CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Snail Trivia

【English name】Snail

【Latin name】Fruticicolidae

[Classification] Stylophora, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Macrohelicidae

Any of about 22,000 species of land snails. Most belong to the subclass Pulmonata, class Gastropoda, with a few belonging to the subclass Prosobranchia. They feed on decaying plant matter and lay their eggs in the soil. They are most common on tropical islands such as Cuba, but are also found in colder regions where they hibernate during the winter. Arboreal species are brightly coloured, while terrestrial ones are usually monochromatic. The largest are the African genus Achatina, which are often over 20 cm long.(8) Several species of the European genus Achatina are often eaten as delicacies, especially in France. See the entry for gastropods.

The snail is the animal with the most teeth in the world. Although its mouth is about the size of a needle tip, it has 25,600 teeth. There is a small hole a little below the middle of the snail's tentacles. This is its mouth, and inside it is a serrated tongue, which scientists call the "radula".

Snail is not the name of a biological classification. It generally refers to all species of animals in the family Helicidae, and also includes some animals in other families of the class Gastropoda (including slugs, etc.). Generally, Western languages ​​do not distinguish between aquatic snails and terrestrial snails. In Chinese, snail refers only to terrestrial species, although it also includes many animals of different families and genera, but they are similar in shape. Snails have a relatively fragile, low conical shell. Different types of shells are left-handed or right-handed. They have a distinct head with two pairs of tentacles on the head. The latter pair of longer tentacles has eyes on the top. There are flat and wide abdominal feet on the ventral side. They move slowly and secrete mucus under their feet to reduce friction and help them walk. The mucus can also prevent the invasion of general insects such as ants. Snails generally live in relatively humid places and hide in the bushes to avoid direct sunlight. Snails living in cold areas hibernate, and species living in tropical areas also hibernate during the dry season. The mucus secreted during hibernation forms a layer of dry film to seal the shell opening, and the whole body is hidden in the shell. When the temperature and humidity are suitable, they will come out to move. Snails are distributed almost all over the world. Different types of snails have different sizes. African giant snails can be up to 30 cm long, while wild species in the north are generally less than 1 cm. Generally, snails feed on plant leaves and tender shoots, so they are an agricultural pest. But there are also carnivorous snails that feed on other types of snails. Now this artificially cultivated edible snail has spread to all parts of the world along with French cuisine. Snails are hermaphroditic. Some species can reproduce independently, but most species require two individuals to mate and exchange sperm with each other. Ordinary snails lay eggs in moist soil, and generally small snails will break out of the soil after two to four weeks. 100 eggs can be laid at a time. Snails have many natural enemies. Chickens, ducks, birds, toads, turtles, snakes, and hedgehogs all eat snails. Fireflies mainly feed on snails. Generally, snails can live for 2-3 years, and up to 7 years, but most of them may become food for other animals that year. The symbolic meaning of snails varies in different cultures. In China, snails symbolize slowness and backwardness; in Western Europe, they symbolize tenacity and perseverance. Some nations use the actions of snails to predict the weather. The Finns believe that if the snail's tentacles are very long, it means there will be good weather tomorrow.

Snails have high edible and medicinal value. They are rich in nutrition, delicious, high-protein, low-fat, low-cholesterol, and rich in more than 20 kinds of amino acids. Snails are terrestrial molluscs of the gastropod class, and there are many species all over the world. According to relevant records, there are 40,000 species of snails around the world. Snails are distributed in all provinces and regions of my country, living in forests, shrubs, orchards, vegetable gardens, farmlands, residences, parks, gardens, temples, mountains, plains, hills and other places. However, there are very few species that are worth raising and eating. As a high-protein, low-fat, high-quality food and animal protein feed for humans, snails are increasingly valued by people.

Snails are one of the most common mollusks on land. They mainly feed on plants, especially the buds and tender leaves of crops, so wild snails are very harmful to crops. With the development of science, people have turned harm into benefit and raised snails artificially, so that snails can provide humans with snail meat with high nutritional value.

Edit this section [Appearance characteristics]

The snail's entire body includes shells, heads, necks, shell membranes, feet, internal organs, capsules, etc. It has a spiral shell on its back. Its shapes are varied and of different sizes, including pagoda-shaped, gyro-shaped, cone-shaped, spherical, pipe-shaped, etc. At present, the white jade snail, the covered snail, the scattered snail, the bright snail, the brown cloud agate snail, etc., which are cultivated in China, all have their own unique appearance.

Edit this section [Breathing]

The snail's mantle cavity forms an opening at the shell opening, called the "breathing hole", which is where gas enters and exits. If you observe carefully, you will often see the breathing hole opening and closing, just like the snail's "nose" for breathing; and when the snail retracts into the shell, it will still leave the opening of the breathing hole at the shell opening for breathing. The mantle often forms a cavity that communicates with the outside world between the feet or internal organs, called the "mantle cavity". The snail's respiratory organs are hidden in the mantle cavity. Sometimes through the snail's shell, you can vaguely see the dense network of pulmonary blood vessels under the shell, most of which are located on the front side, close to the head, which is exactly the location of the mantle cavity.

