Mystery snails: The Unsung Heroes of Your Aquarium


Mystery snails are a popular freshwater snail species in the aquarium hobby. They were originally brought to California for consumption purposes in 1892 and were slowly introduced into the aquarium trade. They originate from Asia and were found in Massachusetts back in 1915. Mystery snails are also plentiful in the wild due to hobbyists illegally releasing them into the wild ¹.

Mystery snails are easy to keep, easy to find, and easy to add to the freshwater community aquarium. These snails grow larger than most other freshwater species and can create an above-average amount of waste, but they are efficient algae cleaners that keep aquarium glass clean ⁴.

Here are some key points to consider when caring for mystery snails:

Natural Habitat

Mystery snails are native to South America, with the highest density being in Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia. They can live in any freshwater location where dead plant matter and algae are plentiful. This includes slow-moving freshwater sources such as ponds and swamps as well as faster-moving rivers and streams ⁸.



Mystery snails are herbivores and eat algae from the aquarium decor, gravel, glass, and plants. They also enjoy eating vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, and spinach ⁹.

Water Parameters


Mystery snails prefer a pH range of 7.0-8.0 and a temperature range of 68-82°F. They require a minimum tank size of 10 gallons and a water hardness of 100-200 ppm ⁵.

Keep in mind that higher ends of optimal temperature can speed up metabolism and subsequently their growth. While a common method to increase breeding turnover rates, there is a risk to the over all health and length of lifespan in your snails. I keep my tanks at a happy 80°F.


Mystery snails come in a variety of attractive colors, including golden, blue, purple, magenta, black, ivory, or hazelnut. The shells come in banded, solid, or a gradient of color ¹.


Mystery snails are gonochoristic egg layers. As long as there are males and females in the tank, the snails will breed readily without any intervention. However, plentiful food, a low water level, and a warm temperature help establish ideal breeding conditions. Females lay their eggs inside cocoons at the water’s surface ⁶.

Breeding Experiments

Personality

Mystery snails are peaceful creatures that do well in community tanks. They are efficient algae cleaners and are very peaceful with fish and will not pose a risk to many species of fish. Most aquarists will purchase a couple of mystery snails to tackle algae issues and to add some more life into their aquarium ¹.

(1) Everything to Know about Mystery Snails: Origins, FAQ & More. https://petkeen.com/everything-to-know-about-mystery-snails/.
(2) Mystery Snail Care Guide & Species Profile | Fishkeeping World. https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/mystery-snail/.
(3) Mystery Snail – A Complete Care Guide - Aquarium Store Depot. https://aquariumstoredepot.com/blogs/news/mystery-snail.
(4) Mystery Snail Care Guide: Fact Sheet, Breeding, Behavior - VIVOFISH. https://www.vivofish.com/mystery-snail/.
(5) Mystery Snail – Detailed Guide: Care, Diet and Breeding. https://aquariumbreeder.com/mystery-snail-detailed-guide-care-diet-and-breeding/.
(6) Mystery Snail 101: Care, Lifespan, Breeding, Food & More - Aquarium Source. https://www.aquariumsource.com/mystery-snail/.
(8) Mystery Snail: Care, Diet, Breeding, Calcium & More - Next Aquarium. https://nextaquarium.com/mystery-snail/.
(9) Mystery Snail Care - Breed Profile, Tank Setup, Tank Mates and More. https://www.happyfishcare.com/mystery-snail-care-guide/.
(10) undefined. https://www.everythingfishkeeping.com/mystery-snail/.

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