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Mystery snails are great additions to peaceful tanks due to their entertainment value. They are not, however, clean up crews, and require care and consideration to bio-load just like any other tank inhabitants. Unlike other snails, they require a male and female to reproduce, and eggs are easily removed if notwanted in the tank.
Common Names: Mystery snail, also commonly referred to as an apple snail, however those are a different genus/species, and will become much larger. Most of what will be found for sale, especially in the USA, are mystery snails.
Care Level: Easy
Size: 1-2inches, maybe a little larger
Water Parameters: pH 7-8, temp 72-78F ideally (though a fluctuation of about 4 degrees can occur on both ends), hard water preferred, should be added once a tank is cycled as much of the body is exposed, making them more sensitive to water quality concerns.
Life Span: 1-3 years. Metabolism and life span willbe shorter in higher temperatures.
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful
Breeding/Mating/Reproduction: Simple if there is a sufficient amount of food for them. The male climbs onto the female and inseminates the eggs. The female then climbs above the water line and lays a clutch of eggs which hatch into baby snails after about 1-4 weeks.
Tank Size: 2.5 gallons per snail. Running less thanthat makes it difficult to ensure they are still receiving the nutrients needed for proper body and shell health. If using a HOB filter, it is recommended to use something to cover the intake to avoid them being sucked in and either stuck or injured.
Tank Mates: Many tank mates work well with mystery snails, though it is best to avoid fish who will think of their antennae as food or bully them around.
Diseases: Little information is available on many snail diseases, and most information focuses around shell health. Commonly mucus or slime will be seen if there are water quality issues. Copper content in the water can be deadly for them.
Feeding: Many people feel that snails do not need their own food source. This is not the case with mystery snails. They need something high in calcium for the health of their shells and a bit of protein for the health oftheir operculum. Fresh veggies such as green beans and zucchinI are usually favorites. They can be raw or blanched. Often snails purchased from stores have only been provided with weekend feeders, and may take time to realize that vegetables are food. Snail jello can be made as an option to help them learn to eat their veggies. It is also beneficial to add cuttlebone to the tank or in the filter for extra calcium. Cuttlebone is an inexpensive item that can be located in the bird section in most pet stores.
Tank Region: All over as long as there is a surface they can climb. They do also need to go to the surface of the water to take in air through their siphon.
Acclimation: Snails should be acclimated like fish, not just dropped in immediately. They also need time to adjust to the new tank parameters. When you put them in, put them in with their foot down, as it can be difficult for them to right themselves if they end up on their backs.
Please let me know if you see any changes that need to be made or anything that should be added on here. I realized that we have no care sheet for these guys, either as a sticky or with the fish care sheets.
Common Names: Mystery snail, also commonly referred to as an apple snail, however those are a different genus/species, and will become much larger. Most of what will be found for sale, especially in the USA, are mystery snails.
Care Level: Easy
Size: 1-2inches, maybe a little larger
Water Parameters: pH 7-8, temp 72-78F ideally (though a fluctuation of about 4 degrees can occur on both ends), hard water preferred, should be added once a tank is cycled as much of the body is exposed, making them more sensitive to water quality concerns.
Life Span: 1-3 years. Metabolism and life span willbe shorter in higher temperatures.
Temperament/Behavior: Peaceful
Breeding/Mating/Reproduction: Simple if there is a sufficient amount of food for them. The male climbs onto the female and inseminates the eggs. The female then climbs above the water line and lays a clutch of eggs which hatch into baby snails after about 1-4 weeks.
Tank Size: 2.5 gallons per snail. Running less thanthat makes it difficult to ensure they are still receiving the nutrients needed for proper body and shell health. If using a HOB filter, it is recommended to use something to cover the intake to avoid them being sucked in and either stuck or injured.
Tank Mates: Many tank mates work well with mystery snails, though it is best to avoid fish who will think of their antennae as food or bully them around.
Diseases: Little information is available on many snail diseases, and most information focuses around shell health. Commonly mucus or slime will be seen if there are water quality issues. Copper content in the water can be deadly for them.
Feeding: Many people feel that snails do not need their own food source. This is not the case with mystery snails. They need something high in calcium for the health of their shells and a bit of protein for the health oftheir operculum. Fresh veggies such as green beans and zucchinI are usually favorites. They can be raw or blanched. Often snails purchased from stores have only been provided with weekend feeders, and may take time to realize that vegetables are food. Snail jello can be made as an option to help them learn to eat their veggies. It is also beneficial to add cuttlebone to the tank or in the filter for extra calcium. Cuttlebone is an inexpensive item that can be located in the bird section in most pet stores.
Tank Region: All over as long as there is a surface they can climb. They do also need to go to the surface of the water to take in air through their siphon.
Acclimation: Snails should be acclimated like fish, not just dropped in immediately. They also need time to adjust to the new tank parameters. When you put them in, put them in with their foot down, as it can be difficult for them to right themselves if they end up on their backs.
Please let me know if you see any changes that need to be made or anything that should be added on here. I realized that we have no care sheet for these guys, either as a sticky or with the fish care sheets.
