Ramshorn Snail Care 101

 

The Ramshorn Snail is a critter we can truly appreciate. They're really fun to  focus on and very amusing to watch! 

You'll be astounded how long you wind up watching these little animals move around your tank. They're generally set to find and crunch on green growth. 

We recommend these snails to other aquarists constantly, and we know a small bunch who swear they'll never keep a tank without one! 

This guide will show you all you require for Ramshorn Snail care. We cover reproducing top to bottom too (spoiler alert: it's really simple to do) 

Chapter by chapter guide 

Species Summary 

Life expectancy 

Appearance 

Size 

Ramshorn Snail Care 

Tank Size 

Water Parameters 

What To Put In Their Tank 

Normal Possible Diseases 

Food and Diet 

Conduct and Temperament 

Tank Mates 

Ramshorn Snail Breeding 

Species Summary 

Ramshorn Snails (the Planorbidae family) are a fascinating expansion to set up tanks. While numerous aquarists deliberately bring them into freshwater aquariums, many enter the biological system unintentionally! 

They will in general catch a ride on live plants and décor. Thus, they're quite far reaching in the fish-keeping world. 

Curiously, Ramshorn Snails aren't that simple to discover in nature. Some can be discovered living in streams and little lakes. Be that as it may, most are found in the aquarium exchange. 

Regardless of whether you have bought a Ramshorn Snail to keep as a pet or you have another sudden expansion to your tank, keeping these snails sound is basic. They're strong animals that will fill a useful need in your tank. 

Life expectancy 

By and large, the normal Ramshorn Snail life expectancy is just about a year. 

All things considered, they can live more. Many prepared aquarists have seen these snails live to be around 3 years of age with ideal water conditions. 

While they may be solid, these snails do require stable day to day environments and a lot of variety  to great food sources. You can broaden their future fundamentally by tending to their one of a kind necessities straightforwardly. 

Appearance 

There's a ton of assortment with regards to the presence of Ramshorn Snails. Both the shell and the skin of the snail can be extraordinary, opening up a universe of opportunities for shading mixes. 

Ordinarily, the skin of the snail can either be dark or red. Dark snails have melanin color while the red ones don't. The motivation behind why red snails take on their dynamic tone is a direct result of their blood. In contrast to other snail species, the Ramshorn Snail has blood with red hemoglobins. 

Presently, onto the shell. These snails get their name from the unmistakable shape the shell takes on. It includes a level twisting. It's suggestive of a rope winding or rams horn. 

Shell tones can change broadly. The most well-known tones you'll see are shades of light or dull earthy colored. Notwithstanding, more energetic examples may have blue shells, red shells, and surprisingly spotted shells. 

The cool thing about Ramshorn Snails is that their shells will develop as they get older. 

As adolescents, the shells are flimsy and fairly fragile. With a decent eating regimen, the shell will solidify and turn out to be more dark as the snail develop. 

The twisting may likewise expand with time. The shells twisting aside. In the focal point of the twisting, there's an opening. You may even see some skin punching out of the hole occasionally. 

While most snails that live submerged have an operculum, Ramshorn Snails don't. The operculum is a hidden entryway on the lower part of the shell that is available with generally marine and freshwater snails. 

The explanation that Ramshorn Snails don't have one is that they really inhale air. They depend on oxygen to endure. Ordinarily, the operculum is intended to shut air out in the midst of dry spell, so having one would be unfeasible to air-breathing snails like the Ramshorn. 

Size 

The normal Ramshorn Snail size is around one inch in width (that is the means by which you measure the size of a snail). These little critters aren't huge at all are just somewhat bigger than a dime! 

Creator Note: With proper top of the line care, it is absolutely possible that your rams horn snail can be much larger, and live for longer. 

Ramshorn Snail Care 

As we referenced before, Ramshorn Snail care shouldn't give you any issues. They're profoundly versatile animals that can flourish in many conditions. 

All things considered, that doesn't mean you can stand to get smug with regards to water quality and their current circumstance. In the event that you need these snails to become huge and stay sound, you have to be committed about keeping up their tanks. They might be small, but the bio load they can create is enormous

 

Tank Size 

The extraordinary thing about Ramshorn Snails is that you needn't bother with huge loads of space to really focus on them. They just require a tank size of around 1 gallon at any rate. Most suggest beginning with a 5-gallon tank on the off chance that you plan on keeping various snails (as many do). 

Regardless of their slow nature, these snails do get a kick out of the chance to wander around the aquarium. Having more space to play and explore also means happy snails. 

Water Parameters 

Ramshorn Snails incline toward moderate waters, which is useful for aquarists. There aren't any odd conditions that you need to give, it's more about consistency. These snails don't care for conditions where conditions can change rapidly. 

Extraordinary water conditions are pivotal for these freshwater snails in two distinct manners. The first is that it will affect the soundness of the snail straightforwardly. The second is it permits their shells to develop further (which is vital). 

Fortunately the snails can adjust to a scope of conditions. They do well in completely clear waters and dinky environments the same. 

For the best outcomes, here are a few boundaries to adhere to. 

Water temperature: 70°F to 78°F 

pH levels: 7.0 to 7.5 

Water hardness: 5 to 15 dKH 

To keep up consistency with the water in their tank, concoct a timetable for performing water tests and water changes. This is something that you can work around the necessities of different creatures in the aquarium (if it's a community tank) first since these creatures are adaptable. 

