Key Technical Points and Methods for Snail (Field Snail) Farming Explained

Farmers can achieve considerable economic benefits by using small water surfaces or rice paddies to farm field snails. The field snail farming techniques are introduced as follows:

1. Selection of field snail farming site. The field snail farming site should be chosen in a place with abundant water, good water quality, humus soil and convenient transportation. It is best to have flowing water.

Construction of the farming pond. The snail pond is generally 1.5-1.6 m wide and 10-15 m long, or it can be based on the terrain. Build ridges around the pond, with a ridge height of about 50 cm. Set up water inlet and outlet openings at both ends of the pond, and install blocking nets to prevent the field snails from escaping. At the same time, sparsely plant aquatic plants such as wild rice stem in the middle of the farming pond. This can not only increase the land output rate, but also create a good ecological environment for the growth of field snails.

2. Stocking rate and feeding management

1. For the stocking density of field snails, generally 100-120 are stocked per sq m. At the same time, about 5 summer fry of silver carp and bighead carp are polycultured per sq m for main culture. The stocking time for field snails is generally in March.

2. Fertilizing and bait feeding. First apply some manure to the farming pond to cultivate plankton and provide feed for the field snails. The amount of fertilizer applied depends on whether the bottom quality of the snail pond is fertile or lean. After the field snails are put into the pond, feed them with green vegetables, rice bran, fish viscera or rapeseed cake, soybean cake, etc. Green vegetables and fish viscera should be chopped and mixed evenly with feed such as rice bran before feeding. Rapeseed cake, soybean cake, etc. should be soaked until soft so that the field snails can eat them easily. The feeding amount depends on the feeding situation of the field snails, generally calculated at 1%-3% of the total amount of field snails, and fed once every 2-3 days. The feeding time is every morning. The feeding position does not need to be fixed, and the feed is put in every other day. When the temperature is lower than 15°C or higher than 30°C, no bait is needed.

3. Water quality regulation. First, the snail pond should often be injected with fresh water to regulate water quality. Especially in the breeding season, it is best to keep the pond water flowing. Especially in high-temperature seasons, flowing water farming gives better results. In spring and autumn, slight flowing water farming is better. The water depth of the snail pond should always be kept at about 30 cm. Second, regulate the pH of the water. When the pH value of the pond water is on the low side, apply 0.15-0.18 kg of quicklime per sq m, scattering it once every 10-15 days, so that the pH value of the pond water remains 7-8.

4. Overwintering management of field snails. When the water temperature drops to 8-9°C, the field snails begin hibernation. During hibernation, the field snails drill into the soil with the top of their shells, leaving only a small round hole on the soil surface and occasionally releasing bubbles to breathe. Field snails do not eat during the overwintering period, but the farming pond still needs to maintain a water depth of 10-15 cm. Generally, exchange the water once every 3-4 days to maintain an appropriate oxygen content.