Journal of Molluscan Research, JMR, Volume 8, (2022)
Abstract
This research provides information on the influence of maternal size on reproductive and growth traits of Archachatinamarginata snails from three body weight ranges – large maternal size (444 – 564 g, Treatment 1), medium maternal size (323 – 443 g, treatment 2) and small maternal size (200 – 322 g, treatment 3). A total of one hundred and twenty (120) sexually mature snails were divided into forty snails per treatment and replicated twenty times with two snails per replicate and monitored for twenty weeks.
The snails were fed with compounded diet and unripe pawpaw fruit every morning and monitored for egg laying. Results showed that treatment 1 snails laid more egg clutches (64.80) and egg numbers (1,127) than treatment 2 and Treatment 3. However, treatment 2 eggs recorded the highest percentage hatchability value (60.68%) than treatments 3 and treatment 1 respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.05) effect of maternal size on body linear measurements of snailets.
The progenies obtained from treatment 1 recorded higher value in all investigated parameters (incubation period, total number of hatchlings, percentage hatchability, BW, SL, SW, ST, ML, MW, LS, SW, DL, LBW and AC) than those from treatments 2 and 3. Similarly, there was significant (p < 0.05) effect of maternal size on body linear measurements of snailets. This study therefore recommends that breeders and farmers use medium maternal size snails (323 – 443 g) in egg production for higher percent hatchability.
Keywords: Maternal size, Growth, Reproductive traits, Archachatinamarginata
