Wandering Snail
Ampullaceana balthica
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 1.2–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Species profile
Ramshorn Snail
Planorbella duryi
Common names: Ramshorn Snail
Recognized speciesRamshorn Snails
Adult size
Up to 3 cm
Typical adult length 1.5–3 cm.
Up to 3 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Beginner shrimp keepers
- Peaceful nano aquariums
- Breeding colonies
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
A common aquarium ramshorn available in numerous red, pink, blue, brown, and patterned colour forms.
Appearance and Identification
Flat planispiral shell with visible coiling; captive colour varieties include brown, red, pink, blue, and leopard-patterned forms.
Planorbella duryi is a common aquarium ramshorn, but other planorbid snails can look similar. Exact species identification may require shell and anatomical details.
External sex differences are subtle or unreliable without species-specific examination.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 20–30 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 25–50 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 10 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 20 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- 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
Keep in neutral to alkaline water with adequate calcium for shell growth. Numbers can increase quickly when excess food is available.
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
- Direct Developer, Egg Layer
- Breeding difficulty
- Very easy
- Breeding temperature
- 23 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.5
- Brood or egg count
- Small gelatinous egg clutch
- Incubation
- 14 days
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Mature biofilm and fine natural foodsProvide stable grazing surfaces suitable for juveniles or hatchlings.
Hermaphroditic egg layer that deposits clear gelatinous egg masses on plants, glass, and décor. Reproduction accelerates when food is abundant.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- North America, United States
- Natural habitat
- Pond, Slow River, Wetland
- Aquarium contexts
- Freshwater Community, Nano Aquarium, Planted Tank, Snail Tank
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Planorbella
- Family
- Planorbidae
- Species group
- Ramshorn Snails
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White Hercules Snail
Brotia herculea
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6–10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
White Wizard Snail
Filopaludina martensi
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 4–6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 75 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Assassin Snail
Anentome helena
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 1.5–3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C