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Pond Snail
Lymnaea stagnalis
📍 Europe and Asia
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.
Care Guide
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
Peaceful algae eater that shares similar grazing habits and water parameters
Peaceful bottom dweller that does not prey on snails and shares herbivorous diet
Peaceful mid-water dweller that generally ignores snails in established tanks
Small peaceful schooling fish that occupy different water zones and do not threaten snails
Hardy plant that snails will graze on but not destroy; provides food and shelter
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion
Pitted, thin, or crumbling shell; white spots or chalky appearance on shell surface
Increase water hardness (calcium and magnesium) through mineral supplements or crushed coral; maintain pH above 7.0; ensure adequate dietary calcium through cuttlebone or calcium-fortified foods
Parasitic Flukes
Excessive mucus production; lethargy; shell clamping; refusal to feed; visible parasites on body
Perform 25-50% water changes; treat with anti-parasitic medication (fenbendazole or levamisole) following product instructions; quarantine affected snails; improve water quality and reduce stocking density
Bacterial Infection
Soft tissue decay; foul odor; discoloration of body; shell damage; lethargy
Improve water quality through increased aeration and water changes; remove decaying food and dead snails immediately; treat with antibacterial medication if severe; maintain optimal water parameters
Overpopulation
Rapid population growth; degraded water quality; excessive bioload; algae blooms; snails clustering on surfaces
Manually remove and cull excess snails; remove egg clusters before they hatch; reduce feeding frequency; increase water change frequency; consider introducing snail-eating fish or assassin snails for population control
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Herbivore/detritivore - consumes algae, biofilm, decaying plant matter, blanched vegetables (spinach, zucchini, lettuce), and algae wafers
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 5 cm (2 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-8.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 8-18 dGH
- temperature
- 64–77°F (18–25°C)