13 Different Types of Snails Rare & Common (With Photos)

All aquarium hobbyists are probably familiar with snails to an extent. Some aquarists believe they are esteemed algae eaters and scavengers that help maintain and keep the tank in balance. To others, they are hated pests that quickly overrun a tank and are close to impossible to get rid of, and to many, they are beautiful creatures that make colourful, exciting inhabitants of a tank.

Freshwater aquatic snails are hardy beings that can thrive in the same water parameters as most aquarium fish, making them straightforward to keep and compatible with a wide variety of invertebrates and fish species.

They come in various sizes, shapes and colours. Despite what people have heard, not every snail is a prolific breeder and overpopulates your aquarium, although a few snails species can and will.

There is a tendency to characterise aquarium snails as "good" or "bad". The fact is, all snails are suitable for our aquariums in one way or another, only sometimes they do things we are unprepared for, such as eating our plants or overpopulating the tank. Essentially you can avoid all snails dilemmas by knowing how to avoid accidentally introducing them into your tank, understanding them and doing sufficient research to make sure you buy the suitable snails for your aquarium.

Most aquatic snails are exceptional at algae removal, consuming dead plant matter, eating untouched food and other debris in the aquarium. The Malaysian Trumpet Snail will burrow in the sand or gravel looking for food, and in doing so, keeps the substrate clean and prevents it from compacting and becoming anaerobic.

More recently, aquarists keep snails as unique pets. Their vivid colours, intricate patterns and unusual shapes make several snail species ideal applicants for aquariums of all types and sizes.

There is no such thing as "bad" snails. Still, a few species can multiply unchecked and overrun an aquarium and place a strain on biological filtration and clogging filter intake tubes. Malaysian Trumpet Snails and Ramshorn snails are culprits for this. Another problem you can encounter is pest snails are challenging to eradicate once they are in your aquarium. Ironically, one method of controlling unwanted snail outbreaks is introducing snail species that eat other snails.

Some Apple Snails species are greedy herbivores that will decimate a planted aquarium in a short period. Apple snails have generated damage to crops in some parts of the world after being unwittingly introduced into the wild. However, most Apple Snails in the aquarium industry make excellent aquarium scavengers and usually leave plants alone.

In the aquarium

Aquatic Snails are not particularly fussy when it comes to their water parameters. However, Nerite Snails and Rabbit Snails prefer slightly warmer temperatures. Still, it is crucial to maintain suitable conditions in their aquarium by feeding sparingly, doing regular water changes and maintaining good filtration.

The water flow in your aquarium should be minimal to average, and a powerhead is not needed to achieve this. Your average aquarium filter will provide your tank with enough flow for any snail.​

Freshwater snails also need sufficient minerals in their water to maintain their shells' health; without minerals, their shells can deteriorate, and they could die. Test the water parameters regularly to ensure you are providing the right conditions for all your aquatic snails.

Aquarium snails ken be kept with many fish; however, avoid housing them with Pufferfish, most Loaches, most Botias, Oscars and most African Cichlids because they will eat your snails. If you do own any of these fish, then you should choose a different algae eater.

Feeding

Freshwater Snails diets can somewhat vary. Some prefer live vegetation and algae, some prefer decaying plant matter, some are carnivores, and others eat a bit of everything. Therefore, knowing different snail species' diet can play a significant role in how long they live in your tank.​

It would be best to feed your snails every day since a good part of their diet is algae. Feeding your snails two or three times a week is more than adequate; make sure you remove any uneaten food 24 hours later.​

Breeding

Because all snails are different, you will need to research the species you would like to keep before you attempt to breed them. If you want to increase the yield and have a higher success rate, it would be better to keep them in a tank by themselves. This way, they will not be predated on by other species.​

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