Ramshorn Snails for Ponds

The Ramshorn Snail (Planorbis corneus) is a small molluscs popular in the pond and aquarium hobby. Their shell looks like a tight coil of rope and they vary in colour from translucent to shades of brown and black depending on their diet. Ramshorn snails will feed on dead plants and algae, helping to keep you water clear and your pond ecosystem working in harmony. Perfect for any size pond from a patio tub style pond upwards.

Can you keep pond Ramshorn Snails in a fish tank?
Yes, our ramshorns are aquarium-reared so you can keep ramshorn snails in a coldwater aquarium indoors. However, if transferring from your outdoor pond to an indoor aquarium, be sure to purge them in a fishless quarantine aquarium for a week or two, because pond-bred wild ramshorn snails can carry parasites which are harmful to fish.

Do Ramshorn Snails eat lots of algae?
Yes, ramshorn snails will feed mainly on algae and rotting plant matter, making them ideal cleanup crew for coldwater aquariums and ponds.

How big do Ramshorn Snails get?
Pond ramshorn snails can grow to roughly the size of a 50p piece, a maximum size of around an inch and a half (2-3cm).

Features
Approx. supplied size: 0.5-1" / 2-3cm
Maximum size: 1.5" / 3cm
Origin: South America
Family: Planorbidae
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting requirement: low
Ideal number kept together: 2+

Water Conditions
Our conditions: pH 7.5, temp 16 °C
Ideal pH: 6.0–8.0
Water flow: low
Temperature: 6–25 °C

Ease of Care
Easy. Can adapt to most outdoor pond conditions and will reproduce readily in an established habitat.

Compatibility
Exercise care because some aquarium species eat ramshorn snails. More voracious eaters include puffers, loaches (any member of the genus Botia). Assassin snails will also prey upon ramshorn snails. Good fish tankmates for snails include, but are not limited to, danios, guppies, White Cloud Mountain minnows, neon tetras, and corydoras catfish. Many non-aggressive fish and herbivores will cohabit with snails.

Feeding
Ensure a steady supply of algae and greens, like courgette and spinach leaves. Snails will feed on many delicate and fine-leaved plants. Supplement the diet of a ramshorn snail with calcium to ensure healthy shells - holiday feeder blocks are a good source of calcium.

Breeding
Ramshorn snails are hermaphroditic - two organisms of any sex have the ability to breed and produce offspring. Ramshorn snails lay eggs in globules, which tend to be brownish in color. The globules contain about a dozen or so eggs, though it can vary. The globules are translucent, so it is possible to visually see the new snails develop in size. The newborn snails are clearish white.

Life Span
Ramshorn snails can live up to a year in perfect conditions.

Photo is for illustration only - one supplied.

For more information on general fishkeeping and our shipping procedures click here.