A Quick Guide to Aquatic Snails and Tank Size Minimums

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A useful reference for popular aquatic snails and their tank size minimums!
For the minimums alone, scroll to the "Conclusion" section :)

Mystery Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 10 gallons*



They start out tiny, but they can reach 2 inches!


*While a mystery snail on its own can live in a 5 gallon, I do not recommend housing them in one. Spending their days exploring and roaming, these snails do best in a spacious environment that can accommodate their inquisitive personalities. They're highly social creatures, and they benefit from the company of fellow mystery snails.

(It's not strictly necessary to house them with another mystery, but in my experience, they very much appreciate having a companion.)

In addition, mystery snails produce a lot of waste, and it is much more work to maintain the bioload in a 5 gallon tank than it is in a 10 gallon tank. 

Summary: while one mystery can live in a 5 gallon tank, mystery snails flourish in 10 gallons and above. They also benefit greatly from having at least one other mystery with them.


Nerite Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 5 gallons



Ted and Pickle, my first snails!


Nerite snails do best in tanks with plenty of algae for them to feast on. You can always supplement algae wafers if your tank doesn't house much algae.


Rabbit Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 29 gallons


File:Steve rabbit snail.jpg
"My spoiled baby rabbit snail, Steve." Credit: RealGatba, Wikimedia, (CC BY-SA 4.0)


Rabbit snails can grow up to an inch and a half; in regards to tank size, the bigger, the better. The substrate for these snails must be sand, as other substrates will wear away at their shells: they spend much of their time burrowing.


Ramshorn Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 3 gallons


credit: Catxx, wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)


Spritely and vividly colored, ramshorn snails are a unique addition to any setup 3 gallons and above. 


Bladder Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 1 gallon


An underrated friend!

Bladder snails are one of the hardiest aquatic snails out there.  These are one of my top recommendations for stocking nano tanks. 


Pond Snails

Tank Size Minimum: 1 gallon


credit: Rex, Wikimedia, Public Domain


Due to their similarities, pond snails are often mistaken for bladder snails. If the snail's antennae are thick and triangular, it's a pond snail. These snails are also incredibly hardy, and they're another fantastic stocking option for the smallest of nano tanks. They'll flourish in most setups.


Malaysian Trumpet Snails

Tank Size Minimum - 5 gallons


Everyone say hello to Snow Cone!

Though 10 gallons is ideal, Malaysian trumpet snails can easily thrive in a 5 gallon tank. Like rabbit snails, they love to burrow, so they must be kept in a tank with sand as the substrate.

Conclusion

  • Mystery snails: 10+ gallons
  • Nerite snails: 5+ gallons
  • Rabbit snails: 29+ gallons
  • Ramshorn snails: 3+ gallons
  • Bladder snails: 1+ gallon(s)
  • Pond snails: 1+ gallon(s)
  • Malaysian trumpet snails: 5+ gallons