Not everyone is a fan of snails, but there’s no denying the benefits they bring to a freshwater aquarium. Aquatic snails are fascinating creatures that bring color to a tank and help keep it clean. Each species has different care needs, so it’s crucial to do your research before introducing snails to a tank. Some snails breed quickly and can overrun a tank if you don’t keep them in check.
If you want to know more, dive into the list below of the best snails for a freshwater tank.
1. Assassin Snails Don’t Overpopulate
Kicking off our list of the best snails for a freshwater tank is the assassin snail. It looks as dangerous as it sounds, with a black and yellow striped, wasp-like shell. These little guys are aptly named because they are carnivorous and will prey on smaller creatures. As gruesome as this sounds, they are a fantastic solution for controlling aquarium snail populations.
Assassin snails have an elongated shell, grow to 1.25 inches, and greatly enhance fishtank decoration. They burrow under the substrate and emerge if there is food around. Assassin snails feed on pest snails and organic waste on the tank floor. If there are no pest snails for them to eat, you must supplement their diet with high-protein food.
Assassins are gonochoristic, meaning you need males and females to breed them. You should buy a small, mixed group of males and females if you want them to reproduce. Assassins only lay a few eggs at a time, which take eight or nine weeks to hatch, so they have a low risk of overpopulating your tank.
2. Malaysian Trumpet Snails Can Clean Tanks
The Malaysian trumpet snail is loved and loathed by aquarium owners. This distinctive, elongated snail is one of the most beneficial tank cleaners but is a prolific breeder. Trumpet snails are impossible to eliminate when they populate a tank. The females can produce female babies without mating and give birth to live snails that will quickly overrun an aquarium.
Many people keep Malaysian trumpets because they are incredible scavengers. They burrow under the substrate, aerating and enriching it, making it better for live plants. They don’t eat the greenery and will vacuum up debris from the tank floor. This diet is usually substantial enough for them to thrive. Along with routine maintenance, adding tank-cleaning creatures, like snails, is one of the best ways to fix a cloudy fish tank.
Malaysian trumpets grow to three inches long, are salt-tolerant, and incredibly hardy. They are perfect for beginners – if they take appropriate population control measures. Alongside essential cleaning tasks for an aquarium, you must regularly vacuum the substrate or introduce a predator snail such as the assassin.
3. Mystery Snails Are Peaceful Creatures
One of the most popular snails on our list is the mystery snail. They can grow up to 2.5 inches long, come in many colors, and are widely available in pet stores. The mystery snail is favored because it will brighten up a tank with striking yellow, blue, purple, and magenta colors. They are also active, entertaining, and fantastic scavengers, so they will noticeably assist with tank cleaning.
Mystery snails are peaceful creatures and live for up to four years. If you want a dedicated freshwater tank cleaner, these scavengers feast on algae and dead plant matter to keep the environment clean. They can breathe out of the water, meaning they will venture out of the tank, so you must have a lid.
Mystery snails breed but are easy to control because the female lays eggs on the water surface so you can remove them. You need males and females to breed – and eggs take two or three weeks to hatch.
4. Nerite Snails Eat Decaying Matter
The nerite snail is one of the most distinctive on our list and looks perfect alongside other unique aquatic fish creatures in your aquarium. There are numerous varieties, all with striking colors and patterns, including the zebra, tiger, and red racer. Nerite snails are excellent scavengers and will eat almost anything that lands at the bottom of the tank. They are also some of the best algae eaters – and will even eat green spot algae. They usually survive by foraging, but you must supplement their diet if there isn’t enough algae in the tank.
Nerite snails live for up to four years and will grow up to 1.5 inches. They are hardy, have a high salt tolerance, and don’t overbreed, making them excellent for beginners. These snails lay eggs that don’t hatch in freshwater so they won’t overpopulate. Nerite snails like to explore, so you must have a lid. They are pretty, peaceful creatures that make a striking addition to a freshwater tank.
5. Rabbit Snails Are Excellent Scavengers
The final entry on our list is the eye-catching rabbit snail. They have a brown or black shell, distinctive antennae, and usually a strikingly colorful body. These guys are super distinctive due to their size and appearance – they can grow up to five inches long. Due to their size, you need a minimum 20-gallon tank to keep them in. Rabbit snails are relaxed and peaceful, but active and curious, so they are a pleasure to watch. There’s no denying that watching aquariums can reduce stress, and the unique rabbit snail will add to the calm ambience.
Rabbit snails are excellent scavengers and will eat any tank debris and algae. They may eat aquarium plants if there isn’t enough to forage on. If this happens, you must supplement their diet with algae wafers and blanched veggies.
Rabbit snails like warm temperatures, and you may need a fish tank water heater. If you want them to reproduce, you need males and females. They give birth to one live snail every two months.
