Heliciculture experiments: The effects of different environmental conditions and feed compositions

Land snails have a significant potential as an alternative commercial species in food and pharmacological industry; and can be found commonly in many regions of Turkey. In this study, effects of feeding and culture environment on growth, survival, and meat characteristics of the land snails (Cornu aspersum) were investigated in the culture environment. Additionally consumption rates of the snails were calculated to make cost analysis. Experiments were conducted under controlled and semi-controlled conditions and 3 different feeding regime (fish pellets, lettuce, common weed) were applied. Experimental setups were continuously monitored at regular intervals and biometric characteristics like shell height, weight etc. were measured for each individual. According to the results, grow rates were found higher in snails which were fed with lettuce in controlled conditions and fed with common weed in semi-controlled conditions. Survival rates were higher in semi controlled conditions but found to be similar among three different feeding regimes. In general protein and fat ratios were higher in snails which fed with fish pellets.