Edit this section [Life habits]

Snails like to live in a dark, moist, loose and humus-rich environment. They hide during the day and come out at night. They are most afraid of direct sunlight and are sensitive to the environment. The most suitable environment is: temperature 16-30℃ (23-30℃, the fastest growth and development); air humidity 60%-90%; breeding soil humidity about 40%; pH 5-7. When the temperature is below 15℃ and above 33℃, they will hibernate. When the temperature is below 5℃ or above 40℃, they may be frozen to death or heat to death.

Likes to burrow into loose humus soil to live, lay eggs, regulate body humidity and absorb some nutrients, which can last up to 12 hours. Omnivorous and partial eaters coexist. Likes moisture and is afraid of flooding. In humid nights, and with wet food, the snail's appetite is active. But flooding can suffocate the snail. Self-feeding survival. As soon as the baby snail hatches, it will crawl and eat without the mother's care. When invaded by enemies, its head and feet will retract into the shell, and secrete mucus to seal the shell mouth; when the shell is damaged and disabled, it can secrete certain substances to repair the flesh and shell. Very tolerant. Snails have amazing survival ability and are very tolerant to cold, heat, hunger and drought. Like constant temperature breeding. The temperature is constant between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius, and the growth and reproduction are vigorous.

Edit this section [Snail's diet]

Snails have a very wide range of foraging food, and their staple foods include various vegetables, weeds, and melon and fruit peels; leaves, stems, buds, flowers, and juicy fruits of crops; and all kinds of green grass and green plant feed, succulent feed, bran feed, and cake feed.

Edit this section [The 4 stages of snails]

1) Incubation period: refers to the period from when the eggs are laid by the snail to when they hatch.

2) Juvenile snail stage: Juvenile snail refers to the small snail stage within 30 days after hatching.

3) Adult stage: The snails are between 1 month and 6 months old. The 5-month-old snails are called adult stage. It is the period between the young snails and the young snails. During this stage, the snails are growing and developing (individual expansion) and are also in the period of reproductive growth (growth and development of sexual organs).

4) Breeding snail stage: snails that are more than 6 months old.

[Reproductive characteristics of snails]

When two snails meet, they touch each other with their tentacles, then face each other with their heads, connect their bodies, and touch each other's reproductive cavities. After a short pause, the reproductive parts suddenly reverse and insert the penis into each other's reproductive holes. Generally speaking, the mating time of snails is very long, and each mating takes about 2-3 hours, and sometimes up to 4 hours.

After mating, the fertilized eggs are laid out of the body through the reproductive pore. The eggs are laid in the soil a few millimeters deep underground or under rotten wood or fallen leaves. The snail larvae develop in the egg shells, and the hatched larvae have already become snails.

1. Snails are hermaphrodites, mate with each other, and both males and females lay eggs. The snail itself is both the father and the mother. Two snails cooperate with each other, and each will repeatedly stimulate the other's reproductive hole with its love arrow (penis). After intense stabbing and thrusting, both penises will be inserted into the other's vagina and ejaculate. Ten days after conception, both can lay eggs, and eight days later, the eggs can hatch into baby snails.

2. The mating time is long, the egg laying speed is slow, and the difficulty is high. The mating time of estrus snails is as long as 2 to 3 hours each time, and some can last for more than 6 hours. Snails can lay 2 eggs per minute, and each egg laying time is as long as 1 to 2 hours, and some can last for more than 3 hours. During the egg laying process, snails often die due to poor feeding, lack of nutrition, exhaustion and dystocia. Some die due to dystocia, accounting for about 30% of the total number of snails.

3. High reproduction rate. Each snail can lay eggs 6 to 7 times a year, and an average of 200 eggs each time. A snail weighing 35 grams can lay 120 eggs each time, a snail weighing 40 to 50 grams can lay 150 to 180 eggs each time; a snail weighing 60 to 100 grams can lay 300 to 400 eggs each time.

4. The reproduction of snails is not limited by age. Under the same suitable reproductive conditions, the larger the snail, the more eggs it lays.

5. Short life span. The life span of a snail is generally 5 to 6 years. Unsuitable living conditions will accelerate the death of the snail and shorten its life span.

6. Three slow, two fast, one difficult, and one more. Three slow means slow movement, slow mating, and slow egg laying; two fast means fast growth and fast shell shrinking; one difficult and one more means difficult egg laying and laying many eggs.

