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Ramshorn Snail
Planorbarius corneus
Animalia›Mollusca›Gastropoda›Planorbidae
📍 Worldwide (widely distributed)
Ramshorn snails are named for their distinctive flat, coiled shell. They are efficient algae eaters and detritivores in planted tanks. While they can reproduce rapidly, populations are easily managed by removing egg clusters or reducing feeding. Some aquarists deliberately cultivate them as a food source for puffers.
Care Guide
Diet
Ramshorn snails are omnivorous detritivores that primarily consume algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter. Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, and lettuce 2-3 times weekly. They will also consume sinking pellets and algae wafers if algae growth is insufficient in the tank.
Behavior
Ramshorn snails are nocturnal and spend most of the day hidden among plants and substrate, becoming more active at night. They are completely peaceful and will not interact aggressively with any tank inhabitants. These snails are prolific breeders and can quickly overpopulate a tank if left unchecked, though populations are easily managed by removing egg clusters or reducing feeding.
Breeding
Ramshorn snails are hermaphrodites and breed readily in captivity without special conditions, making them one of the easiest snails to propagate. Eggs are laid in small, translucent clusters on plants, hardscape, and tank walls; removing clusters prevents population explosions. Juveniles reach maturity in 4-6 weeks under standard aquarium conditions.
Tank Mates
Both are peaceful algae eaters with identical water parameter requirements
Peaceful invertebrates with overlapping water conditions; both benefit planted tanks
Small, peaceful fish that ignore snails and thrive in similar water parameters
Peaceful community fish with compatible temperature and pH requirements
Bottom-dwelling detritivore with similar peaceful temperament and water needs
Provides grazing surface and shelter; snails help control algae on moss
Common Diseases
Shell Erosion
Pitting, thinning, or dissolving shell; white spots or rough texture on shell surface
Increase water hardness (6-15 dGH) by adding crushed coral or cuttlebone; ensure adequate calcium through varied diet including blanched spinach and calcium-rich foods
Parasitic Infection
Lethargy, withdrawn behavior, visible parasites on shell or body, reduced feeding
Perform 25% water changes weekly; quarantine affected snails; avoid copper-based treatments which are toxic to snails; improve water quality and tank cleanliness
Bacterial Infection
Foul odor from shell, discoloration, visible lesions or decay on soft tissue, mucus buildup
Increase aeration and perform frequent water changes; remove decaying food and waste promptly; maintain optimal water parameters; isolate severely affected individuals
Starvation
Visible weight loss, withdrawn behavior, failure to emerge from shell, slow growth
Increase feeding frequency with blanched vegetables and algae wafers; ensure adequate algae growth through moderate lighting; supplement with calcium-rich foods
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Tanks keeping this 🐟
Kept by 1 hobbyistCommunity tanks featuring Ramshorn Snail.
Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – algae, detritus, decaying plant matter, blanched vegetables
- breeding
- Prolific; egg clusters can be removed to control population
- lifespan
- 1–3 years
- max size
- 2.5 cm (1 in)
- tank size
- 5 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 7.0–8.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 6–15 dGH
- temperature
- 64–82°F (18–28°C)