Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Invertebrate profile

Diet

Biofilm grazer

Herbivorous grazer. Primarily consumes soft green algae, diatoms, and biofilm from glass, rocks, and plant leaves. Will not eat healthy plants. May require supplemental algae wafers if natural algae is insufficient.

Ecological role

Scavenger

Excellent algae eater, particularly adept at cleaning glass and hardscape without damaging flora.

Shock sensitivity

High

Can be sensitive to sudden shifts in pH or temperature. Acclimate carefully.

Calcium and minerals

High

Needs adequate calcium to maintain a strong, healthy shell and prevent erosion.

Molting

Shell growth

Unlike shrimp or crabs, snails do not undergo a molting process. Instead, their shell grows continuously with them throughout their lifetime as they secrete calcium along the shell's edge. To ensure proper shell health and prevent erosion, it is vital to maintain stable water parameters with adequate calcium and mineral hardness.

Reproduction

Oviparous

Lays distinct, sesame-seed-like egg capsules on hard surfaces (glass, wood, rocks). These eggs require brackish or saltwater to hatch into larvae, so they will not reproduce in freshwater aquariums.

Compatibility & tankmates

Peaceful

This peaceful and docile snail is an excellent inhabitant for brackish or hard freshwater community tanks. It safely coexists with small, non-aggressive fish, shrimp, and other peaceful snails. You must avoid housing them with larger, aggressive cichlids or predatory species like Assassin Snails that could easily prey upon them.