Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Melanoides tuberculata
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 2–4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 litres
- Temperature
- 20–29 °C
Species profile
Black Devil Snail
Faunus ater
Common names: Black Devil Snail, Devil Spike Snail, Cappuccino Snail
Recognized speciesDevil Spike Snails
Adult size
Up to 9 cm
Typical adult length 6–9 cm.
Up to 9 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A large dark, spike-shelled snail that grazes algae and detritus and has an amphidromous life history.
Appearance and Identification
Long, heavy conical shell that is dark brown to almost black, often becoming worn or lighter near the apex.
Faunus ater is sold under Black Devil, Devil Spike, and Cappuccino snail names. It is not a rabbit snail despite a superficially similar elongated shell.
External sex differences are subtle or unreliable without species-specific examination.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 240–300 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–100 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 60 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 60 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide stable water, mineral availability for shell growth, secure décor, and enough natural grazing surface.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful freshwater snail that spends much of its time grazing or searching for food.
Usually non-territorial and may be kept singly or with compatible conspecifics when food and space are adequate.
Not normally territorial.
Suitable with peaceful tankmates that do not nip, crush, or prey on snails.
Water Parameters
Maintain alkaline, mineral-rich water to protect the shell. Adults tolerate freshwater, but successful reproduction usually requires brackish conditions.
Parameter caveat
Stable conditions are more important than chasing exact numbers.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Algae Grazer, Detritivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Mature biofilmPrimary natural grazing resource.
- Algae-based sinking foodSupplement when natural growth is insufficient.
- Softened vegetables or complete snail foodFeed in small amounts and remove leftovers.
Omnivorous grazer and detritivore. Supplement natural biofilm and algae with appropriate sinking foods.
Avoid overfeeding; excess food can cause rapid snail population growth and poor water quality.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Brackish Larval Stage, Larval Development
- Breeding difficulty
- Very difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 25 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.6
- Brood or egg count
- Numerous small eggs or larvae
- Incubation
- 28 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Mature biofilm and fine natural foodsProvide stable grazing surfaces suitable for juveniles or hatchlings.
Larvae require downstream or brackish conditions, so normal freshwater aquarium reproduction is uncommon.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Australia, Indo-Pacific, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand
- Natural habitat
- Brackish Water, Estuary, River
- Aquarium contexts
- Brackish Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Snail Tank
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Faunus
- Family
- Pachychilidae
- Species group
- Devil Spike Snails
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- Adult size
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- Minimum tank
- 30 litres
- Temperature
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- Care level
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- Adult size
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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- Care level
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- Adult size
- 1.2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 litres
- Temperature
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