EFFECT OF REPLACING FISH MEAL WITH LIZARD MEAT MEAL ON DIETS FED TO AFRICAN GIANT LAND SNAIL (ARCHACHATINA MARGINATA)

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of Archachatina marginata snails fed diets containing fish meal replaced at various levels with lizard meat meal. One hundred and twenty snails with similar weights were used for the study which lasted for 56 days. The snails were randomly assigned to four treatments and each treatment was replicated three times with 10 snails per replicate. Four experimental diets were formulated with various inclusion levels of lizard meat meal. Treatment 1 diet had 0% replacement level, Treatment 2 diet had 15% replacement level, Treatment 3 diet had 30% replacement level and Treatment 4 diet had 45% replacement level. The data collected was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan Multiple Range Test for significant means separation. The result of the experiment showed that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, shell characteristics (shell length, shell circumference and shell aperture increment) and cost of feed per kg weight gain between treatments. The result showed that there was significant difference (p<0.05) in shell thickness between treatments. The results of the experiment suggest that lizard meat meal can be used to replace fish meal in diets fed to Archachatina marginata snails up till 45% replacement level.

Keywords

• Archachatina marginata
• fish meal
• lizard meat meal
• replacement
• level