Edit this section [Types of snails]

Snails are terrestrial shellfish mollusks. They have lived on Earth since ancient times. There are many types of snails, about 25,000 species, all over the world, and there are thousands of species in my country alone. Most snails are poisonous and cannot be eaten. There are about 11 species in my country that are edible, such as the brown cloud agate snail, the tall ring-mouthed snail, the Hainan snail, the wrinkled snail, the Jiangxi snail, the Ma snail, the white jade snail, etc. There are three main types of snails that are edible and artificially cultivated around the world:

French snails

It is also called grape snail, because it mainly lives in grape plantations and feeds on grape stems, leaves, buds, and fruits. It is also called apple snail because it looks like an apple. Its scientific name is Helix giganteus. The bright big snail variety is produced in France, Italy, the former Soviet Union and other countries. The temperature adaptation limit is basically the same as that of the scattered big snail. This variety can weigh up to 400 grams.

The shell is spherical, 28-35mm high and 45-60mm wide. The shell is thick, solid, opaque, with 5.0-5.5 whorls, the spiral part grows slowly and is low-conical. The body whorl is swollen, the shell mouth does not tilt downward, the shell surface is dark yellow-brown or yellow-brown, shiny, and has many black-brown bands. The shell top is blunt, and the umbilicus of the adult is covered by the axial lip. The shell mouth is oval, the mouth edge is sharp, the lip is folded outward, and the inner substance is light yellow or light brown.

Garden snail

It belongs to the "Halex" snail, native to France, the United Kingdom and other regions in central and western Europe. It usually lives in gardens or bushes, so it is called "garden snail", also known as scattered snail. The adult snail is slightly smaller, about 3 cm in diameter, with a thin shell, yellowish brown, and 4 purple-brown bands, and the shell surface is covered with many small yellowish brown spots. At present, the scattered snails cultivated in my country are of poor economic benefits due to the degeneration of the species and small individuals.

Agate snail

Taiwanese call it Lu Lu, and in Guangdong it is called Dongfeng Lu, Cai Lu or Hua Lu. It belongs to the agate snail family. The agate snail originated from Malagasy Island in East Africa, and later spread throughout the tropical region. It is the largest snail in the world, so it is also called the African giant snail. The snail is cone-shaped, and the surface of the shell is covered with a layer of yellow-brown shell skin with dark brown patterns. Usually, the shell of an adult snail is about 6 to 8 cm long, 3 to 4 cm wide, and weighs more than 50 grams. In western Africa, especially the residents of the Gold Coast, snails are regarded as the only animal protein. Because this kind of snail meat is delicious, it is very popular among European and American bosses, making the African giant snail the staple snail in the world today. This snail is a species that is more adapted to growing under natural conditions in my country.

At present, the species commonly cultivated in my country is called Baiyu snail, also known as white meat snail, which is named Baiyu snail for its snow-white meat. It belongs to the phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda, and terrestrial shellfish. It is hermaphroditic and is the best among all the edible snail species in the world. Baiyu snail is one of the special animals in my country, with special value, special nutrition, special flavor, special use, thick meat, rich nutrition, high protein, low fat, rich in more than 20 kinds of amino acids, and is also the best tonic for astronauts and athletes.

It is a variant of the agate snail. Its peculiarity lies in the different colors of the muscles of the head, neck and feet, but its morphology and living habits are no different from those of the brown cloud agate snail. The breeding methods are basically the same, except that the requirements for sanitary conditions during breeding are higher, and its export economic value is also higher.

Edit this section [Harm and prevention of snails]

The snails of the same type use citrus trees as hosts, often eating notches in the leaves and the bark of branches, leaving pits in the fruits. Other host plants include tree seedlings, vegetables and flowers.

Snails can cause damage to soybean seedlings, which can cause damage to leaves and stems, delayed germination of seedlings, and reduced seedling success. In severe cases, snails can eat up all the seedlings, resulting in sterile fields. Comprehensive measures should be taken to prevent and control snails in soybean fields.

1) Clean the fields: After harvesting summer crops or vegetables, weeds in the fields, dikes, and ditches should be removed promptly, ditches should be opened to reduce humidity, and the soil should be tilled to improve the environment for snail growth and reproduction.

2) Eliminate adult snails: In late spring and early summer, especially before the peak of snail reproduction in May and June, eliminate adult snails in time. One is to release chickens and ducks to eat adult snails, and it should be done before pesticides are used. The other is to pick up snails manually. Pick up snails when you see them in the field, or use grass or vegetables to lure them and then pick them up, or pick up snails manually. This can achieve twice the result with half the effort in eliminating snails.

3) Chemical control aims to protect soybean seedlings. When the snail population is large and about to enter the peak period of damage, chemical agents are used to control snails. Use 300g of polyformaldehyde, 50g of sucrose, 300g of 5% calcium arsenate and 400g of rice bran (fry them in a pan first) and mix them into soybean-sized particles; use 0.5-0.6kg of 6% Mida snail-killing granules or 1.5-3kg of 3% Metol granules per mu, mix with 10-15kg of dry fine soil and spread evenly in the field. Apply appropriately in ditches and wetlands where snails like to live to minimize snail damage.

