Snailed It! Your Hub for Aquatic Snail Care

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...