Snail question

[aquarius]

i bought a snail today which was labeled as gold or golden snail. is it a kind of apple snail? and what do they eat? i assumed i wouldn't have to feed it since i thought they would eat whatever's on the gravel and algae, am i wrong? thanks

 

[Teelie]

Almost certainly it is an Apple snail and they like to eat plant matter, especially aquatic plants over algae though they will eat that too. A good way around it is to feed them lettuce, zuccini or any kind of good green veggie like those.

 

[smithrc]

I found a really great site last night all about apple snails...
(I'll be getting a few tomorrow hopefully)

AppleSnail.net

 

[Teelie]

Yeah, I found that one a few months ago. So far it's been the most useful snail site I've found yet.

 

[aquarius]

thanks for the site. according to it, i think i have Pomacea bridgesii. it says thay don't eat live plants, thank god, and prefer rotting plants and fish food. so i guess i got the best snail i could

 

[Bangin]

From that site:

Food: Prefers dead and rotting plants and artificial foods like fish food; doesn't eat healthy plants unless no other food is available. This makes the Pomacea bridgesii snail a good choice for planted aquaria.

These snails will eat plants if there's no other food. They will not live on just rotting plants and fish flakes. Most of the fish will have eaten the flakes before the apple snails can get around to them. These snails are nice-size creatures and require their own food. As Teelie said, you should weigh some veggies down for them to eat. I usually weigh zucchini down (2 slices) every other day. They do not eat my plants, and they're not starving!

 

[aquarius]

i plan on giving it veggies too. last night i placed some shrimp pellets on the gravel and the snail was all over them so i'll continue to do that. should i give it raw veggies or do they have to be blanched or something?

 

[Bangin]

I just wash and cut them.

The pellets should work for them, too. A varied diet is good.