Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)
Pond Snails are the most well-known species of freshwater snails. They are recognised as both useful and a pest. Pond snails are unlikely to consume plants in the aquarium.
These Snails are peaceful and extraordinarily hardy and require very little to no care. They can survive and thrive in conditions that other species can not.
Pond Snails are the largest pond snail in Britain and are fitting for your aquarium or pond. They make an excellent clean up crew eating any leftover food and algae.
Their shells are tall and slender and usually a shiny olive-brown colour. They are slightly pointed on top and spiral to the right. The wall of the shell is soft and translucent. There are scattered marks on the outsides with lines indicating the span of growth. The shell surface is also dented at some points. The Pond Snails have a big greyish-brown head, and their tentacles are thick and triangular-shaped. This snail species do not have an operculum.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lymnaea stagnalis |
| Other Names | Great Pond Snail |
| Classification | Gastropoda |
| Order | Hygrophila |
| Family | Lymnaeidae |
| Genus | Lymnaea |
| Origins | Europe) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | All Levels |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | up to 3 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 9.0 |
| GH | 4 - 8 |
| KH | 2 - 8 |
| TDS | 150 - 250 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 32 - 90℉ 0 - 32.2℃ | |
Feeding
It is effortless to feed Pond Snails in an aquarium. They will eat absolutely everything you give them. These snails will consume both plant and animal matter in their diet. They fulfil a crucial role in the consumption and decomposition of aquatic plants, both living and dead as well as detritus and algae.
Sexual Dimorphism
Unfortunately, it is impossible to differentiate the genders of Pond Snails as they are hermaphrodites possessing both female and male reproductive organs, and according to current research, they do not have a consistently favoured gender role. Gender choice may even change within an individual during a mating session.