CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to farm golden apple snails

Golden Apple Snail, also known as Apple Snail, is native to the Amazon River and is one of the invasive species in my country. It is extremely large, has strong adaptability, grows very fast, has strong reproductive capacity, and is very easy to produce high yields. However, the meat tastes poor, so the edible value is low, and it is mainly used as feed for other aquatic animals. Let's take a look at how to breed Golden Apple Snail.

1. Preparation of breeding sites. A suitable pond can be selected as the breeding site. The area does not need to be too large, 3-5 mu or a few square meters is also fine. The water quality and water source must be fresh. The water depth should be within 1 meter. During breeding, aquatic plants such as duckweed or algae can be planted on the water surface. This can not only provide a summer and light-proof living environment for the golden apple snails, but also provide natural feed and reduce feed costs. The area of ​​aquatic plants should not be too large, accounting for about one-third of the entire water surface. Too large will have a counterproductive effect. For the convenience of management, the water surface can be enclosed by bamboo poles into several areas. Bamboo poles can also become the spawning place for female snails. Many fish will feed on young snails. The pond must be cleaned before breeding, and filters must be placed on the drainage and water inlet to prevent other fish from mixing in and to prevent the snails from escaping.

2. Stocking. Stocking should be planned according to water quality, bait and management conditions. Generally, about 5,000 newly hatched snails can be stocked per square meter. After growing for half a month, when the snails weigh 2-3 grams, 2,000-3,000 snails can be stocked per square meter. According to this ratio, as the snails continue to grow, the breeding density can be gradually reduced. The stocking density can be 5,000 per square meter. As the snails grow, the larger ones can be caught and the smaller ones can be left. You can also stock them according to adult specifications and catch them together when they grow up. When stocking, snails should be grouped according to the same growth specifications, so that their food intake is consistent and feeding management is convenient.

3. Feeding. In order to raise golden apple snails quickly and well, the selection of bait and the amount of feeding are extremely critical. Generally, the daily feeding amount is one-tenth of the body weight of the golden apple snail, and the feeding amount is gradually increased as it grows. The bait should also be a combination of coarse and fine, fresh and not rotten. Generally, green feed and concentrated feed are fed together, and the concentrated feed accounts for 0.5% of the body weight of the golden apple snail. When feeding, feed the green feed first, and then feed the concentrated feed after the green feed is eaten. This is conducive to nutrient accumulation, promotes the growth of the snail, and increases weight. In addition, the golden apple snail avoids direct sunlight, so the feeding time should also be paid attention to. The golden apple snail sinks into the water to live during the day and comes out to feed at night, so the best time to feed is in the evening.

As long as there is enough food, the golden apple snail will grow very fast, so the more it eats, the more it will excrete. A large amount of excrement will cause the water quality to deteriorate continuously. Poor water quality can easily lead to the occurrence of diseases, affecting the growth of the snail or causing death. Therefore, water quality management is extremely important during breeding. In order to ensure its healthy growth, the water should be changed frequently to keep the water fresh. In a still water environment, the water should be changed every 7-10 days, while in a micro-flowing water environment, the water can be changed every 20-30 days.