TankBud

Malaysian trumpet snail

Melanoides tuberculata

FreshwaterSnail

Malaysian trumpet snail (Melanoides tuberculata)
Dennis L. · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–77°F
21–25°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
5 gal
20 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Very common
Family
Thiaridae
Origin
Southeast Asia

Overview

The Malaysian trumpet snail is a peaceful bottom dweller for almost any freshwater tank. It is easy to keep and a good first snail.

Did you know

Malaysian trumpet snails are mostly nocturnal and stay buried during the day. A tank can look almost empty until the lights go out and dozens come up through the sand.

Caring for the Malaysian trumpet snail

A Malaysian trumpet snail needs no special attention, and a tank as small as 5 gal (20 L) is plenty. Give it a sand or fine-gravel bottom so it can dig and turn the substrate. That burrowing habit is the reason a lot of keepers want them.

It handles a wide range of water, at 70 to 77°F (21 to 25°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. That makes it easy to slot into most setups. A sudden crowd of them on the glass in daylight is a classic sign of poor water or low oxygen in the substrate.

Malaysian trumpet snails eat leftover food, detritus and algae, sifting through the substrate as they go. You do not stock them by group size. Their numbers track the amount of waste available, which is why they boom in overfed tanks.

They are peaceful and leave plants and other animals alone. Females reproduce by parthenogenesis, cloning themselves without a mate, so one snail can start a population. They carry their young inside and give birth to live, fully formed snails rather than laying eggs.

Good to know

Melanoides tuberculata is a small livebearing snail in the family Thiaridae. Its tall, cone-shaped shell is the trumpet in its name.

In the wild

Malaysian trumpet snails come from streams and ponds across Southeast Asia. They burrow in soft sediment there and come out to feed.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Malaysian trumpet 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Malaysian trumpet snail need?

A Malaysian trumpet snail needs at least 5 gal (20 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Malaysian trumpet snail need?

A Malaysian trumpet snail is comfortable at 70–77°F (21–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a Malaysian trumpet snail eat?

A Malaysian trumpet snail eats leftover food, detritus and algae. It sifts through the substrate as it feeds.

How big does a Malaysian trumpet snail get?

An adult Malaysian trumpet snail reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How does a Malaysian trumpet snail breed?

A Malaysian trumpet snail gives birth to live, fully formed snails instead of laying eggs. Females clone themselves without a mate, so one snail can start a population.

Related species