And some of their most popular colours include black, golden, brown, and ivory variants. If you have plants growing in the aquarium already, they’ll provide plenty of nutrients for your snails to feed on. When you have both sexes in the tank, it won’t be long before you notice eggs on the water surface. Meaning you need both a female and a male to breed this species of snail. Algae wafers are a good food too but shouldn’t be living on just that. They are highly unique in appearance with their large and colorful shells, their iridescently marked bodies, and their swaying tentacles. As mentioned earlier, mystery snails are opportunistic scavengers that love feeding on dead and rotting plants, algae, as well as excess food. As with all freshwater snails, Mystery Snails are very sensitive to copper, so it's advisable to monitor your copper levels if you use tap water in your tank. Suitable Tankmates: Mystery Snails will get along with inca snails, ivory snails, tetras, ghost shrimp, amano shrimp, male betta fish, and other aquatic creatures. Apple snails (aka mystery snails) enjoy climbing up to the top of their tank and allowing themselves to float there for a while or sink back down to the bottom. Mystery snails need consistency in their habitat in order to thrive and avoid illness. Tam: I bought about 5 mystery snails, 3 chestnut snails, 3 rose colored ramshorn snails and 3 assassin snails. Mystery Snail Care. Mystery snails enjoy sinking algae wafers, shrimp pellets, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp, and blanched veggies. In the wild they feed on dead plants, algae, and other detritus. Snail care can be pretty easy for anyone with a vibrant aquarium. Yes, your tank should stay cycled and stable at all times. List below is for mystery snails by themself. The term Apple snail is often used to describe several species, including Mystery snails. Try to add a calcium source one per week. In fact, it’s more than a hobby, because I’ve spent countless hours doing research on different fish species. As…, Freshwater snails make some of the most interesting pets. Apple snails (aka mystery snails) enjoy climbing up to the top of their tank and allowing themselves to float there for a while or sink back down to the bottom. You can also feed them vegetables like carrots, green beans, and cucumber. Calcium supplements can often be helpful to … The head features two large tentacles for finding food and sensing the environment. Some time later the snails spread to Hawaii, South-West Asia and even Florida. Assassin Snail – Habitat, Care, Feeding, Tank Size, Breeding, Marisa Cornuarietis – Habitat, Care, Feeding, Tank Size, Breeding, Rabbit Snail – Habitat, Care, Feeding, Tank Size, Breeding, « Duckweed – Care, Growth, Propagation, Light, Maintenance. References Never replace the sponge, fiber, and bio media. Apple snails share some characteristics in general. Mating. My mystery snails started breeding about a week ago and it’s Nov 30th now. First lets examine why people generally find snails to be a pest. Take care by keeping your tank’s lid on at all times, and lower the water level to prevent any mishaps. Mystery snails are completely peaceful, and therefore safe to keep with any fish, shrimp, or plants. What’s more, mystery snails have bodies comprised of solid and banded shells with an almost white head and bottom part. I like how the article lists some aquatic plants the mystery snails could live with. Now, considering how popular they are, mystery snails seem to be the most preferred snail specie for the job above. To test ammonia/nitrate levels use a ammonia/nitrate test kit. It’s also important to note that mystery snails spend grazing at the bottom of their environment. What does it mean when the snail does not move (I just got it)? Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Another vital part of the mystery snail is its head. One of the most common parasite is Angiostrongylus cantonensis or Rat Lungworm. With this in mind, look for mystery snails featuring thick, non-pitted, non-cracked shells. Keep in mind that mystery snails thrive in wide-ranging aquarium conditions. Keep your water temperature between 24-30 degrees C (75-86 F). They can be a great peaceful addition to a community tank. If you plan on breeding, consider buying a tank of 150L (40 Gallons) or more. Required fields are marked *, Fish keeping and aquariums has been my hobby for almost 20 years. Once the snail spots a predator, it tucks into the shell and the operculum closes to keep it in until it’s safe. Apple Snail Care and Information - How to Keep Mystery Snails - Golden Apple Snail Some people feed them daily, others every couple of days or every other day. While these organisms thrive in any established community tank, they need enough space to do their thing. They clean up excess food, waste and eat algae from the aquarium decor, gravel, glass, and plants. This page may contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. A Mystery Snail needs to be in an established tank with sufficient size and water volume to support its needs. Start by adding a small amount of blanched veggies each morning, and gauge how quickly your snails can finish them. Mystery snails have huge bioloads, please keep that in mind. Its not only unhealthy and dangerous for the snail, but it also leads to them looking aesthetically unpleasing. Using a siphon to clean your tank is highly recommended. To keep your mystery snail fat and happy, you can feed them a few things: Mystery snails should be fed 2-3 times a week. If they are too heavy, the snail will likely give up and stay at the top. I have 3 clutches of eggs now. Make sure they can't get stuck inside decorations. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Low KH/GH, low PH, and poor diet can all result in shell damage for the snail. Snails also eat the algae that naturally grows in the tank. (test strips are not as reliable.) Irregular shell growth or shell spots could be a sign that your snails need more calcium. And for good reason! There is nothing wrong with your snails eating your aquatic plants. Keeping the pH high and giving them calcium supplements can help avoid this problem. Approved. Mystery snails (or pomacea diffusa) are common freshwater snails to breed and/or keep as pets. Pet stores aren’t always accurate on pet keeping information so you should make sure they are compatible than adding them because the pet store said so. Mystery snails also love fish food like shrimp pellets, which are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins. And the following water conditions should also suffice if your mystery snails are to stay healthy: Providing your snails with sufficient calcium levels is vital for adequate growth and healthy shells. Last Updated: December 8, 2020 {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Care-for-Mystery-Snails-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-Mystery-Snails-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Care-for-Mystery-Snails-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid7312196-v4-728px-Care-for-Mystery-Snails-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"