Japanese Trapdoor Snail

About

The Japanese trapdoor snail is a large, cold-hardy freshwater snail from East Asia, prized as a peaceful algae grazer for ponds and unheated aquariums. It carries a rounded, olive-brown shell sealed by a horny operculum — the 'trapdoor' — which it pulls shut for protection. Fully aquatic and undemanding, it tolerates everything from near-freezing pond water to tropical warmth, slowly cleaning up algae and detritus without harming healthy plants.

Care

Excellent for coldwater ponds and unheated tanks, yet equally content in tropical setups. Provide hard, alkaline water with ample calcium for shell health and avoid copper entirely. Plant-safe, fully aquatic and a very slow livebearer that will not overrun a tank.

Diet

Grazing omnivore feeding on soft algae, biofilm and detritus. Offer algae wafers, blanched vegetables and a calcium source such as cuttlebone; it ignores healthy plants when regularly fed.

Sources

• Shrimp and Snail Breeder — Japanese Trapdoor Snail Detailed Guide
• AquariumStocking — Japanese Trapdoor Snail Care Guide