Snailed It! Your Hub for Aquatic Snail Care

I always say that calcium is the key to optimal snail shell health, but...how does one actually go about supplementing it? Sure, there's suggestions on supplies to use; yet, there's not often much clarification about how to use them. When I first began snailkeeping, I was totally lost when it came to calcium supplementation.  Little lady is thrilled about all this calcium! For my beginner snailkeepers, this simple guide will show you four easy ways to ensure your aquatic snail is getting all the calcium they need.  Before we begin, I personally recommend supplementing calcium in both water and diet.  With that, let's dive in! (Note: I am not sponsored by any brands I mention, nor am I affiliated with any sources I recommend. Thank you!) Cuttlebone A delightful tortoise enjoying some cuttlebone. Credit: Richard Mayer, de.wikipedia, (CC BY-SA 3.0)   Snails require calcium carbonate to promote healthy shell growth. Cracked shells are a common sign of inadequate calcium...

Have you been considering adding a new snail friend to your family? Do you and/or your friends have a general interest in our shelly friends? Then please read this: The Starlight Snail Rescue  is an incredible operation run by dedicated Hannah C. "Hello! Here at Starlight Snail Rescue we rescue snails, slugs, and other small critters! We believe that snails deserve to be loved just as much as other animals! Another goal of mine is to educate people about snails and slugs. They are such fascinating and mysterious creatures. I think my love for them will never run out. — Hannah C. "           — excerpt from the Starlight Snail Rescue's homepage "Now from doctoring snails to finding them homes, I have officially opened my own snail rescue for snails, slugs, frogs, and so many other creatures! I hope you enjoy learning all about these creatures. Feel free to join me on my journey of helping animals one snail at a time."   — excerpt from the "About Us"...

  "What is this arm on my snail? Is he okay?" Among the most frequent questions I come across regarding aquatic snails include questions about anatomy — and rightfully so! Snails have very funky anatomy, sometimes mystifying both beginner and long-time snailkeepers. While we still have yet to fully understand how aquatic snails function, there's thankfully much that we do know. Today, I'll break down the components of aquatic snail anatomy, focusing on the mystery snail.  The mystery snail encompasses the anatomical structure present in each freshwater aquatic snail, hence my focus on this specific species. Lola, the master of balance! Siphon That question asked at the beginning usually pertains to the mystery snail. What is that little tube? Most initially guess either parasite or genitalia. You'll be relieved to know that it's neither. This is their siphon! I'll include this video I uploaded to my Instagram account for a fun summarization: My Siphon Vide...

In my last post,  I touched on the basics of ramshorn snail care. As I received a request to delve into their diet, I'd like to take the time to do so today. While I haven't owned them myself, I am very familiar with their care and needs after extensive research (I'm planning to buy some soon though!). I mention this just to note that I can't speak from personal experience, so any recommendations I make are based on research and second-hand accounts. I'll provide links to some of my sources below. Anyway, ramshorn snails are beautiful and lively additions to any tank. How are they best cared for? Let's dive in. credit: Eric A. Olson, Wikimedia, (CC BY-SA 2.5) (Note: I am not sponsored by any brands I mention, or any sources I recommend. Thanks!) Tank Size Ramshorns are best suited to tanks 3 gallons and above.  Tank Setup and Decor Pretty much anything goes! Live plants, silk plants, cute little pirates — the sky (or lid) is the limit! Of course, the same guidel...

Nano tanks are super cute and can be a lot of fun, but stocking options can be tricky for tanks less than 5 gallons. Oftentimes, budding aquarists inquiring about stocking their 3 gallon tanks are met with the simple answer: "shrimp or snails." Well, that's a little vague. Which snails can fit in a 3 gallon? Below are my top three recommendations. Let's take a look. Ramshorns credit: Catxx, wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) Colorful, inquisitive, and spunky, ramshorn snails add both a pop of color and an endearing liveliness to your tank. Feeding off algae, decaying plant matter, and leftover fish food, ramshorns are wonderful at keeping the tank clean. However, their bioload should not be discounted — just like other aquatic pets, snails produce waste that must be removed. Ramshorns come in a variety of colors and sizes. While Colombian Ramshorns are magnificent in their own right, I would advise against using them in anything smaller than a 5 gallon tank, due to their size. ...

  photos of my various pet snails Aquatic snails are fascinating and unique additions to any tank; even better, each species of snail contributes to the balance of the tank in their own way. Which snail is right for you? Let's take a look. Do you want a snail to eat that pesky algae in your tank? Nerite and bladder snails are your dream team. If you don't want more than one snail, nerite eggs don't hatch in freshwater (and are harmless to your tank). In the photo above, you may notice a small brown snail riding on my young golden mystery snail. This is a black racer nerite. They tend to spend their days as dedicated lawn mowers, steadily eating away at the algae building up in your tank. Nerites come in different shapes and sizes, especially horned nerites. Nerites tend to live between a year or two. Their lifespan can't be prolonged much, even with top care. Still, they reliably clear away algae during their lives, and they're suitable tank mates for many types of ...

A young golden mystery snail exploring Whether you already own a mystery snail or are planning on buying one, this guide offers comprehensive answers and guidelines for optimal mystery snail care. I'll also share advice and suggestions regarding pitfalls I fell into as a beginner aquatic snail owner. With that, let's dive in! (Note: I am not sponsored by any brands I mention, nor am I affiliated with any sources I recommend.) Tank Size Mystery snails can easily reach around 2 - 3 inches in diameter. They love to roam, climb, and parasnail (more on that later), so it's important that you choose an environment that allows them the space to do so freely. The general rule of thumb is 5 gallons per mystery snail.  In my experience, you can comfortably house up to four in a 10 gallon tank. However, if you are just beginning, I would recommend housing only two in a 10 gallon, as this will give you time to adjust to the bioload they produce (they produce a lot of waste very quickly...