Apple Snail	Return to Aquarium page
Scientific Name	Pomacea bridgesii, Pomacea canaliculata, others
Common Name	Apple Snail, Mystery Snail
Origin	South America
Adult Size	1 - 3 inches
Temperature	68 - 85°F
pH	6.5 - 7.5
Hardness	Not critical
Notes	There are several species of snails sold as Apple Snails or Mystery Snails, and there are some differences between them that you may find important. For example, I have one that I believe is a true Pomacea bridgesii in my planted tank. It cruises around eating the debris, but never seems to bother the live plants at all. I have two others that are Pomacea canaliculata and they are like one-footed lawnmowers, capable of wreaking serious havoc in my planted tank. For very thorough information on these snails, go to www.applesnail.net, where you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about them. The Pomacea bridgesii in the middle picture has serious shell damage, because of an injury to its mantle that it received before I got it. The snail itself is quite healthy, and the mantle seems to have mended, with new shell growth being much more solid and clean. I'm expecting that sooner or later I may have to do some shell maintenance, to try to strengthen the damaged areas with an epoxy. The bottom photo is of a Pomacea canaliculata laying eggs. Notice the cream color of the new eggs, compared to the salmon color of the other clutch, which was layed about four days earlier.
© 2003 by Eric Schreiber	Return to Aquarium page