13 Best Types of Freshwater Aquarium Snails

If you are an aquarium enthusiast and love keeping fish as pets, you should be quite familiar with freshwater aquarium snails. You could be someone who loathes them, as certain species act as pests and intruders in an aquarium, just like weeds do in a garden, or you could be someone who might be intrigued and fascinated by them.

No matter what you think of freshwater snails, it’s likely a good idea to buy some for your aquarium. Despite popular belief, not all species of snails are actually bad for your aquarium. They are wonderful creatures that can help you actually keep your tank clean and save your equipment. They feed on organic matter, help keep the substrate fresh, and prevent the production of anaerobic gasses that can be detrimental to the health of the fish in the tank.

Plus, there are many different colorful species with gorgeous patterns and different shapes. They can be kept as pets on their own or as tank mates that can coexist with a variety of fish and invertebrates while keeping the aquarium spotless.

However, it is also true that some snail species reproduce rapidly, crowd the tank and eat up the aquarium plants. Therefore, it is essential to know the different types of freshwater aquarium snails that are best suited for your tank and those that would make great pets without causing chaos.

So, let’s get straight to it!

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Smartest choices for freshwater aquarium snails

Here are some smart choices you can look at when it comes to purchasing freshwater aquarium snails for your tank:

Mystery snails

• Scientific name: Pomacea bridgesii, Pomacea diffusa, P. diffusa
• Types/other names: Inca snails, apple snails
• Species: P. bridgesii
• Colors: White, golden, red, blue, green, brown, black, purple
• Size of full-grown adult: 1.5 inches in diameter
• Life span: 3 to 4 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, mate often and for up to 1-6 hours at a time
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables
• Lowest tank size: 5 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 20°-28°C

Mystery snails are most popular for their vibrant colors and gorgeous shell patterns. They are a type of apple snails that are easy to take care of, and you don’t have to worry about their compatibility with other fish living in the tank. Not only are these snails super compatible, but they’re also very low maintenance.

These freshwater aquarium snails help clean up the tank and create a healthy water environment for other fish by eating up all kinds of debris, rotten plants, and leftover fish food.

It is easy to prevent them from reproducing rapidly and creating a nuisance. You need two snails of the opposite sex for breeding to take place, and even when that happens, you will see bright pink eggs deposited on the waterline. This makes them fairly easy to remove with frequent observation, and prevents crowding in the tank.

Nerite snails

• Scientific name: Neritina spp.
• Types/other names: Zebra nerite (Neritina natalensis), tiger nerite (Vittina Semiconica), horned nerite (Clithon corona/Diadema)
• Species: Nerite snails
• Colors: Black, dark brown, dark green, olive green, tan, golden, and reddish-brown
• Size of full-grown adult: 1.5 inches in diameter
• Life span: 3 to 5 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, and mating happens under specific conditions
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched veggies
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 22°-26°C

Nerite snails have 3 popular types: tiger nerite, zebra nerite, and horned nerite. Thesefreshwater aquarium snails help keep the fish tank clean by eating up leftover food, dead plants, and algae. And, although they mate fast when both genders are present, their larvae only hatch in brackish water.

Zebra nerites have beautiful stripes, tiger nerites have gorgeous spot-like patterns, and horned nerites have tiny horns. These can thrive well in sandy substrate, and their waste contains bacteria that are super beneficial to the digestive tract of shrimps.

Gold Inca snails

• Scientific name: Pomacea bridgesii, Pomacea diffusa, P. diffusa
• Types/other names: Mystery snails
• Species: Apple snails/mystery snails
• Colors: Deep yellow and gold
• Size of full-grown adult: 1 inch in diameter
• Life span: 3 to 4 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables
• Lowest tank size: 5 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 20°-28°C

The gold Inca snail is a type of mystery snail that behaves exactly like any other mystery snail type. What makes this snail really stand out is its golden, beautiful shell. These snails are easy to spot in the aquarium and add gorgeous contrast and color to any tank.

These are small snails that can peacefully live with all kinds of fish in a small tank.

Japanese trapdoor snails

• Scientific name: Cipangopaludina japonica
• Types/other names: Chinese mystery snails
• Species: C. Chinensis
• Colors: Black, tan, golden, green, cream
• Size of full-grown adult: 2 inches in diameter
• Life span: 5 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, and mating occursevery few weeks
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables
• Lowest tank size: 15 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 18°-29°C

Japanese trapdoor snails have unique shells. The twisted cone-like shell looks like a swirl of cream on an ice-cream cone. Each swirl makes the shell look larger as they progress. They classify as bigger snails, and their size can reach up to 2 inches in diameter in their adult stage.

They live longer than other snails and are usually quite active, even around nighttime. If they are kept well-fed, they will help keep your tank clean by eating up dead debris.

However, it is important to ensure they have enough dead matter to feed on, as well as leftover fish food, as they might attack healthy plants if they feel hungry. Mating can be avoided as long as both genders are not present in the same tank.

