CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to breed snails

The stocking density of snails is generally 100-120 per square meter. At the same time, about 5 silver carp and bighead carp are raised per square meter for the main breeding. The stocking time of snails is generally in March.

Fertilization and feeding. First, add some feces to the breeding pond to cultivate plankton to provide food for the snails. The amount of fertilizer depends on the fatness of the bottom of the snail pond. After the snails are put into the pond, feed them with green vegetables, rice bran, fish viscera or vegetable cakes, bean cakes, etc. Chop the green horns and fish viscera and mix them with rice bran and other feeds before feeding. Soak the vegetable cakes, bean cakes, etc. to soften them for the snails to eat. The feeding amount depends on the snails' feeding situation. It is generally calculated as 1%-3% of the total amount of snails, and feeds are fed every 2-3 days. The feeding time is every morning, and the feeding location does not need to be fixed. Feed is put every other day. When the temperature is below 15℃ or above 30℃, no feeding is required.

Water quality regulation. First, the snail pond should be frequently filled with new water to regulate the water quality, especially during the breeding season. It is best to keep the water flowing, especially in the hot season, and it is better to adopt flowing water to breed snails. In spring and autumn, it is better to breed snails with micro-flowing water. The depth of the snail pond should be kept at about 30 cm. Second, adjust the pH of the water. When the pH value of the pool water is low, apply 0.15-0.18 kg of quicklime per square meter, and sprinkle it every 10-15 days to keep the pH value of the pool water at 7-8.

Winter management of snails. When the water temperature drops to 8-9℃, snails begin to hibernate. During hibernation, snails use the top of their shells to drill into the soil, leaving only a small round hole on the soil surface, from which bubbles occasionally come out for breathing. Snails do not eat during the winter, but the water depth of the breeding pond still needs to be maintained at 10-15 cm. Generally, water is exchanged every 3-4 days to maintain the appropriate oxygen content.

Snail farming generally starts in late March and the brooding of snails can be started. Ten days before the release of snails, 50 kg to 100 kg of quicklime per mu should be sprinkled throughout the pond to remove wild fish, shrimp and other snails. Three to four days later, organic fertilizers and breeding baits should be piled in the water for the snails to eat. The brooding snails can be purchased from the market or caught by yourself. 100 to 120 brooding snails are placed per square meter, and four summer flower bighead carps can also be raised in the pond.

Before releasing the snails, apply an appropriate amount of manure in the pond to cultivate bait organisms. It is best to release the snails in the early stage of snail reproduction. The snails should be fresh and alive with light brown color, thin and complete shells, and round and blunt bodies. Farmed snails can be released alone, or some silver carp and bighead carp can be raised together, or snails and loaches can be mixed.