Influence of Media Mixture on Egg Hatchability of African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina marginata (Swainson): Implication for a Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation and Food Security

Abstract

The study assessed the influence of media mixtures on the hatchability of African Giant Land Snail eggs. Mature snails were managed properly to facilitate effective mating for egg production. Incubating media mixture was prepared using sharp sand (ShSa), fine sand (FiSa) and sawdust (SaDu) combined in volume v/v/v ratio viz: Treatment one (Trt1, 1:2:1); Treatment two (Trt2, 1:2:1); Treatment three (Trt3, 1:1:2); and Treatment four (Trt4, loamy soil) which served as control. Eggs laid were incubated in the media mixtures inside a wooden box in three replicates. The whole experimental unit was arranged using a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) in the laboratory. Data were collected on the number of eggs incubated, hatchlings picked 35 days after incubation (DAI), percentage hatchability, mean weight of hatchlings, and water holding capacity of the media. Data collected were transformed and analysed with ANOVA using SPSS version 21 and the means separated using Duncan Multiple Range test (DMRT) at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (P≤0.05) in the hatchability (95.14a ± 4.34); (80.00a ± 9.10) as influenced by the substrates, as well as water holding capacity of the substrates (154.00a ± 4.00), and treatment two (Trt2, 1:2:1) recorded the highest. It was concluded that a mixture of sharp sand, fine sand, and sawdust could influence the hatchability of snails’ eggs. The study therefore recommends that media mixture treatment two could be adopted and used by snail entrepreneurs for viable snail farming to boost food security as well as sustainable biodiversity conservation.