Mystery Snail

One or two snails suit a minimum of about 20 litres, with 40 litres or more for a small group. A tight-fitting lid is essential, along with a 2 to 4 cm air gap between the water surface and the lid, because they breathe air at the surface and are notorious for climbing out. Filter the tank and plant it freely, since they leave healthy live plants alone.

Mystery snails are omnivorous scavengers that eat algae, biofilm, and leftover food, but they should not be relied on to survive on scraps alone. Offer blanched vegetables such as zucchini or spinach, sinking algae wafers, and calcium-rich foods to support shell growth. Overfeeding fouls the water, so feed modest amounts.

Keep the water at 20 to 28 C with pH 7.0 to 8.0 and moderately hard, calcium-rich water, because soft or acidic water erodes and pits their shells. Provide extra calcium via cuttlebone or a mineral supplement to keep shells smooth and strong. The tank must be cycled with ammonia at 0 and nitrite at 0 and nitrate low. Dechlorinate tap water with a copper-free conditioner, as snails are invertebrates and sensitive to copper, and change about 25 percent weekly.

Mystery snails are peaceful and can live alone or in groups, and they make excellent companions for community fish and shrimp. Avoid snail-eating tankmates such as loaches, pufferfish, and some cichlids, which will harass or kill them.

Surfaces to graze, driftwood, smooth rocks, and plants give them plenty to explore, and they clearly enjoy climbing the glass and gliding back down. A calcium source doubles as enrichment and shell care.