What To Put In Their Tank 

There's not a ton that you need to do to keep Ramshorn Snails cheerful with regards to designs. In contrast to many fish, you don't have to worry about making concealing spots or reproducing zones. 

There is some dispute in the fish-keeping local area about whether these snails can live with live plants. One side thinks that they annihilate live plants by eating them while others have had no issues around there. 

Here's the place where we stand: 

Ramshorn Snails are totally fit for eating live plants. Nonetheless, they'll possibly do as such on the off chance that they aren't getting sufficient food somewhere else. On the off chance that you furnish your snails with a respectable eating routine, they'll let the plants be. 

Like most snails, the Ramshorn is helpless to high nitrate and alkali levels.

Regular Possible Diseases 

These snails are very versatile. Significant illnesses are certifiably not an immense issue. Notwithstanding, they are famous for bringing illnesses into a local area tank. 

When you get them from the store, they can have parasitic skin infections. Snails are the ideal host for these parasites. To exacerbate the situation these are hard to see, so you may not know you're putting other fish in danger until it's past the point of no return. 

 

In case you're getting new Ramshorn Snails, we suggest placing them in an isolate tank for about a month to guarantee that you're not putting the other fish in danger. 

Creator Note: It's essential to bring up that on the off chance that you add medication to your tank it ought to be sans copper. Copper and snails don't get along, and will probably bring about the demise of your Ramshorn. 

On the off chance that adding something that contains copper is unavoidable we recommend moving your Ramshorn Snails to another tank ((with coordinating with water states obviously) until all hints of it are out of the water. 

Food and Diet 

Ramshorn Snails will invest the greater part of their energy searching for aquarium green growth to eat. It's enjoyable to watch them scour your tank for something to chomp on! 

Normally, they'll discover green growth on the sides of your tank. Along these lines, they'll move up the glass to take care of and keep your aquarium clean. 

Beside green growth, Ramshorn Snails love to benefit from rotting plant matter. They'll burn-through leaves that tumble off your amphibian plants. 

The snails will even eat dead fish and shrimp whenever given the opportunity. However, we don't suggest leaving dead critters in your tank as it can cause significant water issues. 

To enhance your snail's eating regimen, you can give some commercial food varieties, as well. 

They'll eat extra fish chips and pellets that tumble to the lower part of the tank. You can likewise give green growth wafers and calcium fish supplements. The last will reinforce their shells. 

Some essential vegetables are a decent decision also. They'll eat things like lettuce and cucumbers. 

At the point when you feed the snails, just give them however much food that they can eat in a short time. Keep in mind, they'll continually benefit from green growth in the tank, so you would prefer not to overload them! 

Conduct and Temperament 

Generally, Ramshorn Snails will mind their own business. They're serene and don't raise any ruckus to other fish. 

In spite of what a few expect, they're entirely dynamic and will meander the tank day and night looking for food. You may see your snails hopping on the glass dividers or hanging gently from a plant leaf at any time day or night.

One intriguing conduct peculiarity about these snails is that they can frequently eat in gatherings. At the point when one snail tracks down a decent wellspring of food, it won't be long until most of them emerge from the woodworks to share a feast. 

Tank Mates 

Ramshorn Snails are regularly food for some fish. A few animal types will eat these snails any chance they get. 

In the event that you need to keep your snail populace solid, stick to non-forceful fish. You can likewise present other serene snails (like the Mystery), shellfishes, and tranquil shrimp in with the general mish-mash. 

Here's a rundown of some serene tank mates for the Ramshorn Snail: 

Cory Catfish 

Diminutive person Gourami 

Divine Pearl Danio 

Guppies 

Bean stew Rasbora (and other rasboras) 

Nectar Gourami 

Apparition Shrimp 

Pearl Gourami 

Cherry Shrimp 

With regards to arranging tank mates for Ramshorn Snails it's imperative to understand that these snails can rapidly invade a tank on the off chance that you're not cautious. Because of their regular reproducing, it very well may be a best to monitor the populace. 

Creator Note: all things considered, some aquarists like to incorporate fish species that will eat the snails now and then. You can likewise utilize a savage snail, for example, the Assassin Snail to keep the numbers low. 

Ramshorn Snail Breeding 

Ramshorn Snails reproducing is very simple. This species replicates oftentimes and will do this absent a lot of help from you! 

They lay eggs so regularly that it doesn't take long for the snail populace to increment drastically in a little tank. 

The snails are hermaphroditic, they have both male and female sex organs and can reproduce alone. A male and female is not needed but they prefer to mate that way. 

At the point when they breed, the snails will lay various egg groups all through the tank. They're frequently very much covered up. Nonetheless, you may see some on plant stems. Possibly even the glass of your tanks.  

Normally, the groups contain around 12 clear eggs. Following a few days, the infant snail developing inside will be apparent. After about 2 weeks, the small snails will rise out of the eggs and promptly search for food to eat. 

You don't need to stress over taking care of the baby Ramshorn Snails, as they'll discover delicate green growth all alone! 

 There is something in particular about the manner these critters mind their own business and stay occupied that is truly charming! 

Since you know the fundamentals of Ramshorn Snail care, it's the ideal opportunity for you to get some for yourself. This species is probably as low-upkeep as it gets, and a buy you will love. 

In case you're a Ramshorn Snail proprietor who needs to share data, stories, or photographs we'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us!

 

Moldyscrustaceans@gmail.com