NIAID Schistosomiasis Resource Center

Growth of immature Biomphalaria glabrata

Author Fred Lewis

Introduction

The growth rate of B. glabrata is highly dependent on the ambient temperature at which the snails are maintained. Newly-hatched B. glabrata can grow to about 5 mm (shell diameter) in 3-4 weeks (or sooner) if the temperature is maintained at 26ºC, providing other growth conditions are also optimal.

Equipment

Shallow plastic pans

Materials and reagents

Food sources such as:

Nostoc

Wilted lettuce

Dried fish food

Aged tap water

Procedure

· Maintain newly hatched snails in shallow containers, separate from the adult snails.

· Feed small amounts of lettuce wilted by heat (never fresh), in combination with another nutritious food source, such as Nostoc or dried fish food.

· Change the water regularly, especially if it becomes cloudy or foul-smelling.

Follow-up comments/recommendations

Numerous sources of food have been used for the maintenance of juvenile B. glabrata. Lettuce leaves are widely used to feed mature B. glabrata, but snails 1-3 mm in diameter do not typically eat fresh lettuce. Juvenile snails will eat lettuce that has been wilted by heat, but lettuce should be supplemented with Nostoc (cyanobacteria) or dried fish food. Be sure not to over-feed the snails, and clean the containers regularly, since bacterial growth (as evidenced by cloudy and foul-smelling water) can quickly become a problem if food is not consumed in a reasonable period of time.

References

Lewis, F.A., Stirewalt, M.A., Souza, C.P., and Gazzinelli, G. 1986. Large-scale laboratory maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni, with observations on three schistosome/snail host combinations. Journal of Parasitology 72: 813-829.

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		Growth of immature Biomphalaria glabrata Author Fred Lewis Introduction The growth rate of B. glabrata is highly dependent on the ambient temperature at which the snails are maintained. Newly-hatched B. glabrata can grow to about 5 mm (shell diameter) in 3-4 weeks (or sooner) if the temperature is maintained at 26ºC, providing other growth conditions are also optimal. Equipment Shallow plastic pans Materials and reagents Food sources such as: Nostoc Wilted lettuce Dried fish food Aged tap water Procedure · Maintain newly hatched snails in shallow containers, separate from the adult snails. · Feed small amounts of lettuce wilted by heat (never fresh), in combination with another nutritious food source, such as Nostoc or dried fish food. · Change the water regularly, especially if it becomes cloudy or foul-smelling. Follow-up comments/recommendations Numerous sources of food have been used for the maintenance of juvenile B. glabrata. Lettuce leaves are widely used to feed mature B. glabrata, but snails 1-3 mm in diameter do not typically eat fresh lettuce. Juvenile snails will eat lettuce that has been wilted by heat, but lettuce should be supplemented with Nostoc (cyanobacteria) or dried fish food. Be sure not to over-feed the snails, and clean the containers regularly, since bacterial growth (as evidenced by cloudy and foul-smelling water) can quickly become a problem if food is not consumed in a reasonable period of time. References Lewis, F.A., Stirewalt, M.A., Souza, C.P., and Gazzinelli, G. 1986. Large-scale laboratory maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni, with observations on three schistosome/snail host combinations. Journal of Parasitology 72: 813-829.