Effects of dietary calcium on the growth parameters of the snail Limicolaria flammea (Mueller, 1774), under indoor rearing

Some young snails of Limicolaria flammea species of two weeks old, with an average live weight of 0,07 plus or minus 0,002 g and an average length of shell of 7,5 plus or minus 0,03 mm were subjected to five diets including two containing green fodder (R1:constituted by a mixture of leaves of Lactuca sativa and Palisota hirsuta and R2:composed of leaves of Carica papaya and Phaulopsis falcisepala) and three modes concentrated in the form of flour (R3, R4 and R5), of variable calcium contents in order to determine the calcium rate suitable for induce better growth performances. The study shows that the growth of the snail L. flammea is notably influenced by the calcium contents of the food it consumes. The growth performances obtained by the concentrated diets are much higher than those induced by green fodder. The concentrated food is better consumed, promotes the profits of size and weight and reduces mortality, contrary to a food exclusively based exclusively on vegetables that give not very promising results.