, pears, apples, broccoli, beans, cucumbers, spinach, and kale, which is different from the way caterpillars feed birds.

10. fodder grains

You can also give grain food to snails such as wheat, but not in excess. Provide moistened oatmeal so they can be easily digested. As for another additional food that can be given is raw meat, bones and also powdered milk in small quantities.

11. prepare water

Even though the snails have received moisture from the cage, they still need water for drinking and bathing, unlike weaver ants. Use a shallow water bowl so the snails can easily climb into the drinking bowl because if it’s too high it can drown the snail.

12. Change the cage upholstery regularly

The snail cage liner should be changed regularly once a week if it looks dirty, submerged or there are pests growing on the liner which should also be done with how to raise crickets in cardboard.

Also wash the cage with hot water and a cleaning agent and then rinse to remove liquid. Cleaning the cage is very important to prevent the growth of mold that can kill the snails. Transfer the snails to a plastic container when cleaning the cage with lid and ventilation.

13. reproductive process

In snails that are also used for food in freshwater vaname shrimp farming, the mating period usually occurs at the age of 6 to 7 months. During the breeding season, female snails will seek out a safe environment to lay eggs, but they don’t need a special place to lay eggs. When each time they hatch, there will be 50 to 100 kernels measuring no more than 2mm.

14. Birth Process

The snail eggs will hatch when they are old enough and still have the shape of shelled children. The parents will immediately leave the eggs that have hatched. As for the hatching process, it depends on the place and time of hatching.

If the place meets the requirements such as climate, humidity and light, the eggs will hatch quickly. Meanwhile, if the cage does not meet the requirements, the hatching process is also slow.

15. overcoming pests

Snail cattle actually do not have too many pests and diseases that can threaten it, unlike the way of growing silkworms in canvas ponds which are more attacked by pests. But in general, the pests that attack are ants and ducks, so stay away from livestock places with these two types of pests.

16. snail harvest

The collection of snails can be done from 5 to 8 months of age. Characteristics of snails ready for harvest include shells 8-10 cm in size so that there is also enough meat that can be processed into various foods and they are also usually ordered live.

Place harvested snails in wooden crates or cardboard boxes and do not use burlap sacks because they can damage the snail skin and cause it to crack. After harvesting, then proceed to wash the snails with water until they are clean and then let them sit for 1-2 days without feeding them so that dirt and mucus do not come out too much.