What kind of snail should i get

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You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. I've been thinking about it for a long time but I think I want to get a snail! I've heard nerites and Apple snails are good but I haven't decided yet.

I'm always open to learning! Nerite snails are awesome algae eaters and come in stunning colors and patterns-just my input. Mystery snails get way bigger like inches. Check out zebra and tiger nerites online. Red racers are awesome too.

Rainbows and Fishes. There is only one way snails get into our aquariums — we put them there. But, you might say, I've never purchased a snail in my life and suddenly they are showing up!

The most common ways unwanted snails enter our aquariums accidentally are via eggs or juveniles hitchhiking on plants or decorations, or in gravel cultures transferred from one tank to another. Many snail eggs are transparent and are often attached to the undersides of plant leaves, making them difficult to see. Juveniles of red ramshorns and pond snails can be very tiny and hide easily, especially in fine-leaved plants. There are ways of eliminating snails and their eggs which will also be discussed below.

Malaysian Trumpet snails are often transferred in used gravel intended to help start the biological cycle in a new aquarium, but they can come in on rocks, plants, driftwood and decorations, as well.

MTS are known to live in buckets of used gravel for over a year! Even after rinsing the gravel thoroughly, they can still be alive and well, ready to start reproducing in their new home.

Sometimes called Inca snails, Mystery snails Pomacea spp. Bodies are usually black or pinkish-orange with neon orange spots around the head area. Shells can be tan or olive with dark stripes, maroon, white, golden yellow or blue. They eat soft algae, dead plant matter and make great scavengers in peaceful community tanks. There are several theories about how Mystery snails got their name, but a popular one is that when they were first introduced into the hobby, no one knew what kind of snail they were; it was a mystery.

Scientists have described two species popular in the aquarium industry — Pomacea bridgesii and Pomacea diffusa , with P. Mystery snails have gills as well as a lung, with a sort of siphon tube that allows them to breathe air by coming to the surface.

A secure lid should be used to prevent them from climbing out of the tank. Breeding is not difficult; mystery snails are gonochoristic, meaning you need a boy and a girl for it to happen. In addition, the female must be able to leave the water to deposit her eggs, which appear as a honeycomb-like cluster on the tank wall above the water line or attached to the underside of the lid. Babies hatch out in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on temperature, and drop into the water.

Nerites Neritina spp. They come in different colors and patterns, including one with horns! They are among the most beautiful of all aquarium snails.

They are relatively small, they don't eat plants and their waste contains bacteria that is beneficial to the digestive tracts of shrimp, making them perfect for planted aquariums and shrimp tanks. Nerite snails are not difficult to breed, but the larvae require brackish or saltwater to develop, so there is little risk of them overrunning an aquarium.

They are thought to live at least 3 years, but there are reports of 5 years from hobbyists. They love to crawl out of the water, so make sure you have a secure lid on your tank! A relatively recent addition to the hobby, Rabbit snails Tylomelania spp.

Native to Sulawesi, Indonesia, some species can grow up to 4 inches in length, and they are thought to live up to 3 years. Some aquarists mix crushed coral into the gravel or place coral in their filters to achieve the correct water chemistry. Rabbit snails feed on soft algae, dead plant matter and other detritus, but they will also eat sinking pellets, algae wafers and other fish foods that fall to the bottom. They do not bother plants, however, there are anecdotal reports of them nibbling on Java Fern.

Rabbit snails are gonochoristic and give birth to live, fully developed young, that are enclosed in a milky white egg pod. Babies are usually born one at a time, although occasionally two or even three are encased. Egg pods are produced once every 4 to 6 weeks, so their reproductive rate is very slow, even if you have several of them. Many snails have an operculum, but the trapdoor snails does a good job of covering the vulnerable fleshy body as it retracts in it's shell.

In many ways, this is a similar snail to the Apple snail. Nerite snails are often boldly patterned snails that are most well known for their diet including brown algae diatoms. Most other algae eaters won't touch diatoms, making nerites unique and quite useful!

They are another snail that will not reproduce in freshwater. In fact there are many species of nerite snails that are saltwater animals. Your most commonly seen species of nerites can live comfortably in both fresh and brackish water aquariums. Because of this, they do not tolerate soft water water lacking in calcium.

While they do not successfully reproduce in freshwater, they will still lay eggs. These eggs are white and highly calcified, which can sometimes be unsightly and can take some effort to remove from glass and decor.

There are several species seen in the pet trade of nerite snails. Some have stripes, some have broken lines, and some even have horned shells! These are beautiful exotic looking snails that are an excellent choice for many tanks. Ramshorn snails are a smaller species of snail and are sometimes considered pests! This is because of their high reproduction rate.

