What are the breeding methods for golden apple snails (French snails)? Nine major differences from river snails

The golden apple snail, also known as the apple snail, is a common snail found along rice paddies, ditches, reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Its appearance is similar to that of the river snail, and it has the reputation of being the “French snail”. Its meat is edible, but the taste is not good, so it is not very popular with people, though some areas still breed it. So what are the breeding methods for golden apple snails? What is the difference from river snails?

I. Introduction to the golden apple snail:

1. Where are golden apple snails distributed?

The golden apple snail has a wide distribution range. It originated in the Amazon River basin, and in China it is distributed in Taiwan, China, Hainan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi and other places.

2. What do golden apple snails eat?

Golden apple snails mainly eat the tender shoots of xerophytes, and mainly parasitize xerophytic crops such as rice, gorgon fruit, water caltrop, wild rice stem and water spinach.

II. What are the breeding methods for golden apple snails?

1. Site selection and construction: what kind of place is suitable for their growth?

Golden apple snails like to grow in environments with abundant water, good drainage and no pollution, so when choosing a site, you can choose a pollution-free pond with an area of 3 to 5 mu for breeding. Of course, you can also build a cement pond yourself or use containers such as basins, buckets and vats for breeding. After choosing the site, you can place some aquatic plants or bamboo poles in the pond or container to make it easier for female snails to lay eggs.

2. Incubation management: under what conditions do they hatch?

Generally, after female snails have been bred for 3 to 4 months, they will lay eggs when the temperature reaches 20 to 30 degrees, and they lay eggs for two consecutive years. After laying eggs, they can grow quickly at 8℃ or above, so the temperature must be well controlled during the incubation period. Newly hatched eggs will be arranged in clusters, and after 4 to 5 days they will gradually change from red to brown, and after 8 to 12 days the young snails will hatch out.

3. Feeding management: how many is best to raise per sq m?

Generally, young snails of 0.5 to 1 g can be raised in wooden basins with a water depth of 3 to 10 cm. After 10 to 15 days, when they have grown to more than 10 g, they are moved to ponds or rice paddies with water 50 to 100 cm deep for rearing. When rearing, newly hatched young snails can be raised at about 4,000 to 6,000 per sq m; after half a month, at about 2,000 to 3,000 per sq m; and when they have grown into large snails, at about 20 per sq m, and as the water level rises, 20 more can be added per sq m.

4. Feed feeding: what kind of feed is good to feed them?

Golden apple snails mainly eat the stems and leaves of aquatic plants, so during the rearing period, try to place some aquatic plants, green vegetables and other plant stems and leaves on the water. However, river snails of different ages eat different feeds. The specific foods are as follows:

(1) Young snails under 10 g: they mainly eat tender plant stems and leaves such as tender green vegetables and Azolla, and can also be fed some fine rice bran.

(2) Snails over 10 g: they mainly eat vegetable leaves, melon rind and aquatic plants. When feeding, try to give small meals more often, so as not to affect water quality by feeding too much.

Whether the snails are under 10 g or over 10 g, when feeding, try to spread the feed evenly in the water, and it is best to feed once in the morning and once in the evening, with an appropriate amount each time.

5. Water quality requirements: how often should the water be changed?

Golden apple snails have a large appetite and produce a lot of excrement, so the water should be changed once every 3 to 5 days to avoid deterioration of water quality leading to disease. If breeding in a static water area, generally change the water once every 7 to 10 days; if breeding in a flowing water area, generally change the water once every 20 to 30 days.

III. What is the difference between golden apple snails and river snails?

Difference 1. Different number of whorls: golden apple snails have 4 to 5 whorls; river snails have 6 to 7 whorls.

Difference 2. Different place of origin: golden apple snails originated in the Amazon River basin and are a large aquatic snail; river snails come from most parts of China and are most commonly seen in rice paddies, ponds and lakes.

Difference 3. Different shell color: the shell of the golden apple snail is yellow; the shell of the river snail is greenish-brown.

Difference 4. Different tail tip: the tail tip of the golden apple snail is flat and short; the tail tip of the river snail is pointed and long.

Difference 5. Different operculum: the operculum of the golden apple snail is rather flat; the operculum of the river snail is rounder.

Difference 6. Different meat color: the meat of the golden apple snail is yellowish-white; the meat of the river snail is greenish-brown.

Difference 7. Different egg-laying methods: the golden apple snail is oviparous and can lay eggs on objects at a certain height above the water surface, and the eggs laid can remain on the attachment to hatch; the river snail is ovoviviparous, and the young snails are produced after developing in the mother's body.

Difference 8. Different body whorl: the golden apple snail has a well-developed body whorl, whose height accounts for about 89% of the total height, with a degenerated spire, and the whole shape looks like an apple; the body whorl of the river snail accounts for about 68% of the total height, with a relatively larger spire.

Difference 9. Different shell: the shell of the golden apple snail is large and thin, and semi-transparent; the shell of the river snail is thicker, hard and opaque.

In general, golden apple snails are very easy to breed. As long as you choose a good site and ensure the water is clear, you can succeed in breeding them. However, because they are similar to river snails, you must pay attention when buying. If you do not know how to distinguish the two, you can use the nine tips above to tell them apart, and then you will not buy the wrong ones.