Chopstick snail
Stenomelania torulosa
Also known as Torulosa snail, Spire snail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 6.8–8.0
- Adult size
- 2 in (5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal (40 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Lowland rivers of Southeast Asia
- Family
- Thiaridae
Overview
A burrowing snail that does most of its work out of sight, turning over the top layer of substrate and eating detritus and algae as it goes. The visible sign is a slow line moving under the sand. Keep it in a tank with a soft sand or fine gravel bed at least a few centimeters deep, since it cannot burrow into gravel. It needs harder water for shell health. Feed nothing special; it lives on what settles.
In the wild
Stenomelania torulosa lives in lowland rivers across Southeast Asia, often near the coast where water is fresh but mineral-rich. Keep it at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 6.8 to 8.0. Soft acidic water pits and erodes the shell over time, which is the main way these snails are lost.
Good to know
Stenomelania torulosa reaches about 5 centimeters in a long, narrow, ridged spire. Thiarid snails like this one are livebearers and many reproduce without males, though most Stenomelania need brackish water for their larvae, so tank populations rarely explode the way Melanoides do.
Did you know
Its spire is the tool: the long taper lets it lever through packed sand no round snail could enter.
Tank mates
Chopstick snail is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Dwarf thorny catfish
Physopyxis lyraFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Blackspot dwarf barb
Enteromius stigmatopygusFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Dwarf scissortail rasbora
Rasbosoma spilocercaFreshwater1.3 in (3.2 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Indian amber glassfish
Parambassis lalaFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Dwarf merry widow
Phallichthys ticoFreshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Piaba tetra
Serrapinnus piabaFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Chopstick snail need?
A Chopstick snail needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Chopstick snail need?
Chopstick snail are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.
How big do Chopstick snail get?
An adult Chopstick snail reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Chopstick snail?
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Related species
Mahogany trumpet snail
Melanoides maculataFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Prambanan snail
Thiara winteriFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Melanoides tuberculataFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Giant Colombian Ramshorn
Marisa cornuarietisFreshwater2 in (5 cm)5 gal (20 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Japanese Trapdoor Snail
Cipangopaludina malleataFreshwater2 in (5 cm)8 gal (30 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Mystery Snail
Pomacea diffusaFreshwater2 in (5 cm)5 gal (20 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)