Rabbit snails

• Scientific name: Tylomelania sp.
• Types/other names: Elephant snails
• Species: Sulawesi snails
• Colors: Orange, yellow, gold, spotted, black, brown
• Size of full-grown adult: 1 to 4 inches in diameter
• Life span: 3 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, and mating occursat a 1.5-inch size
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables, fish waste
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 23°-29°C

This species of freshwater aquarium snail is quite peculiar looking. Although they come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors, the unique thing about these snails is their rabbit-like faces. These snails can grow to become massive compared to other snails, as they can reach up to 4 inches in diameter. They are interesting as they seem to drag their shell along as they move.

Both the male and female are required for mating, but they look exactly the same, so it is difficult to tell them apart. As long as you take good care of them, they will help keep your fish tank clean and will take care of algae.

Black devil snails

• Scientific name: Faunus ater
• Types/other names: Lava snails
• Species: Faunus snails
• Colors: Chocolate brown, glossy black
• Size of full-grown adult: 3.5 inches in diameter
• Life span: 6 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, and mating occurswhen they grow to about1.5 inches
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables, small plants
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 22°-26°C

These snails are completely black or chocolate brown in color. Their cone-shaped shell has faint lines that run on the shell in spirals. Although they grow larger than other snails, they are not as slow in movement as rabbit snails.

If there is enough algae around then they won’t destroy aquatic plants, but they might do so if they are not full, so you need to be careful. Apart from that, they are great pets and tank cleaners. Their eggs can only hatch in brackish water, so overpopulation shouldn’t generally be an issue.

Assassin snails

• Scientific name: Clea Helena
• Types/other names: Bumblebee snail
• Species: A. Helena
• Colors: Gold color with dark brown stripes
• Size of full-grown adult: 1 to 3 inches in diameter
• Life span: 2 years
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required. Mating is frequent, but only one egg is produced each time
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Fish flakes, worms, dead invertebrates, other snails
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 24°-28°C

Assassin snails stand out amongst all other snails because they are carnivorous by nature. They are predators and scavengers, and feed on protein-rich matter rather than plant-based residue. Unlike herbivorous snails, they tend to hunt for other snails and look around for dead fish matter.

They don’t eat their own kind, but they will gladly hunt down pests flooding your tank. They are both beautiful in the way they hunt and also in the way they look!

Ivory snail

• Scientific name: Pomacea bridgesii, Pomacea diffusa, P. diffusa
• Types/other names: Ivory white mystery snails
• Species: P. bridgesii
• Colors: Off-white/creamy
• Size of full-grown adult: 3inches in diameter
• Life span: 1 year
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Breeding: Both genders required, mate often and for up to 1-6 hours at a time
• Management level: Basic
• Nourishment: Certain algae, rotten plants, leftover fish food, blanched vegetables
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 20°-28°C

Ivory snails are known to be super active and agile during adequate daylight, but they tend to rest during nighttime. They like to hide near plants and behind rocks when dormant.

Ivory snails are friendly creatures that do not attack plant life or other fish. They will stay in your tank and clean algae, leftover food, and decaying plants.

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Risky choices for freshwater aquarium snails

Here are a few riskier choices for freshwater aquarium snails that do make great pets, but also come with their own set of cons:

Apple snails

• Scientific name: Ampullariidae
• Types/other names: Ivory white mystery snails
• Species: Ampullariidae
• Colors: Golden, ivory, black, blue, white, purple
• Size of full-grown adult: 2 to 6inches in diameter
• Life span: 3 years
• Temperament: Aggressive towards plants
• Breeding: Asexual reproduction
• Management level: Difficult
• Nourishment: Cucumber, spinach, carrots, lettuce, fish food, dead fish, other snails, and their eggs, algae, brine shrimps
• Lowest tank size: 10 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 18°-28°C

Apple snails are not very suitable for people that love their aquatic plants. They also destroy equipment once they start reproducing rapidly. Although they are uniquely colored, with round shells and are interesting to watch, in large numbers they can overpopulate your tank and make life difficult for other critters.

Apple snails also reproduce asexually, which means only a single snail can destroy your tank if you are unable to take good care of it.

Bladder snails

• Scientific name: Physella acuta
• Types/other names: European physa, tadpole snail, bladder snail, and acute bladder snail
• Species: P. acuta
• Colors: Muddy brown color
• Size of full-grown adult: 0.6inches in diameter
• Life span: 2 years
• Temperament: Produce tons of waste
• Breeding: Asexual and sexual reproduction
• Management level: Difficult
• Nourishment: Plants, algae, meat, insects, and rotten vegetables
• Lowest tank size: 1 gallon
• Preferable temperature: 0°-33°C

Bladder snails are omnivorous and eat both protein and plant-based matter. They can easily destroy aquatic plants, and reproduce rapidly through either asexual or natural reproduction. These snails also produce a lot of waste, which breaks down into ammonia and nitrates and destroys the tank’s pH balance. In large numbers, they destroy the tank, equipment, and filters.

