Comparative Analysis of the Growth Performance and Haemolymph Biochemical Properties of Normal and Albino Giant Land Snail- Archachatina marginata

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the growth performance and haemolymph metabolites concentrations of two snail ecotypes-normal skin and albino snail raised in captivity for eight weeks. The growth performance was measured by body weight gain, shell length gain and shell circumference gain  while the measured haemolymph metabolites were glucose, protein, lipids, Na⁺, K⁺ ,Ca²⁺, Cl^- and PO₄^2-. Normal snail recorded better growth performance and growth rate (3.432x) than albino snails (2.166x). Similarly significantly higher (P<0.05) haemolymph metabolites (35.0mg/dl, 54.0g/l, 24.5mg/dl for glucose, protein and lipids respectively) were recorded by normal snails. However, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was recorded in the concentrations of minerals of the two snails species haemolymph. The domestication of the two snail ecotypes is thus recommended for heliculturist.

Keyword: Albino snails, Archachatina marginata, biochemical value,  haemolymph.