Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
FreshwaterSnail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–81°F
- 18–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 21 gal
- 80 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Egg layer · Easy
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Ampullariidae
- Origin
- South America
Overview
The apple snail is a peaceful grazer that works over the bottom of the tank and suits most setups. It is a good first snail.
Did you know
The apple snail breathes air through a siphon, a long tube it stretches to the surface like a snorkel. It is one of the worst invasive species in rice-growing regions, where escaped snails chew through young rice plants.
Caring for the apple snail
Keep an apple snail in a tank of at least 21 gal (80 L). It does fine in most setups, though it prefers calmer water. It is fine on its own and does not need company.
Give it harder water with enough calcium for proper shell growth, at a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Keep the temperature at 64 to 81°F (18 to 27°C).
Apple snails graze algae, biofilm and leftover food. They will eat soft aquarium plants if underfed, so keep them well fed with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and sinking food.
The apple snail is peaceful and safe with community fish. It lays clutches of pink eggs above the waterline and breeds readily. Watch for those clutches if you do not want a population boom.
Good to know
The apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, belongs to the family Ampullariidae. Aquarium specimens are often smaller than its largest forms. It has both a gill and a lung.
In the wild
The apple snail comes from slow, warm waters in South America, including ponds, ditches and quiet river edges with lots of plants. It is used to soft mud bottoms and plenty of vegetation.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The apple snail is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Blotched darter tetra
Nannocharax macropterus
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Gold hovering catfish
Chandramara chandramara
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Orange-finned danio
Danio kyathit
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an apple snail need?
An apple snail needs at least 21 gal (80 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an apple snail need?
An apple snail is comfortable at 64–81°F (18–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.
What does an apple snail eat?
An apple snail grazes algae, biofilm and leftover food. Keep it well fed with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and sinking food, or it will eat soft plants.
How big does an apple snail get?
An adult apple snail reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How does an apple snail breed?
An apple snail breeds readily, laying clutches of pink eggs above the waterline. Watch for the clutches if you do not want a population boom.
Related species
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Pomacea diffusa
2 in (5 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)
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Marisa cornuarietis
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3.9 in (10 cm)13 gal (50 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)Black devil snail
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3.1 in (8 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Hercules snail
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