Aquarium snails: species description, maintenance, feeding, reproduction

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

A large beautiful aquarium is a complex system that includes different elements. Often the owners settle in glass houses not only fish and plants, but also snails, which are very interesting to watch. Although sometimes gastropods get into home aquariums illegally during the renewal of the soil or the planting of new vegetation. True, in this case we are talking about small species and specimens. Large ornamental clams are always bred consciously.

Which aquariums can be kept

Aquarium snails take root perfectly in all home "reservoirs". They should not be added only to spawning aquariums, where they can spoil or eat eggs. In other cases, snails will help maintain biological balance, they will eat up the remains of food and excrement of fish, and will not allow algae to grow unnecessarily. But when adding new tenants, it should be understood that aquarium snails are not voluntary cleaners. They, like the rest of the inhabitants of the aquarium, have an excretory system. They can covet not only dying, but also living expensive plants. And in small tanks, large clams caneasy to break plants and fragile decor.

Main types of aquarium molluscs

All varieties of aquarium snails are relatively safe. Aquarists prefer two classes of molluscs: gastropods and bivalves. From the description of aquarium snails of the class of gastropods, it is clear that they have a shell, most often spirally twisted. Representatives of this class move on a thick leg. The oral apparatus is equipped with a special grater that allows you to scrape algae from glass, plants and decor. Bivalves also have shells. But it consists of symmetrical flaps that are able to slam shut tightly. This class feeds on microorganisms that get inside with a stream of water. Breathing oxygen is also obtained from the stream of water passing through the sink.

Coil (Planorbarius)

The most common type of aquarium snail is the coil. The length of this mollusk is 2.5-3.5 cm. Coils are distinguished by amazing vitality. They are able to breathe both in the atmosphere and in water. The content of aquarium snails of this species does not always depend on the desire of the owner. Very often there are illegal reels that grow, develop and feel great in a new place. The fact is that the reproduction of aquarium snails of this species has some features. The species belongs to hermaphrodites, since each individual has male and female gonads. The survival of the offspring of coils is based on the fact that parents do not lay eggs in neat clusters, but distribute them over all objects andplants underwater. The maturation of eggs lasts about a month. That is why experienced aquarium owners carefully inspect and quarantine new decor and plants, and warm up the soil. This is the only way to avoid the appearance of illegal immigrants.

Coils are peaceful aquarium snails. They do not pose a danger to other inhabitants. The only difficulty is the regulation of the population. But it can be de alt with.

Sampullaria (Pomacea)

But the snail will not appear in the aquarium itself. This is a large snail that requires the creation of certain conditions for life. The size of snails can vary from 5 to 15 cm. For a comfortable life, each individual requires at least nine liters of water. At the same time, its temperature should not fall below 17 ° C or rise above 30 ° C. The aquarium should be covered, but have a large airspace. Beautiful snails love to crawl along the walls of the aquarium.

Gastropod snails can be placed in aquariums with viviparous fish and catfish. But predators can harm or even eat these mollusks. Although this species is omnivorous, it is not aggressive.

Physa

Another popular type of aquarium snail is the phys. These mollusks have an interesting shell structure that allows them to get into any corner of the aquarium. The size of the physis is smaller than not only snails, but even coils. Their shell rarely exceeds 2 cm. Physi have pulmonary respiration and can survive perfectly well without water. It means thatan aquarium for them should have a significant air space, it can even be equipped with elevated land areas. The temperature of the water in the tank must not fall below 20 °C.

Helena (Anentome helena)

Helena is a special kind of aquarium snail. These representatives of the class of gastropods often engage in cannibalism. A gluttonous creature is hiding under a beautiful twisted shell, capable of eating its own kind. Many owners let Helen into the aquarium if coils or physes have bred uncontrollably there. The predator quickly reduces the snail population in the tank. However, if there are no other snails in the aquarium, then Helena will safely eat fish food.

The bottom of the aquarium in which the helens live must be covered with sand or fine gravel. Mollusks of this species love to dig into the ground.

Marisa (Marisa cornuarietis)

It is quite difficult to get a snail of the Marise family. This is a whimsical species that will not survive in normal conditions. For comfort, Marises will have to monitor the acidity and hardness of the water, and maintain the temperature within 21-25 ° C. Otherwise, the mollusc will die.

Aquarium with marises must be covered, leaving air space on top. The average individual is not very large, but sometimes giants of 6-7 cm grow. Representatives of the species are very voracious, they can eat plants to the very root.

Telomelania

Beauty tilomelania is worth startingonly for experienced aquarists. These snails are whimsical and require a lot of attention. The mollusk is large, its shell is more than 10 cm, so it needs a lot of space (up to 15 liters per individual). The body of the mollusk is bright orange, sometimes with black streaks, and the shell is purple-black, elongated, with a brightened tip.

