Black Mystery Snails (Pomacea bridgesii) - Tank-Bred!

These large and striking snails are great for adding some color to your aquarium, but they also serve some very useful purposes.  They clean algae off of glass, plants, and decorations, they eat hair algae, and they keep your substrate clean and the correct color.  They are totally safe with any fish, shrimp, or plants, and are completely peaceful.  These snails are quite large as adults, growing up to 3 inches in diameter!   Black Mystery Snails range from black to dark purple in color.  Some are black with tan striping, while others are dark purple with gray striping.  Occasionally, one that is black with purple stripes is produced, which is our favorite color variant of these snails.  Black snails are much more common, but there is a fair chance you will receive a purple one if you order multiple snails.   Mystery Snails are generally much more active and display more playful behavior than other types of freshwater snails.  They are almost constantly scaling the walls of the aquarium, extending their antennae in search of food.  They will climb up to the water line in to breathe air, so it's a good idea to make sure the water line in your aquarium isn't too high.  When a Mystery Snail reaches the top of a wall or structure, it will often let go of the wall and glide rapidly downward until it crashes into plants or into the substrate below, often eliciting a "Weeee!" sound from any witnesses.   We try to ship mostly young Mystery Snails to customers so that they can be kept and enjoyed for more of their lifespan; thus, most of our Mystery Snails will arrive at a smaller size (around .25 - 1.5 inches (1.3 - 5 cm) in diameter).  They have voracious appetites and grow in size VERY quickly if they are fed well; a young Mystery Snail can double in size in a matter of weeks to months.  As with all freshwater snails, Mystery Snails are very sensitive to copper, so it's advisable to monitor your copper levels if you use tap water in your tank.   NOTE:  If you search the Internet for Mystery Snails, many results will state that these are the same species as Apple Snails.  These are NOT Apple Snails, though they do resemble them in shape.  Apple Snails are considered an invasive species and are illegal to own in the United States.  Our Mystery Snails do not grow to the tremendous size that Apple Snails do (often as big as an apple).     What We Like About This Snail: Iridescent body and attractive shell coloration Its playful behavior makes it more fun to watch than other snails Safe with plants Completely peaceful   RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:  Temperature:  68° - 84° F (20° - 29° C) pH:  7.6 - 8.4 KH:  2 - 15 dKH Minimum tank size:  2.5 gallons per snail   CARE GUIDELINES: Diet:  Other than algae and biofilm, Mystery Snails also eat leftover fish/invertebrate flakes and pellets and blanched vegetables such as zucchini, kale, spinach, or cucumber. Social behavior:  Peaceful and solitary; will not engage with tankmates. Origin:  Tank-bred, but indigenous to South America. Average adult size:  2.5 - 3+ inches (5 - 7.6+ cm) Average purchase size:  .25 - 1.5 inches (1.3 - 5 cm) Jumbo Snails: 2-2.5" All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!