Marbled Limpet Nerite Snail
Septaria porcellana
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 2–3.3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 30 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Species profile
Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Melanoides tuberculata
Common names: Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Recognized speciesTrumpet Snails
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Beginner shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A small burrowing livebearing snail that aerates loose substrate and can reproduce rapidly when food is abundant.
Appearance and Identification
Long narrow conical shell with brown, tan, grey, or patterned coloration and multiple whorls.
Melanoides tuberculata is commonly introduced with plants or substrate. Similar trumpet-shaped snails may require closer examination for reliable identification.
External sex differences are subtle or unreliable without species-specific examination.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 30–50 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 25–50 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 15 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 30 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 5
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily 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
This adaptable snail performs best in mineralized, non-acidic water. Population growth usually reflects food availability rather than water temperature alone.
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.
Control population growth by controlling excess food rather than relying on starvation or chemical treatments.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Livebearer, Parthenogenetic
- Breeding difficulty
- Very easy
- Breeding temperature
- 25 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.8
- Brood or egg count
- Live young released periodically
- Incubation
- 28 days
- Parental care
- Maternal care
- Baby foods
- Mature biofilm and fine natural foodsProvide stable grazing surfaces suitable for juveniles or hatchlings.
Livebearing species capable of parthenogenetic reproduction. Populations expand rapidly when excess food and detritus are available.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Asia
- Natural habitat
- Lake, Pond, River, Wetland
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Community, Planted Tank, Snail Tank
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Melanoides
- Family
- Thiaridae
- Species group
- Trumpet Snails
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- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 1.5–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 10 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
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- Care level
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- Adult size
- 1.2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
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- Care level
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- Adult size
- 6–10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C