Edit this section [Medicinal value of snails]

The Compendium of Materia Medica has long recorded the use of snails to treat diseases. Modern Chinese medicine also recognizes that snails have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, reducing swelling, and treating thirst. They have an auxiliary therapeutic effect on diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tracheitis, prostatitis, malignant sores and cancer. Efficacy: reduce swelling and treat sores, shrink anus and reduce prolapse, and promote urination. Application and indications: treat swelling and toxins; treat sores and initial stage; treat scrofula; treat toothache; Recently, the Russian Academy of Sciences' Advanced Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology is currently trying to use the nerve tissue of snails and other mollusks to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is caused by the gradual degeneration of substantia nigra cells in the brain and the cessation of secretion of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Its main symptoms are muscle rigidity and tremors in the hands and feet. Studies have found that mammals have a weak ability to reject mollusks. Researchers implanted snail nerve tissue into the brains of mice, and the mutual compatibility can last for more than 6 months. After further improving the technology, Russian experts have been able to fuse snail nerve tissue with the brain tissue of mice with Parkinson's disease, and gradually restore the damaged brain function of mice. Based on the above results, Russian experts will use the nerve tissue of mollusks to conduct experimental clinical treatment on volunteers with Parkinson's disease in the next stage of research.

Medicinal Instructions

Other names: Tianluosi, Liniu, Guaniu

Source: Eulota similaris Ferussac, a member of the family Helicidae, is used as medicine in its dried form or as living individuals. Catch it in summer and autumn, scald it to death with boiling water, and dry it in the sun; if you want to use fresh products, catch them just before use.

Nature and flavor: salty, cold. Slightly toxic.

Functions and indications: clearing away heat and detoxifying, diuretic. Used for carbuncle, furuncle, hemorrhoid fistula, and urinary incontinence.

Dosage: 0.5-1 qian, grind into powder or make into pills or powder for oral administration. For external use, grind into powder or mash fresh product and apply to the affected area.

Excerpt: National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines

Edit this section [Edible value of snails]

Snails are listed as one of the four famous dishes in the world along with shark fins, scallops and abalone. They contain more than 20 kinds of amino acids and more than 10 kinds of trace elements as well as abundant snail enzymes and SOD. The protein content is 1, 10, 3 and 6 percentage points higher than that of soft-shelled turtle, pork, beef and eggs respectively, while the fat content is only 1/18, 1/272, 1/92 and 1/70 of that of soft-shelled turtle, pork, beef and eggs respectively; the selenium content of each gram of snail meat is 0.45μg, which is 4.5 times that of tea. From the perspective of market capacity, since snail food conforms to the new trend of naturalization, wild flavor, nutrition and health care, the domestic and foreign markets are vast. The annual demand for snail products in the international market is about 400,000 tons, and the United States alone needs to import snails worth 3 billion US dollars a year. The market price is also very high. The ex-factory price of snail meat in New York is equivalent to RMB 362.39 per kg. A dish made of 6 snails is priced at up to US$18. The price of fresh snails in France, Spain and other places is equivalent to RMB 116.11 per kilogram. The price of canned white jade snails that we have signed for export has also reached US$9,000 to US$14,000 per ton. White jade snails are a new variety selected and bred in batches in my country. They have tender meat, snow-white meat and large individuals. They will have stronger competitiveness in the international market. In recent years, China has developed new products such as health food series, biochemical medicine series, compound nutritional beverage series, cosmetics series, canned wild game, frozen meat series, etc., which use snails as the main raw materials. Several snail medicines for treating diseases such as tracheitis and prostatitis will be mass-produced. Natural nutritional cream can also be refined and processed from snail secretions.

Snails are terrestrial molluscs with high edible, medicinal and health-care values. They have been used as food and medicine for more than 2,000 years. Abroad, snails are one of the seven most popular game foods in the world, and are listed as the first of the four famous international dishes (snails, abalone, scallops, and shark fins). In France, they are known as "French cuisine". During Christmas in Europe and the United States, it is almost impossible to celebrate without snails. In recent years, a snail fever has quietly emerged in China's coastal open cities. During holidays, snails are sold out in the market. Comrade Deng Xiaoping tasted snail dishes before his death. He praised them, saying, "Snail dishes fill a gap in the country and should be well developed."

Snails are known as "soft gold" internationally. They are tender, delicious and nutritious. According to measurements, every 500 grams of snail meat contains 90 grams of protein and a variety of nutrients needed by the human body, such as amino acids, vitamins, calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus, etc. Snails are cold in nature and salty in taste. They have the functions of clearing heat, reducing swelling, detoxifying, diuretic, relieving asthma, and softening hard masses. They have certain effects on diseases such as diabetes, cough, pharyngitis, mumps, lymph tuberculosis, sores, hemorrhoids, centipede bites, etc., so they are praised by gourmets as delicious delicacies and health products.

