2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Not only fish are kept in home aquariums. No less popular are water snails, which delight the eye with a variety of shapes and colors of shells. The Devil's Thorn snail has recently begun to gain popularity among aquarists. This is an unpretentious and hardy species, which attracts with its considerable size and beautiful shell shape. Consider the appearance and natural habitat of the Devil's Thorn snail, maintenance and care.
General information and appearance
There is no reliable information about where the name of this type of snail came from. The "thorn" probably indicates the shape of the shell. "Devil" can also indicate a truly terrible smell that comes from these mollusks after death. Faunus lava snail is the only member of the Faunus genus. These snails thrive in both s alt and fresh water. They do not require difficult conditions, and they are easy to get, which is why they have become popular among aquarists.
Sink color can vary from dark brown to black. The shell has an elongated conical shape. It is glossy and smooth, has no protrusions. The shell of an adult can reach a height of 6-7 cm, a width of 2 cm. With age, the color may become lighter due to small scratches and damage to the upper layer. The shell of an adult snail can have 20 spirals. The body of the snail is marbled, yellow and orange in color depending on its habitat.
Features of behavior
Devil's Thorn Snails are a rather calm and friendly species. They like to dig the substrate, so you should not make it a large layer in the aquarium. When next to fish, they can get nervous and hide in the ground, they get along well with other peaceful snails. They like to climb quite high on the glass, and therefore break down. Therefore, you should be careful with the scenery. Devil's Thorn snails are of considerable size, and therefore, if they fall from a decent height onto a stone, they can seriously damage the shell. These snails can be used to clean tanks as they feed on algae and rotting plants.
Natural habitat
In nature, Devil's Thorn snails are common in the archipelago and on some islands in the Western Pacific. This species has been seen in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and western Sri Lanka. This species lives in the mouths and lower reaches of freshwater rivers, which border on brackish reservoirs, in s alty ponds and ditches. In Thailand, snails have been found in small brackishlakes, streams and lagoons. In Java, this species has been observed in small silty pools that fill with fresh water at high tide. In the Philippines, the Devil's Thorn was caught at a depth of 1-1.5 m in a brackish lake. You can find a snail on sandy mounds and on rocky ledges.
Contents
The Devil's Thorn Snail is picky at home, but in order for it not to constantly burrow into the substrate, it is worth providing it with optimal conditions for existence. The water temperature should be 25-28 degrees. It depends on the temperature how long the snails live. Some studies show that the higher the ambient temperature, the shorter the life of the snail, so you should not greatly exceed the optimal temperature. Acidity - pH 7, 0-8, 7, hardness dH 5-20. These are large snails, so a small aquarium is not suitable for them. Algae should be planted at the bottom, but they should be in moderation. Avoid overcrowding the aquarium. You can add other non-predatory snails and shrimps to the Devil's Spike. The water should be brackish: add 1 tablespoon of sea s alt to 3 liters of water, although this species can live in fresh water.
Snails feed on algae and decaying plants, they need to be given vegetables: cucumbers, zucchini, zucchini, lettuce. They can eat fish food. They can damage the delicate plants that grow in the aquarium, but they are excellent substrate cleaners. Care must be taken with medicines, dressings, decorations and plants that contain copper andcopper sulfate. It is deadly for shellfish. You need to know exactly the composition of the item that you lower into the aquarium with snails.
How long do snails live? In a home aquarium, the Devil's Thorn can live 5-6 years.
Reproduction
These snails are not hermaphrodites, unlike most other types of snails. They do not have sexual dimorphism, therefore it is impossible to distinguish a male from a female. These are viviparous snails. To achieve their reproduction in captivity is almost impossible. The larvae of these snails need brackish seawater to develop or die.
Thus, Devil's Thorn snails are quite popular among aquarists. They stand out for their large size, ease of maintenance and interesting appearance. The only problem that an aquarist may encounter when keeping this species is reproduction. Although it is believed that reproduction of these snails in captivity is impossible, under conditions as close to natural as possible, it is possible to breed this species.
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