COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF FRUIT-BASED, LEAF-BASED AND MIXED DIETS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL OF JUVENILE ARCHACHATINA MARGINATA IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

This study compared the effects of fruit-based, leaf-based and mixed diets on the growth performance and survival of juvenile Archachatina marginata over a 16-week experimental period. 150 juvenile snails were allocated to three dietary treatments, with 50 snails per treatment. The fruit-based treatment consisted of watermelon and banana, the leaf-based treatment consisted of pawpaw leaf and waterleaf, and the mixed treatment contained all four feed materials in equal proportions. Cumulative weight gain was calculated from baseline to Week 16. At Week 16, mean body weight was 74.05 g in the fruit-based group, 69.05 g in the mixed group and 64.26 g in the leaf-based group. Mean cumulative weight gain was 41.18 ± 7.82 g, 36.18 ± 4.22 g and 31.91 ± 4.73 g for the fruit, mixed and leaf treatments, respectively. Welch's ANOVA showed a significant effect of dietary treatment on weight gain, F(2, 40.20) = 24.13, p < 0.001. Final survival was 88.0%, 80.0% and 86.0% in the fruit, mixed and leaf treatments, respectively, and did not differ significantly among treatments, χ²(2) = 1.34, p = 0.513. The findings indicate that fruit-based feeding promoted superior juvenile growth over the 16-week period.