Cerithoidea: Thiaridae and Pachychilidae[/SIZE]
Common names:
- Thiaridae: trumpet snails, Malaysian trumpet snails (MTS)
- Pachychilidae: rabbit snails, Sulawesi snails
(image from
https://www.fishforums.net/threads/snail-species.75554/ )
Thiarids are a group of freshwater snails where most species reproduce by parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction. Therefore, only a single individual from most species is required to produce a colony in an aquarium. Similarly to Viviparids, eggs develop inside the mother and offspring are released as fully formed little snails. Thiarids are also remarkably hardy, being able to withstand adverse water conditions by burrowing into the substrate and closing up. Most thiard species seen in the trade do not exceed 1”/2.5cm in length.
Tarebia granifera and
Melanoides tuberculata are two of the more commonly seen species.
From
https://www.fishforums.net/threads/snail-species.75554/ :
“Shell is conical, 5 -> spires, they have [an] operculum, heart shaped mouth and thin tentacles. Malaysian trumpet snails, MTS, are really useful snails. They eat algae and leftover fish food (also dead fish and fish eggs), dead plant material and they will usually leave live plants alone. They burrow in the sand during daytime unless there are too many snails or the substrate is too compacted and going bad. They will help with keeping the sand loose. When the lights are off the snails head towards the surface and start eating algae.”
Species known as rabbit or Sulawesi snails from
Pachychilus and
Tylomelania sometimes appear in the aquarium trade, although they are a fairly rare and recent addition. These freshwater snails are similar to Thiarids in terms of overall appearance and behavior, although some Pachychilid species seen in the trade are larger and with brightly colored bodies.
