Evaluation of the Phenotypic Characters in Archachatina marginata Hatchlings Fed Leaves of Phyllanthus amarus (Schonn. and Thonn.)

Abstract

A breeding investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of Phyllanthus amarus (Schonn. and Thonn.) on the phenotypic characters of hatchlings of Giant African Land Snails (GALS), Achachatina marginata. The phenotypic traits of one hundred (100) hatchlings investigated were live (body) weight (BW), shell mouth length (SML), shell mouth width (SMW), shell length (SL), shell width (SW) and Feed Intake (FI). The snails were randomly assigned to treatment groups A(10%), B(20%), C (30%) inclusion of Phyllanthus amarus powdered leaves into the normal chow of the hatchlings and D (control), with twenty-five (25) snails in each group. 5 weeks after commencement of treatment, the live (body) weights (BW) and shell length (SL) of the snails showed significant differences (p0.05) The feed intake was highly significant (p<0.01) in all the groups. From the results obtained, P. amarus leaf meal was well tolerated by the hatchlings and is recommended to snail breeders, as a feed supplement for A. marginata hatchlings bred for commercial purposes.