Mystery Snails and What You Need to Know: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
 |
| A young golden mystery snail exploring |
(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). Once you're more comfortable and familiar with their care, you can try adding an additional mystery.
With mystery snails, the bigger, the better is ideal. You can house one in a 5 gallon, but I believe the 10 gallon will offer you more flexibility and space overall.
The filters that come with most tanks are suitable for mysteries, but one can always add a sponge filter as a supplement.
Tank Setup and Decorations
 |
| A Malaysian trumpet snail exploring an artificial anemone |
Now that you have a lovely tank ready to set up for your new friend(s), what do you do now?
First, you need to choose a substrate. This is typically several inches of either gravel or sand at the bottom of the tank; in addition to allowing the snails to move comfortably along the tank, it also houses beneficial bacteria, crucial to tank health.
(If you're not familiar with the nitrogen cycle, I'll leave some helpful links below.)
My personal recommendation for aquatic snails in general is sand: it's gentle on their shells and feet (snails each have a foot), it makes food and waste easier to spot and clean, and it's more comfortable for them to root around in. Of course, many mystery snail owners have great success with gravel as their substrate, so it really comes down to personal preference and experience.
1.5 - 2 pounds of sand per gallon is ideal. Don't forget to rinse it with dechlorinated water! No matter the substrate you choose, it's best to rinse it several times with dechlorinated water so any extra debris or dust is washed away before you add it to your tank. Otherwise, your water becomes cloudy. You can use tap water IF it's been treated with dechlorinator (examples include API Stress Coat and Tetra Safe Start).
Next, it's time for the fun part: choosing decorations! Live plants are highly recommended, and they can even help keep your tank healthy. They're not necessary, though. If you're choosing fake plants for your aquarium, check how the plant feels. Is it soft and smooth? If the edges are sharp, it could hurt your snail. Silk plants are your best bet. Mysteries love to climb, as previously mentioned, so a variety of sizes is ideal. They like hidey-holes, so be sure to include large spots they can hide in. My mysteries like to squeeze through holes that are much too small, so I replaced certain decorations with larger ones.
Real terracotta pots are an example of a good hidey-hole. So long as it's large enough, most fish caves suit mysteries just fine.
As long as the hidey-hole you're using can easily accommodate your snails, you'll be good to go. There's a wide range of products available. I'd also suggest checking out other mystery snail owners' tanks and setups for ideas.
Be wary of painted decorations, as the paint can chip off. Be sure to read reviews if purchasing online, and examine the product if shopping in-person.
Diet
 |
| A mystery snail enjoying an algae wafer |
It's generally understood that mystery snails can exist purely off algae and leftover fish food. This is untrue. Mystery snails are voracious eaters that require a specific diet. They can eat algae, to be sure, but that is not their primary form of nutrition. Protein is an essential component of their dietary needs.
Let's take a quick look at their anatomy to better understand why.
Mystery snails are gastropods (literally: "stomach foot"), meaning that their anatomy is such that their stomach rests above their foot. A healthy mystery snail possesses a small, brown trapdoor called an operculum. Composed heavily of protein, this allows them to hide securely within their shells whenever they feel threatened. To support healthy operculum growth, you must feed them protein. Bottom-feeder shrimp pellets are one way to ensure they are receiving this.
Be sure to check the ingredients list of all foods for copper. In large amounts, this can prove fatal to mystery snails and other inverts. So long as copper is towards the end of the list, it generally is okay.
Blanched vegetables, such as kale, green beans, cucumber, and zucchini, offer calcium and other nutrients to your snails. Some snails may prefer some veggies to others. Every snail is different, so a little experimentation may be in order.
Remove uneaten food after three hours to prevent water spoilage.
Water Parameters
 |
| a golden mystery snail leaping onto the glass |
(Again, if you're not familiar with the nitrogen cycle, I'll link some excellent explanations below.)
Mystery snails thrive in warmer temperatures. Aim to keep your tank between 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
A water quality testing kit is crucial to tracking your tank health. The most popular is the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. Though a bit pricey, it ultimately saves you money while providing quality results. (Test strips, I've learned the hard way, are cheaper in the short-term, but are not as reliable.)