Nutritional analysis

The protein content is higher than that of beef, mutton and pork, but the fat content is much lower than that of pork. It also contains various minerals and vitamins, making it the first choice for the weak, malnourished and chronically ill people. The enzymes it contains can eliminate stagnation, while glutamic acid and aspartic acid can enhance the vitality of human brain cells. Scientists believe that eating more snails can have a nutritional and beauty effect on the skin and hair.

Suitable for people

1. Suitable for all ages, especially those with weak gastrointestinal digestion and physical weakness.

2. It is suitable for patients with urinary obstruction, swollen and painful hemorrhoids, chronic sore throat and nosebleed, but it should not be taken for a long time.

Edit this paragraph [Fear of snail]

Afraid of salt, due to osmosis, the water in the body will penetrate from the low-salt body to the high-salt body. Salt causes the snail to lose water in the body and die of dehydration.

According to scientists, the fastest speed a snail can crawl is about 12.2 meters per hour. Nowadays, people often use the word "snail crawling" to describe a very slow speed.

Edit this section [Natural enemies of snails]

The most deadly natural enemy of snails is fireflies (the larvae eat the snail's body, and the adults lay eggs in the snail's body). There are also snail beetles and mice. Some natural enemies that are not easy to find are parasitic wasps and "flour mites". Flour mites should be a kind of white insects. Many of them live in groups and feed on the body fluids and epidermal mantle of snails or slugs. They do not cause much harm in a short period of time, but if they are large-scale, they will cause significant harm to snails. They should be eliminated as much as possible. When the snails are inactive, use raw bones with residual meat to attract them. Take out the bones after one morning. Doing this frequently can reduce the parasitism of flour mites! The reason for this situation is a bad breeding environment! There is no immediate cleaning of residues and excrement, or the humidity and temperature are too high.

Edit this section [History of snail farming]

Snails have a long history of being used for food and medicine in my country. More than 2,000 years ago, the "Yushi Pian" of Er Ya recorded snails in detail. In the 6th century BC, Tao Hongjing's "Ming Yi Bie Lu" recorded examples of snails curing diseases. In 1774 AD, Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty described the morphology and medicinal value of snails in detail in "Compendium of Materia Medica". Since the 20th century, many scientists have made many contributions to the study of snails, especially to the breeding and application of snails, but no breakthrough has been made. Until the 1980s, the production and export of snails in mainland my country were still very small, and the export volume was less than 1/10 of that in Taiwan Province. But since the late 1980s, when people conducted a comprehensive analysis and test of snails, they found that they contained 20 kinds of amino acids, more than 30 kinds of enzymes and blood agglutinins in their bodies. After truly understanding the value and role of snails to humans, the snail breeding industry has flourished and gradually become a prosperous family sideline in urban and rural areas of my country.

At present, there has been a craze for artificial snail breeding in more than 20 provinces and cities, including Hebei, Guangdong, Fujian, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hainan, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Hunan, Sichuan, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu, and the craze is developing towards scale and industrialization. my country's snail breeding is catching up with the world's advanced level.

Before the birth of the white jade snail, many countries mainly bred the brown cloud agate snail because it reproduces quickly, has strong disease resistance, is easy to raise, and has the richest nutritional content. Since the white jade snail was bred, many countries have imported it because it not only has all the advantages of the brown cloud agate snail, but also has a beautiful color like jade. As a result, the white jade snail has become popular all over the world.

The development of white jade snails in China has accelerated the breeding and development of white jade snails. In a very short period of time, due to the joint efforts of many experts and scholars, not only the living habits and reproduction rules of white jade snails were figured out, but also the nutritional components of white jade snails were fully tested. Based on its nutritional value, a series of snail products were developed and exported to Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. Therefore, the breeding and development and utilization of snails can be said to be both a traditional ancient project and a new high-tech project.

Foreign countries started studying snails later than my country. Scholars in some European and American countries started studying snails in the 18th and 19th centuries, but they were ahead of my country in development and utilization. In recent years, many developing countries have used their own resources to accelerate the development of snail breeding and processing industries, and made them an important export and foreign exchange earning project.

Snails are very rich in nutrients. The protein, coumarin, alkaloids, organic acids and other elements in snail meat are higher than those in soft-shelled turtles, pork and all egg foods. In particular, the protein content ranks first among animals in the world. Most of its biochemical indicators are much higher than spirulina, which is known as the health food of the 21st century. The high protein, high calcium, low fat and low cholesterol in snails are very beneficial to human health. There are more than 20 kinds of amino acids and more than 30 kinds of enzymes in its body, which are most needed by people but difficult to obtain from other foods. The lectin extracted from the snail protein gland has great application value in blood research. The price of each gram of lectin in the international market far exceeds that of gold, so snails are known as "soft gold".

