Common apple snails (Pomacea bridgesii) are an excellent choice for the average tropical aquarium

This species will not eat aquarium plants and will help to keep the algae levels down in the aquarium.  They are peaceful inhabitant and easy to keep.  This species has separate sexes, thus one snail on its own will not be able to reproduce in captivity (a male and female are required to mate.)

Maximum size - 1.5 inches in diameter

Feeding - Algae, sinking pellets, cooked leafy green vegetables

Health Additives - SnailStrong Liquid Calcium.

pH 7.0 - 8.5 (less than 7.0 and shells corrode)

Temperature Tolerance - 18-28 Degrees Celcius

Preferable Temperature of 24-26 Degrees Celcius

Stocking rate - One snail per 2.5 gallons

Do NOT keep snails with loaches (sucking loaches are ok), pufferfish, crabs, crayfish or large aggressive fish as they will kill snails.

Did you know?

• Apple snails have both a lung and a gill used to obtain oxygen. 
• Apple snails can cruise upside down under the surface film of the water. 
• The apple snail family contains the largest freshwater snail species in the world!
• Apple snails have a snorkel-like tube called a siphon which they use to suck atmospheric air into their gill chamber.
• Apple snails use smell more than sight to locate their food
• Apple snails have a trapdoor at the opening of their shell called an operculum.
• The teeth of an apple snail is know as the radula.
• Apple snails can catch food floating on the waters' surface by making a funnel with their foot!
• Apple snails can become tame pets, accepting food from their owners hand.
• Apple snails love to play in airstone bubbles!

Further information

Apple snails are a large family of aquatic snails native to South America, Africa and India. Some of these species have become very popular additions to aquaria in recent years.

Apple snails come in a wide variety of shapes and colours. From pink striped Pomacea bridgesii to the Giant Apple snails which can grow as big as a cricket ball!

Apple snails have certain characteristics exclusive to this family. They have a trapdoor known as the operculum cover at the entrance to their shells. This enables the snails to keep out predators but also acts as a water tight seal during times of drought in their natural habitat.

Apple snails also have a lung and a gill. This enables them to take oxygen from both the water and atmospheric air. Apple snails are often a good indicator of low oxygen levels in an aquarium. They will climb to the waters surface and suck in air through the siphon when oxygen levels are low.

Several species of apple snail will NOT eat aquarium plants. These snails include Pomacea bridgesii, the common apple snail and Asolene spixi, the rare spixi apple snail. Both of these species are highly coloured and make a superb addition to a planted aquarium. Whilst they do not eat live plants, apple snails will relish algae in the aquarium and help to keep leaves and ornaments clean.