This type of freshwater aquarium snail is scientifically known as Neritina natalensis and is considered to be one of the best options if you are trying to keep your fish tank clean. Some of the most frequent habitats of bladder snails include swamps, freshwater rivers, ponds, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. They will happily eat a lot of the other snails on this list, so think carefully when picking their tank mates! These snails hold a great reputation for being extremely adaptable and prolific snails that can grow fairly quickly in the right type of tank conditions. Most of the colors are either yellow and/or brown, but there are a bunch of different options that you’ll see in their patterns. We put together this list of the best aquarium snails based on each of the primary families. If you’re not a DIY type of person, you can also buy a professional snail trap. This comes from their ability to quickly reproduce and take over a tank if left unchecked. So, you must ensure that there is no excessive dense vegetation in the tank because that will result in massive overcrowding. They get along with pretty much every species and will mind their own business. Ivory snail: Ivory snail is a … The apple snail can breed prolifically if overfed so they are only recommended for large tanks and tanks that are not planted. Nevertheless, you can prevent them from turning into snail pests by keeping them in the correct type of tank and providing the ideal growing conditions. A typical adaptation of apple snails is their system of branchial respiration, which is quite similar to the gills of a fish. It’s shaped like a cone and gradually thins out the further back it goes. These are another type of aquarium snail that’s very low-maintenance and easy to care for. They also live in irrigated rice fields and are known to feed on algae and detritus. They have a lifespan of 1-2 years, and they grow to an average size of 0.8-2.5 centimeters. With so many types of freshwater aquarium snails out there, it can be tricky to decide which one is the best you. Pond Snails refer to a broad collection of species with the Ramshorn being one of the most popular types (more on them below). If you are thinking of getting a pet snail for your aquarium, there is a whole wide variety for you to choose from, ranging from small to big in size and even sporting an array of different beautiful colors. Rabbit Snails have a long head that protrudes from their shell quite a bit. They are said to be a tad slower than other types of snails so you can expect them to be lively or active in your fish tank. Snails are not able to teleport, nor do they spontaneously arise from the ether. Types Apple Snail. Personally, we think they’re great freshwater snails to include in your aquarium because of their interesting look and benefits they bring. Take a look at some perfect choices of freshwater aquarium snails that you can get for your aquarium. Some of their common habitats include mangrove swamps, lagoons, ponds, rivers, creeks, streams, and the mouth area of most rivers. Nerites are truly excellent tank cleaners, and they are also a very peaceful snail species, which means that they won’t cause any problems for the other fish in the tank. 2. Their size greatly depends on external factors such as the type of food they are given to eat and the variety of food sources that are accessible to them. Assassin snails and rabbit snails breed slowly while pond snails, ramshorn snails and malaysian trumpet snails can breed each month. Over time, these snail species have become quite common in Europe and all of North America. By adding some variety to your tank with any of the freshwater snails on our list, your tank will take on a whole new dynamic. are a type of apple snail and are among the most popular in the aquarium hobby. The average height of an adult pond snail ranges from 45-60mm, while the width ranges from 20-30mm. Zebra nerites, as the name implies, have yellow and black stripes. Ramshorn Snail – Ramshorn snails are considered a moderate pest, though there are many people who appreciate the look of their colorful shells. When they’re not hungry they are far less likely to go after the plants in your tank (not exactly rocket science). Since they are omnivores, they are likely to end up eating anything that comes their way. Freshwater aquarium snails are aquatic creatures which might be finest identified for his or her potential to scrub up particles from fish tanks, which makes them fairly the tank cleaners.They notably feed on aquatic particles like fish waste and algae, which can also be one of the the reason why some snail varieties are referred to as ‘algae-eaters.’ It’s not uncommon for these fish to hit the 5-year mark, with some even doubling that! These are quite the underrated types of snails, probably because of their dark and mysterious nature. They’re known for their ability to quickly reproduce and overpopulate a tank if you’re not careful. These peaceful snails live 3 to 4 years, grow to a little over 1½ inch in diameter and are valued for their bright colors and algae eating ability. It’s fun to watch these creatures drag around their long shell. Black Devil Snails grow to an average size that ranges between 2-3 inches. So, if your aquarium only has fish that eat the food that floats on the water, a separate type should be bought for the snails that can sink and easily reach them. We’ve found that their slow nature makes them very thorough cleaners. These are fairly standard numbers for aquarium snails. Fortunately, they won’t devour your plants like some of the other snails on this list. Types of Aquarium Snails. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. However, you should know that there are good types of snails that carry out all these amazing functions, and there are also bad, unwanted types of snails that find their way into your aquarium all by themselves. You can expect to find bladder snails in great abundance in slow streaming waters as well as warm, stagnant waters. One downside of pond snails is that they can cause overpopulation in the tank because they have the ability to reproduce very quickly. When you combine this with a well-planted tank you get a beautiful combination of yellow on top of the green. With that being said, there are a lot of good options to choose from if you’re prepared for this. ... #3 Trap them with snail traps. There is a whole variety of these snails available in pet stores, including Chocolate Rabbit Snails, Black Rabbit Snails, Yellow Rabbit Snails, and Golden Rabbit Snails. Snails belong to one of the largest classes of organisms, with over 40,000 recognized species. If you have snails in your tank, you put them in there. They