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I have, resident in the Panda Fun Palace™, a population of snails. The shells of these snails are shaped very much like those I've seen of illustrations of Apple Snails, but there are important differences.

One, the shell colour is grey.

Two, the snails never grow much bigger than 5mm (shell length).

Now, if I recall correctly, Apple Snails grow to be golf ball sized, don't they? No way on Earth have I ever seen these snails reach anything like those dimensions. However, they occur in fairly good numbers. They also do a sterling job of hunting down detritus between the leaves of my Hornwort and keep it looking lovely and clean and green!

So, what are my mystery snails?


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Shell color usually isn't much indicator of species. There are only a few newer snails that haven't developed various color mutations. Try this [link=http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php]http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]
It lists most common nonapplesnail species. To be an applesnail your snails need to at least have a door on their shell(operculum) and a breathing syphon which they would extend fairly regularly mostly while near the surface. Also while there are different sizes most reach around golfball size at the minimum. See the introduction section of that site for applesnail characteristics and different species.

Just took a look. The shell upon further examination fits the template of globose shells with opening situated dextrally (to the right hand side) and the shape of the operculum matches the illustration of the Viviparidae almost exactly.

Now the question is, if the snails ARE members of the Viviparidae, which species are they? Because there are hundreds to choose from!




Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

At least your down to hundreds instead of thousands. I don't know anything about vivs so I can't really help narrow it down anymore. I do know they are considered desireable by lots of people so I bet if you post to the applesnail.net board they could not only identify it but tell you everything you ever wanted to know about vivs. Especially if you managed to get a pic.

Calli, I bet your snails are just what we call
pond snails.


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Actually I beg to differ. "Pond Snail" over here in the UK means Physa species, and those things grow to be a LOT bigger than 5mm - I've seen specimens from local angling ponds that had shells 60mm long! Plus, the shells of Physa turn to the left instead of the right. Rather a big difference there!

I had a brief infestation of Physa snails in the Panda breeding aquarium until I took measures to eliminate them. Even the juveniles were a lot bigger than 5mm - I removed several 20mm plus specimens before I dosed the aquarium with copper. Trust me, I can tell the difference!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Calli - I was thinking the north american
pond snail. I have many and they are overrunning
my tank. They look exactly as you describe,
and none ever exceed about 6mm in size.
Heres a pic of mine before I took measures against
them:

[/font]

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Those are physids [link=http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php#Physidae]http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php#Physidae" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link] Despite the fact you never saw any bigger ones given time they can reach 2cm.

I don't think they match Calilasseia's description and they look nothing like applesnails or vivs. [link=http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php#Viviparidae]http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php#Viviparidae" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

Oooooohhhh.....trapdoor snails.
I didnt actually see a mention that the
snails in had a trapdoor.

My pond snails have been in my tanks for about 2-3 years
now, and none have ever reached beyond 6mm, and thats probably bigger than most.


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I think the bigger ones don't go as unnoticed by fish in the tank and smaller to medium fish can manage to fit their mouths in bigger snails shells. Even fish that don't normally go after snails will grab at a bigger one if they see an opening epsecially if it's falling from the top of the tank. I've seen some huge ones hiding on the edges of streams but despite the fact I have the exact same species in my tank they never get near that size. Recently since all my applesnails have died out I added yoyos so I barely even have small physids now.

Well,

Not being a snail expert, just a wild guess:

The reason there are no bigger ones is because there is insufficient calcium in the tank water. They are born fine but the larger they get the more calcium they need to build their “house”, and eventually they die because they can’t get it.

This guess is also supported by the fact that they are gray, as I have seen a few suggestions that this color indicates a lack of calcium.

Again, just a thought,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

But applesnails can grow in my tank to full size and they start out as small as a pest snail. Also the trumpet snails do fine. That could be true now that I'm using ro water but our well water had a kh and gh of 18 and practically all of that gh reading is calcium because our water is low in magnesium. Lack of calcium can't hold true for my water. Pest snails showing signs of lack of calcium get holes in their shell where you can see the underlayer. It's kind of pretty with the spotted shell but can be dangerous to their health.

It also cant hold true in my water either,
calcium lack no way!
My tap water has a hardness of over 280 ppm of dissolved calcium ions.
In my 10g tank and 25g tank I use no softeners or buffers of any kind, so the snails get tons of calcium.
Also- there is no fish in either tank that will eat the snails, yet they do not grow past 6 mm.


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Are there no fish in the tanks or just no fish that would normally eat snails? My tetras will eat snails if a big enough one falls in front of them. Even the cories will occasionally shove their nose in the shell of one and take a bite if a large snail gets in their way. Any gouramis would most definitely not pass up an easy chance but none of those fish will actually crush a snails shell to get at them even when it's a small snail with a weak shell. Unless their mouths fit in the shell they won't eat them.