Prambanan snail
Thiara winteri
Also known as Winter's thiarid, Spiny trumpet snail
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 6.8–8.0
- Adult size
- 1.6 in (4 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal (40 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Rivers of Java and the Indonesian islands
- Family
- Thiaridae
Overview
A grazing and detritus-eating snail that works the substrate and hardscape and leaves plants alone. It suits a 40 liter tank upward as a cleanup animal, and its sculptured shell makes it more of a display snail than the usual trumpet snails. It needs harder water to keep the shell sound. Feed nothing directly in an established tank; supplement with algae wafers if the surfaces run clean.
In the wild
Thiara winteri lives in rivers across Java and the surrounding Indonesian islands, in warm, mineral-rich fresh water. Keep it at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 6.8 to 8.0. Soft, acidic water erodes the shell spire from the tip down, which is the usual sign that hardness is too low.
Good to know
Thiara winteri reaches about 4 centimeters, with strong knobbed ridges spiraling up the shell. Thiarid snails are livebearers and many species reproduce parthenogenetically, so a single individual can found a population. It burrows, which aerates the substrate, and it is largely nocturnal.
Did you know
Aquarists named it for the Prambanan temple complex; the spired shell really does match the skyline.
Tank mates
Prambanan snail is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Crystal tetra
Protocheirodon piFreshwater1.2 in (3.1 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Piaba tetra
Serrapinnus piabaFreshwater1.6 in (4 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)
Wandering Snail
Ampullaceana balthicaFreshwater0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)50–84°F (10–29°C)Dwarf broadfin catfish
Nanobagrus immaculatusFreshwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Espei rasbora
Trigonostigma espeiFreshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Prambanan snail need?
A Prambanan snail needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Prambanan snail need?
Prambanan snail are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.
How big do Prambanan snail get?
An adult Prambanan snail reaches about 1.6 in (4 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 Prambanan 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)Chopstick snail
Stenomelania torulosaFreshwater2 in (5 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)
Dusky Nerite Snail
Neritina pulligeraFreshwaterBrackish1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Great Ramshorn
Planorbarius corneusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)5 gal (20 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Giant Colombian Ramshorn
Marisa cornuarietisFreshwater2 in (5 cm)5 gal (20 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)