The effect of inbreeding on two reproductive traits (number of birth per clutch and percentage of sexually mature animals per clutch) on three consecutive generations of full sibs of edible snail raised under laboratory conditions (20-25ºC temperature; 70-90% relative humidity) was studied. Inbreeding effect was negative for both traits. When F values increased from 0.25 to 0.50, percentages of sexually mature animals after 120 days from birth, decreased from 59 to 18% and the number of birth per clutch decreased from 94 to 53. Population size of at least 100 non related mating snail replaced after 10 generations to avoid inbreeding effect is recommended.
Helix aspersa; edible snail; inbreeding; reproduction
