Steel-helmeted snail: everything you need to know about keeping and food
The helmet snail is a species of snail belonging to the family of river snails and originally hails from the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific. It has been gaining popularity in the aquarium hobby for quite some time now.
In the following, you will learn about the important aspects of keeping helmet snails and how to properly care for them in your aquarium.
Helmet Snail Profile:
- Scientific Name: Neritina pulligera
- Origin: Coastal regions in the Indo-Pacific area
- Size: 3 - 4 cm (shell diameter)
- Lifespan: 5 - 10 years
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 liters
- Recommended Water Temperature: 18 - 30 °C
- Diet: Omnivorous
Appearance of the Helmet Snail
The helmet snail has a moderately curved shell. In mature individuals, the shell can reach a diameter of up to four centimeters, although specimens kept in aquariums are usually smaller, with a shell diameter rarely exceeding three centimeters.
The color of the helmet snail's shell can range from greenish to dark gray or black, often with a faint pattern.
Female and male helmet snails look identical, and their gender cannot be determined externally.
Origin of the Helmet Snail
In the wild, helmet snails inhabit brackish and freshwater environments. Their range extends across the coastal regions of many countries in the Indo-Pacific, including Kenya, South Africa, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Helmet snails can also be found in the wild in places such as Madagascar, the Caroline Islands, and the Seychelles.
Lifespan of the Helmet Snail
The helmet snail has a relatively long lifespan for a snail. They can easily live up to five years, and under favorable conditions, they may even reach ten years.
Keeping Helmet Snails
Helmet snails have been popular in the aquarium hobby for quite some time, primarily due to their feeding habits that contribute to the cleanliness of the aquarium.
In terms of their care requirements and necessary water parameters, helmet snails are highly adaptable. They can tolerate temperatures between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius, and the pH of the water should ideally range from 6 to 8. They can also tolerate slightly brackish water due to their natural habitat.
Furthermore, the aquarium for helmet snails can be relatively small, with a minimum volume of 20 liters. However, helmet snails don't mind if their water environment is larger. Nevertheless, the size of the aquarium should consider the needs of other aquarium inhabitants.
Setting up an Aquarium for Helmet Snails
Helmet snails prefer habitats with strong water flow, which can be achieved in the aquarium through the use of an appropriate internal filter. This ensures that helmet snails have sufficient oxygen in the water.
Regarding the planting of the aquarium, there are no specific requirements to consider. Helmet snails can be kept in aquariums with just rocks and wood or in tanks with dense vegetation.
Although helmet snails rarely leave the water, it is still advisable to provide the aquarium with a suitable cover.
Tankmates for Helmet Snails
Helmet snails can be kept individually or in groups. They do not engage in conflicts with their own species, and since they cannot reproduce in captivity, the group size remains constant until the snails' lifespan ends.
Helmet snails are peaceful aquarium inhabitants, and therefore, their compatibility with other species is generally not a problem. Suitable tankmates can include various catfish species and many other types of fish. However, it is important to ensure that the tankmates do not prey on snails. Therefore, crabs or crayfish are not suitable for cohabitation with helmet snails.
Breeding Helmet Snails
Unlike many other snail species, helmet snails are not hermaphroditic but have separate sexes. After mating, the female lays her eggs on roots or stones. The larvae of helmet snails hatch after a short time.
These larvae are carried away to the sea and feed on plankton there. Just before transforming into snails, they return to brackish water. The fully developed helmet snails eventually make their way back to rivers.
Due to this specific life cycle and the special nutritional needs of the larvae, it is not possible to breed helmet snails in an aquarium. Therefore, those who wish to keep these mollusks in captivity will need to purchase wild-caught specimens from pet stores.
Diet of the Helmet Snail
Helmet snails are omnivores and not particularly picky when it comes to food. They primarily feed on dead plant matter, algae, and fish food remnants. Dried leaves can also be provided as supplementary food if needed.
Living aquatic plants are generally not consumed by helmet snails, so their presence in the aquarium will not be harmed. Due to their feeding habits, helmet snails are ideal aquarium inhabitants for maintaining water cleanliness.
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