Ramshorn Snail

About

Ramshorn snails are flat, coiled hermaphroditic snails, most often seen in a red-shelled 'red ramshorn' form, valued as tireless cleanup crew and as living food for assassin snails, loaches and pufferfish. They graze algae, biofilm and detritus and rarely harm healthy plants. Because they are hermaphroditic egg-layers whose numbers rise sharply with surplus food, they can become a nuisance in overfed tanks — controlling feeding is the key to controlling their population.

Care

Undemanding across most freshwater parameters but prefers harder, alkaline water for shell health. Reproduces explosively when overfed, so manage feeding to control numbers; copper-sensitive and plant-safe.

Diet

Omnivorous detritivore grazing algae, biofilm, decaying plants and leftovers. No special feeding needed in an established tank; population size follows the available food supply.

Sources

• Aquarium Co-Op – Ramshorn Snail Care Guide
• The Spruce Pets – Ramshorn Snails