In addition, snail enzymes extracted from snails are also important process raw materials in many industries such as medicine, biology, textiles, cosmetics, and fermentation. Therefore, the commercial value of snail farming is very considerable.

Snails are terrestrial molluscs. Common species include the homotype snail, the African giant snail, the snail, the Chinese white jade snail, the wild agate snail, the scattered snail, the bright snail, the brown cloud agate snail, the cover snail, the apple snail, etc. Their living habits and prevention methods are similar. Not all snails are harmful organisms.

Edit this paragraph [careful observation]

Like slugs, snails have long, flat legs on their ventral sides. They move forward by contracting their muscles. They secrete mucus as they move forward, which becomes shiny when dry. We can do an interesting observation experiment to measure the crawling speed of snails: put a snail on dry ground, and it moves 9-13 cm per minute; when it crawls to shaded ground, its speed slows down, moving 6-8 cm per minute; when it crawls to ground with a thin layer of water, its speed speeds up, gliding 25-30 cm per minute. Some Western countries hold snail races every year. In 1985, Spain held a snail race, with 68 snail contestants from 8 countries participating. In the competition, a Spanish snail won the championship, running 124 cm in 5 seconds.

Edit this section [How to collect]

There are many types of snails, with more than 25,000 species discovered worldwide. The most common edible snail in my country is the African snail, also known as the brown cloud agate snail. Guangdong people call it "famous vegetable snail". The snail activity season is from May to November every year. When the temperature drops in winter and the weather is dry and hot in summer, the snails go into a dormant state. Snails are photophobic and come out at night. During the day, they lurk in dark and humid environments with overgrown weeds, lush trees, and lush crops, as well as in loose soil with a lot of humus or hide in dead branches, fallen leaves, and caves. If the ground is dry or after a heavy rain, snails often crawl onto tree trunks, crop stems, and the back of leaves.

Edit this section [Key points of snail breeding technology]

1. The temperature is 16-40℃, 25℃ is the best, and it can be higher but not lower. Heating must be done with a ground dragon fire channel, which should be prepared all year round, especially in late spring and early autumn, to prevent sudden drops in temperature. If conditions permit, heating is the best, and do not use a stove for heating.

2. Humidity. The surface humidity of the breeding soil should be maintained at 25% to 35%, and the relative humidity of the air should be 85% to 90%. It should be kept wet but not dry. To control humidity and keep moisture, cover the top with plastic cloth.

3. To prevent dry wind and cold air from blowing in directly, the entrance should have double doors, hanging cloth and wind shield.

4. Resolutely control the entry of odorous gases into the breeding grounds.

5. The pH of the breeding soil must be controlled at 6.5-7.5. Do not use contaminated sandy soil that has been treated with pesticides or chemicals.

6. The breeding container must have good water permeability and air permeability.

7. Do not use strong light when not working. Darkness is best. Use 15W red bulbs for lighting at night to stimulate egg laying.

8. Egg hatching. The key to the success of snail farming lies in the hatching of eggs. The indoor temperature should be controlled at 20-25℃, the air humidity at 90%-95%, and the soil surface humidity at 25%-30%. The egg collection and hatching method should be improved, and the 60-day rotation method of breeding snails should be adopted. This method can greatly improve the breeding efficiency of snails, and the general shelling rate is more than 95%.

9. The feeding of young snails is the key to the success or failure of the rapid development of the number and production of snails. Special attention should be paid to the control of temperature and humidity. The temperature should generally be controlled between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, the moisture content of the breeding soil should be 30% to 35%, and the relative humidity of the air should be 80% to 90%. Feed them with fresh and juicy feed supplemented with calcium food.

10. When humidifying the pool for snails aged 1 to 3 months, do not splash water on them. Use a sprayer instead, and warm water is best.

11. Remove sick or dead snails promptly.

12. Clean the feces frequently. It is best to raise earthworms and snails together to kill two birds with one stone.

13. To prevent natural enemy invasion, exterminate rats and ants, spray with 1/1000 dichlorvos solution regularly, which can effectively kill the snail's biggest natural enemy - mites. Use diluted peracetic acid regularly to disinfect the snail breeding places and kill pathogenic microorganisms.

14. The lowest cost and best effect feed formula: rice bran 50%, shell 40%, yeast powder 8%, others 2%.

・【Types of snails】

There are many types of snails, about 25,000 species, distributed all over the world, and there are thousands of species in my country alone.

