Heliciculture

This snail-farming method was described by Fulvius Lippinus (49 BC) and mentioned by Marcus Terentius Varro in De Re rustica III, 12.

[6] The Romans, in particular, are known to have considered escargot as an elite food, as noted in the writings of Pliny the Elder.

Shells of the edible land snail species Otala lactea have been recovered in archaeological excavations of Volubilis in present-day Morocco.

According to some sources, the French exported brown garden snails to California in the 1850s, raising them as the delicacy escargot.

"Escargot" most commonly refers to either Cornu aspersum or to Helix pomatia, although other varieties of snails are eaten.

Although they have both male and female reproductive organs, they must mate with another snail of the same species before they lay eggs.

When the snail is large enough and mature enough, which may take several years, mating occurs in the late spring or early summer after several hours of courtship.

After mating, the snail can store sperm received for up to a year, but it usually lays eggs within a few weeks.

Growth is measured by shell size, since a snail's body weight fluctuates, even in 100% humidity.

Adult size, which is related to the growth rate, also varies, thus the fastest growers are usually the largest snails.

Peak snail activity (including feeding and thus growth) occurs a few hours after sunset, when the temperature is lower and the water content (in the form of dew) is higher.

Successful snail culture requires the correct equipment and supplies, including snail pens or enclosures; devices for measuring humidity (hygrometer), temperature (thermometer), soil moisture (soil moisture sensor), and light (in foot candles); a weight scale and an instrument to measure snail size; a kit for testing soil contents; and a magnifying glass to see the eggs.

Equipment to control the climate (temperature and humidity), to regulate water (e.g., a sprinkler system to keep the snails moist and a drainage system), to provide light and shade, and to kill or keep out pests and predators may also be needed.

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes intestinal infections that can spread rapidly in a crowded snail pen.

Possible predators include rats, mice, moles, skunks, weasels, birds, frogs and toads, lizards, walking insects (e.g., some beetle and cricket species), some types of flies, centipedes, and even certain carnivorous snail species, such as Strangesta capillacea.

Snails in a densely populated area grow more slowly even when food is abundant, and they also have a higher mortality rate.

Dwarfing is quite common in snail farming and is attributable mainly to rearing conditions rather than heredity factors.

The feeding season is April through October, (or may vary with the local climate), with a "rest period" during the summer.

Evening irrigation in dry weather may encourage feeding since the moisture makes it easier for the snails to move about.

A mild climate 15–25 °C (59–77 °F) with high humidity (75% to 95%) is best for snail farming, though most varieties can stand a wider range of temperatures.

Research indicates that water content around 80% of the carrying capacity of the soil and air humidity over 80% (during darkness) are the most favorable conditions.

A layer of coarse sand and topsoil with earthworms is placed on the fattening pen's bottom.

The bottom of the enclosure, if it is not the ground or trays of dirt, needs be a surface more solid than screening.

A snail placed in a wire-mesh-bottom pen will keep crawling, trying to get off the wires and onto solid, more comfortable ground.

Plastic tunnels make cheap, easy snail enclosures, but it is difficult to regulate heat and humidity.

Plastic trays a couple of inches deep are adequate; deeper water troughs increase the chance of snails drowning in them.

Small plastic pots, e.g., flower pots about 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep, can be filled with sterilized dirt (or a loamy pH neutral soil) and set in the gravel to give the snails a place to lay their eggs.

APHIS vigorously enforces this regulation and destroys or returns these snails to their country of origin.

The farming of snails for food shows potential as a low carbon animal protein source.

This is attributed to snails' lack of enteric methane emissions, reduced energy demands, and feed conversion ratio.