River snails prefer to inhabit aquatic environments with humus-rich bottom mud, such as lakes, ponds, paddy fields, or slow-flowing ditches with abundant aquatic plants. They typically feed on microorganisms and humus in the mud, as well as phytoplankton, young aquatic plants, and moss. They also readily consume artificial feeds such as fruits, vegetables, rice bran, wheat bran, soybean flour (cake), and various animal by-products. River snails are cold-resistant but heat-sensitive, with an optimal living temperature of 20℃~28℃. They stop feeding and burrow into the mud and grass to avoid the cold and heat when the water temperature is below 10℃ or above 30℃. When the water temperature exceeds 40℃, the snails will die from the heat.
During the dry season, it retracts its soft body completely into its shell to reduce water evaporation; in the cold winter, it burrows into the soil and hibernates without eating or moving. When spring arrives and the temperature rises to a level suitable for its activity, it will extend its head and feet out of its shell and crawl.
The optimal temperature for its growth is 20-26 degrees Celsius, at which time it feeds most vigorously and grows fastest. It stops feeding when the water temperature rises to 30 degrees Celsius. It is intolerant of high temperatures but is very cold-hardy, burrowing to overwinter in the coldest seasons.
Snails primarily feed on small animals or plant debris and decaying organic matter that reproduce at the bottom of the water.
Snail Feed:
Natural Feed: Natural feed consists of microorganisms and organic matter in the pond water, mainly including phytoplankton, detritus, moss, vegetable leaves, and organic debris.
Artificial Feed: Artificial feed includes rice bran, vegetable leaves, soybean cake, wheat bran, fish meal, fruit peels, duckweed, rice bran, fish offal, and other animal viscera. Under high-density rearing conditions, natural feed is far from sufficient to meet the snails' feeding needs, so it is necessary to supplement with artificial feed and fish viscera. Livestock and poultry manure, rice straw, and other organic fertilizers can also be used to feed snails.