When testing your water, your parameters should ideally match these:
- pH: 7 - 8.4
- gH: 12 - 18 (measures general hardness)
- kH: 8 - 18 (measures carbonate hardness)
- Nitrites: 0
- Nitrates: >20 ppm
- Ammonia: 0
Mystery snails require a high pH, as low pH levels can erode their shells. For optimal snail health, aim to keep your pH between 7 and 8.4.
Regarding gH and kH, mystery snails do best in hard water. This is where calcium comes into play. If your kH is low, there is not enough calcium carbonate in your water, which leads to poor shell growth and even erosion. Maintaining your kH level protects you against pH fluctuations. This is where calcium comes into play. I personally use Fluker's Calcium without Vitamin D3 (1 teaspoon per 10 gallons). Don't add too much at once, or you can make your snails sick. I like to add it after a major water change, or 1/4 tsp every now and then.
Calcium is the key to healthy shell growth: either in diet or in water, supplementing it is highly important. Other forms of calcium come in the form of Wonder Shells (found on Amazon) and cuttlebone. I prefer the powder, as there is always the chance the snails may not be interested in eating the cuttlebone.
Water Changes
Each tank is different, but I find that a 25% water change per week maintains the balance well. Mysteries produce a lot of waste, so be sure to remove that when you change the water. The poops are small and light brown. Before adding the new, clean, dechlorinated water, be sure to match the temperature to that of the tank. Sudden temperature changes can shock your snails, leading to health problems.
Behaviors
Mystery snails are adorable little goofballs whose antics are highly amusing. Climbing, exploring, and parasnailing fill their days.
You may be asking: what is parasnailing? This is when mystery snails climb on the glass or on top of decorations in the tank, then float down. If you see them doing so, just know they're having a grand old time.
 |
| Whee! I love watching them float gently down. |
Sometimes, you may notice your snail resting just under the water line with a little noodle sticking out from the water. This is their siphon, kind of like a built-in snorkel. They start doing a funky little pumping motion. Having both gills and lungs, the mystery snail uses their siphon to pump oxygen into their lung. I had no idea what my snail was doing the first time I saw him "dancing," but it's totally normal and fun to watch.
If your mystery snail is floating, this does not necessarily mean they're dead. This can be a sign of poor water quality, or it could just be them hanging out. Test the water to be sure.
Mating Behaviors and Sexing Snails
In fairness, I still struggle to tell just from looking if a mystery snail is male or female, but there are guides online that can teach you to do so. I use a simple tell to determine the sex of the snail, but it does take a little more time: if the mystery is mounting the other, it is a male. Females will never do that.
The mating process can last several hours, with the snails rocking at times. Do not separate snails during mating, as this can severely injure them. Wait for them to finish before doing so, if you must. If you have a female, make sure to monitor them and any male snails, as they can potentially mate with the female to the point of exhaustion or even death. (I haven't had this happen, but be aware it can.)
Eggs
I'll dedicate a separate post to eggs specifically, but I'll give a brief overview here. Mystery snail eggs are laid above the waterline. Should they fall into the water, the embryos will drown. If you want to hatch them, you can opt to leave them be, or you can build an incubator. Lav's Snails on YouTube has an excellent tutorial on doing so, which I'll link below.
If you do not want the eggs to hatch, you may freeze them, then crush them. You can also sell the egg clutches online if you'd rather not destroy them.
Tankmates
Mystery snails can be housed with other inverts, such as other aquatic snails and/or shrimp. They can also live with fish, so long as they are peaceful and non-aggressive. Neon tetras are a great example of this. They are communal, I find, and thrive with other mystery snails. I'd advise keeping at least two together, if you can.
Conclusion
Mystery snails are peaceful creatures that thrive in warmer waters and spacious tanks. Algae wafers are a great food source for them, but protein and calcium must also be included in their diet. Climbing and exploring makes up much of their day. They produce a lot of waste, so be sure to keep on top of removing it. They enjoy a lifespan of 1 - 4 years, depending on quality of care and genetics. A unique pet, mystery snails are quirky companions whose care is highly rewarding. Once a routine is established, care is quite simple. I wish you the best with your new friends!