have mainly originated from the Amazon River after which their habitats also spread across Florida, Hawaii and Southwest Asia. Gold Inca Snails do a fantastic job cleaning many types of aquarium algae as well. They are also known to be avid tank-cleaners, a job they do by feeding on uneaten food, soft algae, dead plant matter, debris, and detritus. Their shell is shaped like a swirl of frosting and usually has three distinct whorls. We’re huge fans of snails at Aquarium Source and we’re constantly singing their praises to our fellow aquarists. In fact, these are one of the most beginner-friendly snails on our list! Also known as Ram’s Horn Snail, the Ramshorn snail is a type of freshwater aquarium snail that can be a great addition to community tanks as pets. This is aided by the fact that there are so many different color variations, and this snail overall is hardier. The Ivory Snail is a simple yet elegant freshwater species that many aquarists love. They’re great algae-eaters and will spend most of their time scavenging and avoiding other animals in your aquarium. After all, experimenting with different creatures is part of what makes having an aquarium so fun in the first place. They eat up all the algae that they come across in the tank, which also makes them algae-eaters. Aquarium Snail Types, Benefits, Care & Maintenance! Mystery snails are believed to be the most peaceful creatures that you can have in your aquarium or tank. Sometimes hobbyists choose to purchase a Ramshorn Snail as a pet. Whether you are looking for an algae-eating species, a scavenger to keep the substrate clean, or merely an attractive and interesting invertebrate, there is certain to be a type of snail to meet your needs. You might pass by and see them starting to make their way across the aquarium, and find that they’ve barely made progress half an hour later. Mystery snails are a South American species, and their native distribution includes a number of regions such as Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. Some of the other guides online will only list different color variants, but that’s not very helpful. These aquarium snails are super low maintenance and easy to take care of. Snails not only add some variety to your tank with their unique look, but they also help maintain it. However, an important thing to bear in mind here is that if there are sudden changes or shifts in the water parameters of their tanks, it can become a great source of harm and stress for these snails. Snails can lay eggs multiple times per year. This article may include references and links to products and services from one or more of our advertisers. We’ve been keeping these creatures in our tanks for years, with no intention of stopping! Melaniidae family snails, known as MTS snails. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including gold, blue, and even tiger. Our favorite is probably the tiger variety. Two of their key requirements for successful growth include calcium-rich foods and the right water conditions. Nerite snails are native to the coastal plain of East Africa, particularly to regions such as Tanzania, Somalia, Kenya, South Africa, and Mozambique. They’re not very big (only about an inch in length) which makes them seem more “natural” than some of the other species on our list. Here I have listed some good Aquarium Snails for your freshwater fish tank. Anyway, the main types of snails are completely harmless. These snails are known to be incredibly fast and active, and much of their time is spent zooming all around the fish tank in search of food and algae. How to get rid of snails in aquarium. Sometimes called Inca snails, Mystery snails (Pomacea spp.) The most common species is Pomacea diffusa. The Ramshorn Snail might be our favorite type on this list (it’s so hard to choose). It is best to use a tight fitting lid with these snails as some species in the group can survive out of water a… They won’t mess with any other animals and keep to themselves. However, all of them have one key similarity, which is that they sport more natural-looking colors like green and brown, for instance. … Nerite snails (Neritina natalensis) are quickly becoming one of the favorite snails in the aquarium community. There are varied types of these snails that are used in tanks. This snail is quite an interesting freshwater snail because of it being a non-aggressive, tranquil and a soft algae eater. Nerite Snails Neritina Natalensis 2. Although there is quite a debate in regards to having snails in fish tanks because many people consider them to be a true plague, they are actually quite useful creatures. In our opinion, the Ramshorn is one of the best aquarium snails out there and there are plenty of other Pond species that are worthwhile too. Unless you already have an incompatible tank mate (anything that eats snails) there really shouldn’t be anything holding you back. These snails have a straightforward creamy white color that covers their smooth shell and body. For some reason, a lot of people consider other species when they want to make an impact on algae. They reach an average length of 15cm, and they grow to 6 inches in diameter. MTS are spread just like the ramshorn snails, but they differ from the latter not only in their appearance, but also in their lifestyle. Different nerite snails will grow to different sizes, but on average, they’re about 0.5 – … Freshwater aquarium snails. One of their most prominent features is their striped shell that has resulted in a great many names for this snail such as zebra snail and tiger snail. Some of these help clean the harmful bacteria that thrive in the water and thereby keep the tank clean, while others lend to the beauty of the aquarium with their unique colorings. A strong filter can easily suck them in (not good). If you’re looking for something a bit different, this is a type of snail we definitely recommend. That being said, there are also quite a few different freshwater snails that might just find their way into your tank by accident. Since the snail itself is black in color, the colored shell offers a very striking contrast against it. These snails are usually between one and two inches in length and are active at night. Apple Snails - Pomacea sp. We may be paid compensation when you click on links to those products and/or services. It is also fairly easier to look after them and care for them, as compared to other different types of snails. For example, Mystery snails are true algae eaters that help clean off algae from plants, decorations as well as the glass of the aquarium. Look great in any tank because that will result in massive overcrowding don ’ t mess with other! 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