No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Black Mystery Snail
Pomacea bridgesii
Animalia›Mollusca›Gastropoda
Variety of Mystery Snail · black
📍 South America
The Black Mystery Snail has a very dark, almost black shell — actually a very deep brown or olive. A popular contrast color for planted tanks. Care is the same as other mystery snail varieties.
Care Guide
Diet
Black Mystery Snails are omnivorous and primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae, decaying plant matter, and vegetables. Supplement their diet with blanched spinach, zucchini, or cucumber 2-3 times weekly, and offer quality sinking pellets or algae wafers daily. They will also consume fish food leftovers and detritus, making them excellent cleanup crew members.
Behavior
These snails are nocturnal and spend much of the day hidden, becoming more active during evening and night hours. They are peaceful, slow-moving creatures that spend time grazing on surfaces and exploring the substrate. Black Mystery Snails are solitary but can coexist with other snails without aggression.
Breeding
Breeding Black Mystery Snails in captivity is difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require specific environmental triggers and the male must fertilize eggs internally before the female deposits them above the waterline. Expect very low breeding success rates even in optimal conditions.
Tank Mates
Peaceful algae eaters with identical water requirements and non-aggressive behavior
Small, peaceful fish that won't disturb or prey on snails
Compatible invertebrates; ensure adequate food sources for both species
Peaceful community fish that typically ignore snails in planted tanks
Hardy plant that snails can graze on without causing significant damage
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion
Pitting, thinning, or deterioration of the shell surface; white spots or holes in shell
Improve water quality, increase calcium supplementation through cuttlebone or calcium supplements, and ensure pH is above 7.0
Parasitic Infections
Lethargy, reduced feeding, visible parasites on body or shell, mucus buildup
Perform frequent water changes, quarantine affected snails, and treat with appropriate antiparasitic medication if severe
Bacterial Infections
Foul odor from shell, tissue decay, inability to retract into shell, discoloration
Improve water quality immediately, increase aeration, perform 50% water changes every 2-3 days, and consider antibiotic treatment in severe cases
Vitamin A Deficiency
Reduced growth, shell deformities, poor coloration, lethargy
Provide varied diet with vegetables rich in vitamin A such as blanched spinach and carrots; supplement with quality pellets
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Black Mystery Snail to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Varieties
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!