Care of Freshwater Aquarium Snails

An aquarium snail is a common sight in many household aquariums. Many of them are small, rarely growing to more than two and a half inches long, and they readily eat algae that may grow on your tank's walls or decor. Snails can be active in a freshwater aquarium, often moving lazily along decorations or the glass. They come in many different varieties, including the common Apple and Mystery snails. Caring for a freshwater aquarium snail is no more difficult than taking care of any other hardy freshwater creature.

Instructions

1

Keep your aquarium water's pH level around 7.0. Snails are relatively resilient and can handle between 6.5 and 7.5, so shooting for 7.0 is the safest bet, as most tropical fish prefer a 7.0, or neutral, pH level. The water should be properly dechlorinated with a commercial dechlorinator.

2

Keep the water temperature around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is around the same temperature range appropriate for many tropical fish.

3

Feed your snail a variety of sinking pellets and vegetation such as lettuce. They're omnivores by nature and will eat anything from algae to aquarium plants to fish food that falls to the bottom. It is best to feed your snails at night before you turn the light off, as they're most active at night.

4

Provide a tank big enough to house the snails. Each snail typically demands about two and a half gallons of water, so a 10-gallon aquarium can hold up to four snails.

5

Install a proper filter. Like tropical fish, snails need well-oxygenated water. The filter should be large enough to accommodate all of the water in the tank.

6

Provide a solid hood for the aquarium, with no gaps. Snails are escape artists and tend to get out of their tanks given the chance, so tape up any gaps in the tank's hood.