White Hercules Snail
Brotia herculea
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6–10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Wandering Snail
Ampullaceana balthica
Common names: Wandering Snail
Recognized speciesPond Snails
Adult size
Up to 3 cm
Typical adult length 1.2–3 cm.
Up to 3 cm
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 European pond snail that grazes biofilm, algae, and decaying organic material in cool freshwater habitats.
Appearance and Identification
Thin brown to amber shell with a broad final whorl and a pointed spire; soft body is grey to dark brown.
Ampullaceana balthica has also been widely published under Radix balthica. Pond snails can be difficult to identify from photographs alone.
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
- 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
Maintain neutral to alkaline, mineralized water to support shell health. Secure openings because this active snail may travel above the waterline.
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
- Easy
- Breeding temperature
- 19.5 °C
- Breeding pH
- 7.5
- Brood or egg count
- Gelatinous egg mass
- 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 gelatinous egg masses on plants and hard surfaces.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Europe, Palearctic
- Natural habitat
- Lake, Pond, Slow River, Wetland
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Tank, Snail Tank, Temperate Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Ampullaceana
- Family
- Lymnaeidae
- Species group
- Pond Snails
- Previous scientific names
- Radix balthica, Widely used former generic combination.
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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
Black Devil Snail
Faunus ater
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6–9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C