Telling difference between ramshorn snail and mystery snail?

**wshyang** · 7th Dec 2013, 22:34

Hi all!

I've been wanting to start growing some snails in our fish tank, so I went by the C328 and bought a bag of these round black snails.

Only after I've set them loose in the tank did I start wondering about what type of snails they are. They are fairly large in size snails (not the small trumpet snails) with this little twirl that sticks outwards from its centre. Is it a mystery snail or a ramshorn snail?

**lucasjiang** · 7th Dec 2013, 22:56

Im not very sure without a picture, anyway it sounds like either mystery snails or trapdoor snails. Ramshorn snails wont grow large.

**wshyang** · 8th Dec 2013, 07:56

I'll try to snag a photo somehow, only have a phone camera that doesn't seem to work too well on aquarium photos!

**citvengen** · 9th Dec 2013, 09:53

I took 2 ramshorn snails from my friend's tank.. Just over the wkend, I found my Duckweeds were partially chewed up by them.
so guys beware, they like to eat greeennnn..

**Trichopsis** · 9th Dec 2013, 22:36

Here are some webpages with photos to help you. Some of the species depicted in this shell collector's website are found locally, so this should help you in identifying many of the snails that we're likely to encounter as feeder snails or occurring naturally in our reservoirs, ponds, drains, and other water bodies

Ramshorn snails (Family Planorbidae)
http://www.seashellhub.com/Planorbidae.html

Comes in very small (shell width 3mm in Gyraulus) and medium sizes (shell width 12-13mm in Indoplanorbis). You might experience a population boom if left unchecked in your aquarium, although I find that any damage to plants is easily manageable if the plants are already healthy and well-established. Eggs are laid in a transparent gelatinous mass, stuck to surfaces such as plants, rocks, or aquarium glass.

Trapdoor or river snails (Family Viviparidae)
http://www.seashellhub.com/Viviparidae.html

Medium-sized (shell height 20-40 mm), grazes on detritus and algae and filter-feeds as well. I find these snails to be generally plant-safe. Young snails are brooded in a pouch in the body until they are released as miniature juveniles. Plant-safe, although their size might damage very small or more delicate plants.

Mystery or apple snails (Family Ampullariidae)
http://www.seashellhub.com/Ampullariidae.html

Large to very large (shell height 40mm to 100mm), definitely not plant-safe. Egg masses are laid above the water surface, cemented to emergent plants or rocks.