Edit this section [Song: Snail]

Questions such as;

I saw a very disgusting thing with a snail shell next to it, so I am sure it is a snail. I used to wonder why there are so many snail shells on the ground. I am sure those shells are discarded by them, not that they died inside because there is no white film on the shell opening. What I want to ask is why do snails abandon their shells? What will they become without their shells?

answer:

First of all, in addition to its protective function, the snail shell is also very important during the winter. During the winter, the snail will retract into the shell and seal the exit with mucus, so that it can resist the severe cold.

Some "snails" don't have shells, but they are not snails, they are another type of mollusk, the slug =.=

But the existence of slugs does not mean that snails can live without shells, because they are completely two different types of creatures. Snail shells contain internal organs, and the shells protect and support them. Without a shell, no matter how good the external conditions are, it is impossible for them to live long.

Snail Knowledge

Strange appearance

The snail looks very strange. It has no bones and its body is almost all muscle. It carries its house, a spiral shell, on its back all day long, stretching out its soft body and using its flat feet like suction cups to slowly crawl forward. On its head, there are two pairs of antennae, one in front and one in the back. The front one is small and the back one is large.

Can't see

There are two small black dots on the top of the snail's tentacles, which are its eyes. Although it has eyes, the snail can't see the flowers and grass outside at all, because its eyes are not very advanced, so it can't see the images of the outside world, but can only feel the changes in light and darkness. The little snail doesn't care at all, it thinks it's good. It walks slowly, touching here and there with its eyes, and when it encounters an obstacle, it quickly retracts its tentacles.

Having a mouth but no taste

There is a small hole a little bit below the middle of the snail's tentacles. This is its mouth, which scientists call "radora". Its radora is like a file used to rub ginger, with some small teeth neatly arranged. Such a radora is OK for dealing with grass and leaves, but it is not good for dealing with those large mollusks protected by hard shells. Just imagine, how long does it take for such a small file to drill a small hole in the hard shell? By the time the hole is drilled through, even if the snail does not starve to death, its radora will be worn out. What can be done?

Don't worry, the snail has a way, it has a secret weapon - saliva. Its saliva is like a 4% sulfuric acid solution, which can corrode and soften the shell of the prey, and then use the radula to easily make a hole in the hard shell and suck the flesh and blood of the prey. How about it, it's amazing! However, although it usually eats with relish, in fact, its mouth can't taste anything at all. But don't worry about it, it has a way to know what is delicious and what is not. Because it has a pair of small tentacles, and there are cells that sense taste at the base of the small tentacles. No wonder it keeps touching this and that with its small tentacles, it turns out to be tasting the taste of things!

Anus and nose together

There are two small holes at the entrance of the snail's house, one is the "nose" for breathing, and the other is the "anus" for defecation. How to distinguish which is the nose and which is the anus? This is easy. The small hole that usually opens and closes is the nose, because it needs to breathe constantly; and the one that is often closed is the anus, because the anus only opens when defecating.

Beautiful villa

Different snails paint their villas in different colors, including white, brown, green, black, and gorgeous golden yellow. Many beautiful snails also decorate their villas with colorful stripes. The rotation direction of snail houses is mostly "right-handed", but some guys who like to be "unconventional" have "left-handed" houses. How to distinguish "left-handed" or "right-handed"? Here's a simple method: Place the protruding side of the snail shell upwards and see if the opening of the shell is on the left or right. If the opening is on the left, it is a "left-handed" shell, and if it is on the right, it is a "right-handed" shell.

A sleepy guy who eats

Snails like to live in humid places. Some like to eat meat, while others like to eat vegetarian food. Leaves, dead leaves, and wild vegetables are all favorite foods of vegetarian snails. Whenever the sun is scorching or it rains continuously, the snail hides in its house to rest. Sometimes it only sleeps for a short while without closing the door; sometimes it has to close the door and sleep for several days, even months or years. When the cool autumn comes, it eats a lot, absorbs a lot of nutrients, and grows strong. When the north wind blows in winter and the snow falls, it shrinks in the house, closes the door, and sleeps soundly. It will not wake up until the spring of the following year.

Is it Mr. or Mrs.?

Each snail has two sets of reproductive organs, male and female, and a small reproductive hole on its neck. So it is both a wife and a husband. In summer and autumn, when it gives birth to the most babies, you may see some snails giving birth to white "rice grains" on their necks, which are snail eggs.

Romantic Wedding

Every spring when flowers bloom, snails feel a little lonely. They don't want to eat or drink, but stretch out their tentacles to look around and sniff around. Once they find their ideal partner, they rush over at a speed of a few tenths of a centimeter per second. The two "lovers" are so happy to see each other. First, they rub their mouths and tentacles against each other to show their affection, and then they dance in slow motion, not feeling tired at all, sometimes for two hours. Then, they don't know how to express their love for each other, so they do something surprising. Guess what? They throw small stones at each other!

The baby is born

After the wedding, the two snails will ignore each other. After a month or two, they will find a moist place, such as under the grass roots, dig a hole, put about 30 fertilized eggs in the hole, cover it with soil, and then leave it alone, letting its babies hatch naturally.

