Snail I.D.?

Kazzy

I was at Petsmart looking to see if they had any ghost shrimp...well, they didn't so I picked up some snails. Labeled 'Mystery snails' but from what I understand there are several different types of mystery snails...well, this one I just had to have. May be average, but I've never seen one like it. LOVE this guy/gal. If anyone knows the specific species, I'd love to know so I can find more like him/her. Sadly, the front part of the shell above his/her head is broken...still pretty though :D Thanks!

dfbiggs

Hi,

Looks like a Blue Apple Snail (Pomacea bridgesi) that hasn't been taken care of. His/her shell looks to be eroding away. It's hard to tell from the picture..does it have any yellow tone at all on the shell? Make sure you keep it in hard water with calcium rich foods and a pH above 7.

Go here to compare colors Pomacea bridgesi

-Danielle

Lupin

The name Pomacea bridgesii is outdated. It is now Pomacea diffusa. The color identification is also correct.

Kazzy

Thanks! Ok, so the shell isn't supposed to be white then? Dang...I thought it was pretty looking. Th pH in my tank is 8.0, and I feed the snails green beans a few times a week, and other random veggies. What would be a high in calcium veggie I could feed that would help? Also, I try offering Tums (the fruit flavored) as I have read that these really help their shells (I have an ivory with eroding shell) but they won't touch the things and so they just dissolve in my water.

Lupin

Try Caltrate and see if the snails eat them. Even if they don't and still walk on them, they can absorb calcium through the foot.

Collards, kale and seaweeds are high in calcium.

Blue mysteries have dark body and white shell. You can help thicken the shell growth by keeping temp consistently low at 74-76 degrees and provide lots of calcium enriched foods.

Kazzy

Thanks! I'll do that