Thylomelania avoids bright light, so the aquarium decorations should include grottoes and cozy shelters. However, they should not take up too much space. The ideal option is to keep thylomelanias in a separate aquarium, but living together with fish and crustaceans is also acceptable. For a comfortable stay of tilomelanium, the aquarium bowl is filled with warm (20-32 ° C) water, it should be soft, but with high acidity.

Melanoides

Melania is a popular snail that can enter the aquarium illegally. Like the coil, it is often carried in with soil and plants. However, many place melania in the aquarium consciously, since this mollusk is unpretentious and very pretty. The adult has an elongated gray-green shell with beige-brown stripes. Its length does not exceed 3 cm. Melania settles in the bottom of the aquarium and does not interfere with other inhabitants. Keeping temperature within 20-30 °C.

Brotia pagoda (Brotia pagodula)

Brothia pagoda is a very beautiful aquarium snail, but it is quite rare. This species gets along only with catfish and crustaceans. The water temperature must not exceed 25 °C. The bottom followsdecorate with stones and fine sand. It is very rare to reproduce brothia. But the reproduction of snails in general is worth talking about separately.

Reproduction

So how do aquarium snails reproduce? Believe me, this is not an idle question. Individuals of most species are hermaphrodites. Their reproduction has been described using coils as an example. According to a similar scenario, the reproduction of phys and many others occurs. A person does not take part in this process, everything goes on as usual, it is enough just to regulate the number of mollusks in the aquarium.

Another thing is large decorative snails. Ampullaria, for example, is a dioecious species. But it is very difficult to distinguish a female from a male. This type of snail lays a cluster of eggs. The female sticks it to a glass wall just above the water to protect it from fish. The ripening period of eggs depends on the temperature regime. It can vary from 16 to 24 days.

Some species of snails are viviparous, such as melania, thylomelania and brothia pagoda. However, unpretentious melania lays an egg, which contains up to 60 small individuals. But tilomelaniya and brotia have low fecundity. Breeding aquarium snails is worth doing in the event of the proposed sale of rare species of mollusks. But even then, the owner can only choose the initial individuals with the most beautiful shell, and then maintain the desired temperature in the tank. It will not be possible to strongly influence the number of offspring.

Features of food

Small snails have enough leftover food that is used for fish. Additionally, they will eat dead or overgrown plants, collect small algae on the surface of glass, decor and leaves. But for large inhabitants, this is clearly not enough. They need to be fed abundantly. What to feed aquarium snails? You can put lettuce leaves, scalded pieces of carrots or zucchini, fish caviar, chopped duckweed, scalded cyclops in the aquarium.

Lifespan

It is important to know how long aquarium snails of different species live. So, for example, snails with the right temperature regime live for about four years. But if the temperature is exceeded, then the mollusk will live much less. Approximately the same lifespan for coils and physical.

Brothia pagoda will live in the aquarium for no more than six months. This adds complexity to the maintenance of the species, as it will have to be updated frequently (the offspring of these mollusks usually do not survive).

Population control

Species that reproduce rapidly should definitely be controlled. Aquarium owners use several methods for this:

1. Reducing feed supply. However, this method may lead to increased plant feeding or cannibalism of certain species (helena).
2. Collecting with net or hands. Although this method is not very effective, since it is quite difficult to notice and collect the "trifle".
3. Salad and vegetable method. To do this, a scalded plate of zucchini or a lettuce leaf is placed at the bottom of the aquarium. Leave the bait onnight, and in the morning they are taken out of the aquarium along with the snails.
4. Helen's accommodation. This method allows you to control the number of small snails, despite the fact that predatory helens themselves are not able to reproduce quickly.
5. Chemicals. Special "chemistry" against snails is sold in pet stores. But it's rather inconvenient to use. Fish and plants should be moved to another tank, and all elements will have to be thoroughly washed. The container itself, lighting equipment and filters will also require sanitization.

Benefits and harms

Snails should be treated the same as other inhabitants of the aquarium. The benefits and harms of aquarium snails are often greatly exaggerated. This is especially true for the latter. Yes, they eat dead plants, food leftovers, and fish excrement, but their own excrement increases the organic content of the tank. Large individuals can break delicate plants, which, no doubt, is very disappointing. But aquarium snails will not do more harm.

Remember, you can not put snails from local reservoirs in the aquarium! They can do great harm. And the point is not only that they will eat tender aquarium vegetation at the root. Together with pond snails, pearlworts and meadow grasses, diseases and parasites enter the aquarium, which are dangerous not only for fish, but also for humans.