The breeding snail must follow their biological rhythms as in nature, this is important for its good health and therefore for good results in terms of helical activity.
One of the most important moments in the life cycle of gastropods is hibernation is one of the greatest forms of defense of the mollusk, with which it copes with unfavorable temperatures.
esiston or two types of snail hibernation both in heliculture and in nature: summer and winter . To learn how to reproduce properly, we must learn how to ar know and respect these moments, thus managing the living conditions of the snails as well as possible. So let’s cover these two rest periods in detail.
Contents [Ocultar]
-
summer hibernation
-
winter hibernation
-
What about winter hibernation
-
come out of hibernation
-
Contents
summer hibernation
Summer hibernation of snails usually occurs in August when high temperatures they reach their peak. Snails face very high temperatures, which could dehydrate them and so they should be kept as cool as possible and conserve their energy. So we don’t have to worry if the activity in our enclosures cease during the hottest time of the year, it is part of the order of things and a way for animals to maintain their health.
This hibernation is manifested by the reduction of the normal activities of molluscs: browsing, mating, spawning. Usually snails and bury up to half of their shells or join » in clusters between them, closing hermetically united to each other. These are strategies for staying cool, keeping the heat out, and humidity escapes with evaporation. Usually the “clusters” form at the ends of the enclosure.
In heliculture, it is important continue to water despite this form of hibernation: gastropods indeed need humidity and freshness, moreover without irrigation the vegetation planted inside the enclosures would dry out.
The breeder should not try to separate the snails into clusters, better l chop ’em to decide when it’s time to resume your normal activities, it’s usually in early September. Summer hibernation, scientifically called » summer hibernation » lasts about a month after which the snails immediately get to work making up for lost mating and egg-laying time.
winter hibernation
The second type of hibernation is the most important and takes place in winter and lasts a few months . Already in the middle or end of November, the snails begin to prepare for their “long sleep”, the exact period depends on the climatic zone in which the helicopters are located.
With the onset of cold weather, the snails gradually begin to disappear and this is the signal for the breeder that they are beginning to prepare for winter hibernation.
What about winter hibernation
Winter hibernation differs from summer hibernation in that snails go totally underground descending at least about ten centimeters Deep. They wanna make sure they’re okay away from the cold, especially frost.
Another protection is to “close the front door”: after being buried, they form a thick operculum layer (white patina) which also aims to seal the seashells in the shell and don’t let the cold penetrate. Before going into hibernation bury the snails purge your bowels completely, to prevent your stools from fermenting dangerously during prolonged sleep.
Winter hibernation lasts until late spring , in this case also it depends on the weather: the snails wake up when the temperatures are stable. If it snows, the farmer does not have to worry: the snow falling on the ground is a good thing in helix farming, since a cover maintains the ground under which the snails rest.
this break it’s physiological and it is not possible to keep snails awake by force, winter hibernation is necessary for the well-being and the very life of the shells. For this reason, winter is the only period when new snail farms cannot be started, the helix grower in this period must ensure rest and avoid unnecessary stress to gastropods, which would be counterproductive. productive.
coming out of hibernation
when the spring leave behind the frosts of the cold months, the snails they will begin to resurface again and life in the pack will resume.
A curiosity: at this time the origin of the symbolism linked to snails is clear: the snail as a bivalve symbolizes birth and renewal, but at the same time slowness. We see this clearly with hibernation in which individuals are effectively reborn, and they do so calmly.
Once awake, the snail restarts all vital functions and you will surely notice a not indifferent appetite. The breeder’s task in this particular period is to never run out of fresh food: we are in one of the most important times for growth snails, which, regaining their appetite, will feed voraciously, developing their volume. If the breeder also wants to add a little cocooning, the snails that have just woken up will surely not say no.