Encyclopaedia

InvertebrateFreshwaterEasy

Patriarch rabbit snail

Tylomelania patriarchalis

Patriarch rabbit snail: aquarium gastropod in the family Pachychilidae, useful for biofilm, light algae, and substrate cleanup. Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Patriarchal Rabbit Snail...

Taxonomy

Class:Gastropoda

Order:Sorbeoconcha

Family:Pachychilidae

Genus:Tylomelania

Species:Tylomelania patriarchalis

Check out Patriarch rabbit snail on Atlarium

PracticeRecognition quizzesPhotos, names, origins, and puzzles to review Atlas species.Open quizzes

Water Temperature

20 - 28 °C

pH Value

7 - 8.4

Water type

Freshwater

Invertebrate type

Freshwater snail

Adult size

9 cm

Minimum group

>= 1

6 - 20 dGH

3 - 15 dKH

TDS

120 - 450 ppm

Ecological role

Scavenger

Copper sensitivity

High

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Patriarchal Rabbit Snail (*Tylomelania patriarchalis*) is a spectacular, colossal freshwater gastropod natively endemic exclusively to Lake Matano, the deepest lake in the Malili system of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their natural biotope is defined by profound depths, exceptionally clear, highly oxygenated, and strictly alkaline water over volcanic rock and soft sediment. They are heavy-duty, substrate-bound scavengers adapted to extreme water purity and unique mineral compositions.

Taxonomy: Scientifically classified within the Pachychilidae family, they are one of the most physically imposing species in the *Tylomelania* genus. Fully mature adults routinely reach massive proportions, growing up to 9.0 to 12.0 centimeters (3.5-4.7 inches) in length. They possess the unmistakable "Rabbit Snail" morphology: an exceptionally long, heavy, deeply spiraled conical shell, gills, a hard operculum (trapdoor), and a long, drooping snout equipped with sensory tentacles resembling a rabbit.

Social Behavior: They are exceptionally peaceful, methodical, and heavily armored giants. Their movement is distinctively labored due to their immense shell weight; they use their muscular foot to anchor to the substrate, pulling themselves forward in a dragging motion. They are completely devoid of predatory instinct, functioning entirely as slow-moving biological vacuums. They spend their entire lives endlessly patrolling open sand plains and smooth rocks, digging their snout into the sediment to extract detritus.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Sexual dimorphism is visually non-existent, requiring internal anatomical inspection to sex the snails. The shell and body coloration of the Patriarchal Rabbit Snail is absolutely striking. The colossal, deeply ridged shell is typically a deeply saturated, matte black, dark grey, or mahogany. The stunning contrast is found on their fleshy body: the dark black or deep grey foot, snout, and tentacles are heavily and brilliantly speckled with hundreds of tiny, glowing white or pale yellow dots.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Tank Setup: The aquarium architecture MUST strictly replicate the unique parameters of Lake Matano. A minimum 100-liter (25-gallon) tank is required for a small group due to their massive size.

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: The substrate MUST be soft sand or fine, smooth gravel. Sharp, coarse gravel will cause brutal, lethal lacerations to their massive foot, and dense rockwork will trap their colossal shells. The tank should feature wide, open sandy areas to allow unobstructed dragging and foraging.

Diet and Feeding: They are ravenous, heavy-duty detritivores and opportunistic omnivores.

CRITICAL WARNING: Like all giant *Tylomelania*, they possess an immense appetite. If they are not fed adequately, they WILL completely devour soft, delicate aquarium plants. Their massive metabolism MUST be fueled daily. They eagerly consume large quantities of sinking omnivore wafers, blanched vegetables (zucchini, carrots, spinach), powdered spirulina, and decaying Indian Almond (Catappa) leaves.

Water Quality: Originating from the ultra-pure tectonic lakes of Sulawesi, they possess an absolute, uncompromising biological requirement for WARM, highly alkaline, and HARD water. They cannot survive cold water; they strictly require tropical heat (26-30°C / 79-86°F). They unconditionally demand hard water (GH 6-15, pH 7.5 - 8.5) heavily saturated with dissolved calcium. Exposing them to soft, acidic water (below pH 7.0) is instantly lethal; it will rapidly dissolve their massive shells and cause systemic shock.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Compatibility is highly restricted by their uncompromising need for hot, hard, alkaline water. They are the ultimate centerpiece giant for specialized Sulawesi setups. They are perfect, harmless companions for Sulawesi Shrimp (e.g. Cardinal Shrimp) or peaceful, heat-tolerant fish. They MUST NEVER be housed with aggressive, snail-eating predators (massive Loaches, large Cichlids, Pufferfish) that will relentlessly attack their slow-moving bodies or attempt to flip them over.

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding the Patriarchal Rabbit Snail is a slow, methodical, and highly rewarding process. They are livebearers (viviparous); females incubate eggs internally. The female expels a large, milky-white, gelatinous egg sac onto the substrate. The sac dissolves almost immediately to reveal a single, perfectly formed, surprisingly large miniature Rabbit Snail. Because they reproduce incredibly slowly (one offspring every few weeks to a month), they will absolutely NEVER overpopulate an aquarium.

Risks and Diseases: The absolute greatest physical risk is agonizing death from massive shell degradation and osmotic shock caused by keeping them in standard, soft-water community tanks; high pH, hard water, and intense tropical heat are unconditionally mandatory. The second major risk is lethal starvation caused by their colossal shells becoming permanently wedged in coarse gravel. Finally, they will rapidly decimate delicate aquatic plants if their massive daily appetite is not fully satiated with heavy feeding.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Patriarchal Rabbit Snail (*Tylomelania patriarchalis*) is a spectacular, colossal freshwater gastropod natively endemic exclusively to Lake Matano, the deepest lake in the Malili system of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their natural biotope is defined by profound depths, exceptionally clear, highly oxygenated, and strictly alkaline water over volcanic rock and soft sediment. They are heavy-duty, substrate-bound scavengers adapted to extreme water purity and unique mineral compositions.

Origin

North AmericaEurope, Mediterranean, and West AsiaSouth and Southeast AsiaEast Asia

Invertebrate profile

Diet: Biofilm grazer
Ecological role: Scavenger
Shock sensitivity: High
Calcium and minerals: High
Molting: Shell growth
Reproduction: Variable
Compatibility & tankmates: Peaceful

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Orange rabbit snail

Tylomelania gemmifera

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates