Blogs & Articles
Written By:
Miko Miguel Hechanova Ramos
Oct 29, 2025
In Capiz — known as the “seafood capital of the Philippines” — aquaculture faces many challenges. One such pest is the telescope snail (locally called “bagongon”). Here’s how one farmer found a chemical-free, circular solution: harvest the pest, crush its shell, and feed it to giant mud crabs.
What are bagongon (telescope snails)?
The telescope snail, scientifically Telescopium telescopium, is native to mangrove and mud-flat areas in the Indo-West Pacific. In the Philippines it’s also called “bagungon” or “bagongon”. These snails have distinctive cone-shaped shells and thrive in brackishwater environments. Because they are detritivores, they feed on organic matter and algae in the sediment.
Why they become pests in fishponds
In brackish water fishponds — such as those around Capiz — the presence of large numbers of telescope snails can interfere with the natural food web. One crucial component in fishponds is lablab, a mat of algae and bacteria that many filter- and grazing-fish feed on. Studies from the Visayas region show that heavy infestation of native snails correlates with reduced lablab growth and ultimately lower yields.
Farmers used to resort to the chemical “Bristan” (a banned organotin pesticide) to kill the snails. But its use is illegal, and it harms other aquaculture stock like oysters, mussels, and mud crabs — undermining local aquaculture heritage and the reputation of Capiz seafood.
A sustainable solution: harvest, crush, recycle
In our farm, I opted for a different path: instead of chemicals, we collect the telescope snails, feed them through a crusher, and return the crushed shells and snail meat into our mud-crab ponds. The logic is straightforward:
The crushed shells serve as a calcium source for the crabs’ exoskeleton growth.
The snail meat becomes a protein feed for the crabs.
We remove the snail pest from fishponds, which allows natural food (like lablab) to flourish again.
This way, we hit two birds with one stone: pest control + feed production.
Nutritional benefits for crabs & ecosystem gain
The calcium from shells supports proper moulting of giant mud crabs, improving their health and market quality. The snail meat carries protein and biological nutrients that enhance crustacean growth. While specific nutrient data for bagongon is scarce, the shells’ mineral content and the snail’s edible status suggest real value.
By removing the snail over-population, we support the natural pond ecosystem — enabling lablab and micro‐algae to regenerate, which in turn supports fish and crustacean health. This strengthens Capiz’s reputation in local aquaculture and export-oriented seafood production.
Why this matters for Capiz, the seafood capital of the Philippines
Capiz has long been celebrated as a leading region in Philippine aquaculture and seafood — especially for crabs and bangus. By using innovations like this snail-to-crab feed solution, we can uphold sustainable practices, maintain credibility, and protect mangrove-derived aquaculture systems. It’s a story of heritage, innovation, and environmental respect.
I believe that true sustainability isn’t just avoiding harm — it’s harnessing what’s already there. By repurposing the telescope snail pest into crab feed, we’ve found a chemical-free, circular process that supports healthier ponds, stronger seafood, and the heritage of Capiz aquaculture. Here’s to building a future where our seafood is not only delicious — but responsibly grown and deeply proud of its roots.
Reference Links
“Living with suso in bangus ponds” (SEAFDEC AQD)
“Bagungon: From fishpond pest to mud-crab fattener” (Business Diary)
“Telescope snail” (Shells-of-Aquarius)
“Telescopium telescopium” (SealifeBase)