However, they are excellent janitors are have been bred to have interesting shell colors like blue, red, or white. There is also a species with a reddish body color! They are easily available in the pet trade and easy to breed. Keeping a colony in your planted tank is as simple as adding a handful and waiting a month or two!

They help keep algae down and eat decaying plants, which helps your live plants thrive. However, as with any snail, if there is not enough food in the tank they will start to eat live plants.

So it's important to supplement their diet if you start to see bite marks on your leaves! Assassin snails are a wholly unique snail to keep in your freshwater aquarium. They have a boldly patterned shell made up of black and yellow swirls. They are longer in body shape which allows them to burrow easily.

That's right, this is a predatory snail! It will track down, kill, and eat, any aquarium snail it can. As you can imagine, this makes it an excellent choice for removing unwanted snails from a tank!

Once the snail population is depleted, these snails will need supplemental feeding in the form of bloodworms , shrimp, fish flakes, or other meaty frozen or dry foods. They reproduce easily in a tank but typically will not "take over". This is an amazing species and an excellent choice for removing pest snails. Malaysian trumpet are commonly thought of as pest snails because their population does get quite high in most tanks. However, they are a useful and beneficial snail to have in the planted tank.

They stir up the substrate with their burrowing behavior and eat decaying plant matter, helping to keep algae down. There are four species in the genus that are commonly seen, all of which are native to Africa and Asia and stay. They spend most of the day burrowed in your substrate and come out at night to scour the tank for food. While all species are cone shaped, there are several different colors and patterns.

They make great tank mates for shrimp and most tropical tanks, aside from those containing loaches. There are several species that will devour trumpet snails! Pond snails and bladder snails are often confused for one another, but there are differences! Bladder snails are in my experience more commonly seen. They are smaller, have a blunter and shorter apex, and longer thinner antennae. Both types of snails reproduce readily in aquariums and are the most common "pest" species. However, they are excellent algae eaters and keep planted tanks looking beautiful.

They are also great scavengers and will eat any detritus or mulm in the tank, helping to keep it clean. They are recommended tank mates for shrimp, betta fish, and most tropical tanks. These hatch into tiny fully formed snails that are in my opinion quite fast- for snails. To me, their best characteristic is the fact that they hunt and eat Vermetid snails,, flatworms, and small bristleworms.

I have been stabbed by Vermetids and stung by bristleworms too many times to count, so I always have some Bumblebee snails in my tanks. Their yellow and black striped shells and ability to get into the tiniest of crevices only add to their appeal. Despite their name, Fighting conchs are peaceful tank inhabitants. They help keep sand beds clean and aerated, as they are constantly searching for detritus or algae growing on and in the substrate.

Their eyes are located on stalks, and they can often be seen poking out of the shell to watch you. Shells are beautifully decorated with various stripes and lines in many different shades of tan, brown, and cream, and up to four inches in length. Whether you have a nano tank or a gallon reef , employing a good clean up crew is important and can save you from future headaches. Many people are nervous about using hermit crabs, as some can become aggressive and kill tank mates , and snails are a good alternative even if you need a scavenger!

Mixing the right combination of snails will ensure your tank never suffers from massive algae outbreaks. No matter which you choose, each one will bring something to the table and play a role in creating an ecosystem in your aquarium. From the giant Zebra Turbos to the tiny and humble saltwater Nerite snails, there is something out there for every type of hobbyist! Good to know about Bumblebee snails going after vermatid snails.

I can spend all day reading everything about fish and snails and still find stuff I never knew. I currently have Trochus snails in my tank and they do a great job of keeping my glass clean, and they are able to flip themselves right side up if they fall over. I believe I have had all the above mentioned snails at one time or another my favorite are the nassarius and conch snails.

Great information here. Tons of misinformation on these guys out there. Thanks for putting this info together! I have to say I have a turbo snail and he is always moving and rating everything but I will say he will bulldoze over everything in his path and that includes corals!

I have a turbo, nassarius, trocus, fighting conch, and netrite snails. I love em. Im here for the free tank lol. I keep nassarius, trochus, cerith, and a conch in my g cube. They keep it in line. Nassarius Snails Always a favorite for sand because they tend to move a lot more on the sand then the rocks. Turbos can get pretty big and start knocking stuff over, so I avoid them now. I will now also avoid margarita snails, never knew they needed lower temperatures, good info!

My fighting conch is the cutest. I agree a good Cleanup Crew is Vital to a healthy tank. Awesome work. Those tend to be a bit excessive lol.

This was very educational for me. Water parameters are pristine.