Ramshorn snails

• Scientific name: Planorbidae
• Types/other names: Ram’s horn snail
• Species: Planorbarius corneus
• Colors: Black, red, copper, pink, blue
• Size of full-grown adult: 0.25 to 1 inch in diameter
• Life span: 1 year
• Temperament: Ferocious plant eaters
• Breeding: Hermaphrodites
• Management level: Difficult
• Nourishment: Small plants, algae, leftover fish food, dead fish
• Lowest tank size: 5 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 21°-25°C

Ramshorn snails are small freshwater aquarium snails that have a ferocious appetite for plants and algae. They consume leftover fish food and general waste, and can multiply rapidly. Even a single snail can overpopulate your tank in just a short amount of time.

However, their horn-like shell might be an attraction to some aquarists, and you may want to keep them as pets if you can care for them.

Trumpet snails

• Scientific name: Melanoides tuberculata
• Types/other names: Malaysian trumpet snail
• Species: Melanoides
• Colors: Brown, gray, white
• Size of full-grown adult: 0.8 to 1.5 inches in diameter
• Life span: 1 year
• Temperament: Reproduce rapidly
• Breeding: Hermaphrodites
• Management level: Difficult
• Nourishment: Small plants, algae, leftover fish food, dead fish
• Lowest tank size: 5 gallons
• Preferable temperature: 18°-30°C

Trumpet snails are best known for their conical shell that resembles that of a unicorn. Although they are pretty to look at, with all kinds of stripy patterns, they are a great threat to your tank once they start reproducing.

Both genders are not required to reproduce; as each snail has both male and female organs. They can keep your tank clean only if you can manage them well, or else overpopulation will cause chaos.

Pond snails

• Scientific name: Lymnaea stagnalis
• Types/other names: The Great Pond snail, The Giant Pond snail
• Species: Lymnaeidae
• Colors: Yellow to brown
• Size of full-grown adult: 1 to 3 inches in diameter
• Life span: 3 years
• Temperament: Reproduce rapidly
• Breeding: Both sexual and asexual
• Management level: Difficult
• Nourishment: Small plants, algae, leftover fish food, dead fish
• Lowest tank size: 1 gallon
• Preferable temperature: 0°-33°C

Pond snails can survive in extreme conditions that might kill other fish and invertebrates. They can reproduce both asexually and sexually, which makes it easy for them to overpopulate any place. They can easily thrive in a small pond or tank, and are able to eat up both plant-based and protein matter. If not taken care of, these may get into your biofilters and destroy your equipment slowly.

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FAQ

Are snails good for your fish tank?

Yes, and no. Snails are good for your tank if they do not reproduce rapidly. Snails that produce sexually are great for this, as they do not crowd your tank and can even help keep your tank clean by eating up dead matter, algae, and other debris. Hermaphrodites snails may make great pets only if you are able to control them and are willing to put in the effort to avoid overpopulation.

Can snails live in freshwater aquarium?

Yes, snails can survive in your freshwater aquarium as long as the pH levels and temperature are within suitable ranges. It’s also essential to make sure they have the food they need to survive around them. Different snails feed on different matter, so make sure to do your research before buying a particular type.

Is it bad to have a lot of snails in the fish tank?

Mostly, yes. Unless you can take care of it, a tank with a ton of snails does not create a suitable environment for the fish and invertebrates living in it. Moreover, an overabundance of snails may damage your filter, eat aquatic plants, and slowly destroy other equipment through overcrowding.

How did a snail get in my fish tank?

Unless you put them there yourself, there are a ton of ways a snail can suddenly appear in your aquarium. Most snail eggs are usually transparent, so they might have stuck to plants and decoration you may have recently put in your tank.

How long do aquarium snails live?

All types of snails have different lifespans, with their age generally not going past 5 years. Some may even live for only a year, whilst others may survive about two to three years.

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Conclusion

You now know the different types of snail you can keep as a pet in your freshwater aquarium. It is up to you to decide whether these will work as pets or pests for your fish tank. The best part is that there are tons of types that only help create a cleaner fish tank environment and also do not reproduce rapidly.

Plus, you can pick ones that you really adore. Snails come in so many shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns that there’s no shortage of options. Some are slower, while others are a bit more agile. Some are carnivorous, some omnivores, and some are completely herbivorous.

You can pick one that best suits the environment already present in your fish tank. Make sure to check if your snails and fish are compatible. You also need to pick snails that will clean up the waste in your tank efficiently. For example, snails that do not feed on protein-based matter are useless in your tank if your tank ends up with a lot of dead matter instead.

You can also keep a few different types of snails in one fish tank once you do your research. We really hope this article helps you narrow down your favorites. Good luck!