The snail's eggs are white beads and are very small. If they are not eaten by other animals, these eggs will slowly turn into beautiful yellow or red in a few weeks, and the snail baby will be born soon. In addition to the thin and tender house on the back, the snail baby looks the same as the mother. As soon as it is born, it lives independently, and carries the house and looks for food everywhere.

There are two small black dots at the top of the snail's large antennae, which is its eyes. Although there are eyes, the snail cannot see the flowers and grass outside. Because its eyes are not very advanced, it cannot see the images of the outside world, and can only feel the changes in the light and darkness of the outside world. The little snail itself doesn't care at all. It thinks this is pretty good. While walking slowly, it touches its eyes east and west. When it encounters an obstacle, it quickly retracts its tentacles.

Have a mouth but can't tell the taste

There is a small hole a little lower in the middle of the snail's small tentacles. This is its mouth, which scientists call it "tooth tongue". Its tooth tongue is like a file used to rub ginger powder, with some small teeth neatly arranged. Such tooth tongues are OK to deal with grass and leaves, but it will not work if it is used to deal with larger mollusks protected by hard shells. You think, how long does it take to dig a small hole in the hard shell for a little small file? When the hole is chiseled through, even if the snail does not starve to death, its tooth tongue will be worn out. What should I do?

Don't worry, the snail has a way, it has a secret weapon - saliva. Its saliva is like a 4% sulfuric acid solution, which can corrode and soften the shell of the prey, and then easily use its teeth and tongue to make a hole in its hard shell to suck the flesh and blood of the prey. How about it, it's amazing! However, although it usually eats with relish, its mouth can't taste any taste at all. But there is no need to worry about it, it has a way to know what is good and what is not good. Because it has a pair of small tentacles, and there are cells that feel the taste at the base of the small tentacles. No wonder it keeps touching this and touching that, it turns out that it is tasting the taste!

Anus and nose together

There are two small holes at the entrance of the snail house, one is the "nose" for breathing and the other is the "anus" for defecation. How to tell which is the nose and which is the anus? This is easy to deal with. The small hole that opens and closes is the nose because it has to breathe continuously; the one that is often closed is the anus, because the anus only opens when defecation.

Beautiful villa

Different snails paint their villas in different colors, including white, brown, green, black, and magnificent golden yellow. Many snails who love beauty also decorate their villas with various colored strips. The rotation direction of snail houses is mostly "right-handed", but there are also some guys who like "innovative" whose houses are "left-handed". How to distinguish "left-handed" or "right-handed"? Let me tell you a simple method: place the protruding side of the snail shell facing upwards, and see if the opening of the shell is on the left or on the right. If the opening is on the left, it is the "left-handed" shell, and on the right, it is the "right-handed" shell.

Sleepy guy

Snails like to live in humid places. Some like to eat meat, and some like to eat vegetarian food. Leaves, dead leaves, and wild vegetables are all favorite foods for vegetarian snails. Whenever the sun is scorching or raining, the snail hides in its house to rest. Sometimes it only sleeps for a short time and does not have to close the door; sometimes it has to close the door for several days, even months or years. When it comes to cool autumn, it eats very much, absorbs a lot of nutrients and grows strong. When the north wind blows and heavy snow falls in winter, it shrinks into the house, closes the door, and sleeps soundly. It will not wake up until the spring of the next year.

Is it a gentleman or a wife?

Each snail has two sets of reproductive organs in its body, and there are small reproductive holes on its neck. So it is both a wife and a gentleman. In summer and autumn, when it gives birth to a baby the most, you may see that some snails have white "rice grains" on their necks, which are snail eggs.

Romantic Wedding

Every spring when the flowers bloom, the snail will feel a little lonely. It does not want to eat or drink, stretches its tentacles to look east, sniff, and constantly searches. Once it finds the person it is, it immediately rushed over at a speed of several centimeters per second. Not to mention how happy the two "couples" meet each other. First, they use their mouths and antennae to show their intimacy, and then they dance in slow motion without knowing how to get tired, and sometimes they have to dance for two hours. Next, they don’t know how to express their love for each other, and they actually make surprising moves. Guess what? They actually throw small stone particles at each other!

The baby is born

After the wedding, the two snails ignored each other. After a month or two, they would find a humid place on their own, like under the grass roots, dig a hole, discharge about 30 fertilized eggs into the hole, cover it with soil, and then ignore it and let its baby hatch naturally.

The snail's eggs are white beads and are very small. If they are not eaten by other animals, these eggs will slowly turn into beautiful yellow or red in a few weeks, and the snail baby will be born soon. In addition to the thin and tender house on the back, the snail baby looks the same as the mother. As soon as it is born, it lives independently, and carries the house and looks for food everywhere.

Shi Hongliang's big fool