Pond Snail

Lymnaea stagnalis

Also known as Great Pond Snail

Animalia›Mollusca›Gastropoda›Lymnaeidae

Lymnaea stagnalis, commonly known as the Great Pond Snail, is a large freshwater snail native to Europe and Asia that can reach impressive sizes in the aquarium. These prolific herbivores are excellent algae eaters and detritivores, helping to maintain tank cleanliness by consuming decaying plant matter and biofilm. However, they reproduce rapidly and can quickly overrun a tank if left unchecked, making them best suited for dedicated snail tanks or heavily planted systems.

Where it's from

Native to Belgium and Sweden

Recorded as introduced in New Zealand and Ukraine

At a glance

Size: 2 in; 5 cm
Min tank: 10 gal; 38 L
Temp: 64–77°F; 18–25°C
pH: 6.5-8.0
GH: 143–321 ppm; 8–18 dGH
Temperament: Peaceful
Swims: All levels
Lifespan: 3-5 yrs

Ammonia 0 ppm and nitrate under 20 ppm.

Tanks keeping this

Kept by 3 members

2 tanks shared publicly; 2 more kept privately.

Bsmt Shrimp Low R

@mdnace

14A

@brynnecua

Care

Diet

Pond snails are voracious herbivores and detritivores that consume algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter throughout the day. Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, zucchini, and lettuce, as well as commercial algae wafers. Feed vegetables 2-3 times per week, removing uneaten portions after 24 hours to prevent water quality issues.

Behavior

Lymnaea stagnalis are highly active snails that spend most of their time grazing on surfaces and burrowing through substrate in search of food. They are solitary but tolerate other snails and peaceful tank mates. These snails are known for their ability to produce copious amounts of mucus and their tendency to climb out of tanks if conditions deteriorate, making secure lids essential.

Breeding

Pond snails are simultaneous hermaphrodites that breed prolifically in freshwater aquariums, requiring no special conditions to reproduce. A single snail can produce hundreds of eggs in gelatinous clusters attached to plants, hardscape, and tank walls, leading to rapid population explosions. Population control through manual egg removal or maintaining predatory tank mates is essential to prevent overpopulation.

Tank mates

See all 5

Otocinclus

Peaceful algae eater that shares similar grazing habits and water parameters

excellent

Bristlenose Pleco

Peaceful bottom dweller that does not prey on snails and shares herbivorous diet

excellent

Dwarf Gourami

Peaceful mid-water dweller that generally ignores snails in established tanks

good

Neon Tetra

Small peaceful schooling fish that occupy different water zones and do not threaten snails

excellent

Java Fern

Hardy plant that snails will graze on but not destroy; provides food and shelter

excellent

No state or federal restrictions on record.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.

The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: Waarnemingen.be / observations.be (CC BY 4.0); Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (CC BY 4.0); Dyntaxa. Svensk taxonomisk databas (CC0).