Bladder snail
Physella acuta
A small left-coiled snail that usually hitchhikes in on plants; a self-fertilising hermaphrodite, so a single one starts a colony.
Key facts
- Body length
- 0.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 1 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- 0.5–1 years
- Diet
- Detritus, leftovers, biofilm
- Origin
- North America, now cosmopolitan
- Hardier than77%
- Bigger than1%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Bladder snail tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Bladder snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach eats small snails: Bladder snail (SF).Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bladder snail.Risky
- Assassin snailAssassin snail eats small snails: Bladder snail.Avoid
- Red swamp crayfishRed swamp crayfish eats small snails: Bladder snail.Avoid
- Figure eight pufferFigure eight puffer eats small snails: Bladder snail.Avoid
- Green spotted pufferGreen spotted puffer eats small snails: Bladder snail.Avoid
- Pea pufferPea puffer eats small snails: Bladder snail (улитки — его корм).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for bladder snails: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 1.5 cm (shell)
- Adult mass
- 0.02 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.05 BU
- Min. water
- 2 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom, surface
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- detritivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: FWGNA: Physella acuta · Aquatic Arts: Bladder snail
Care notes
Bladder snails are native to North America and now found almost worldwide. They mature in 6 to 8 weeks and lay eggs regularly.
They do not harm plants and eat detritus and leftovers. A sudden boom in their numbers is a sign of overfeeding.
Questions
What size tank does a bladder snail need?
At least 1 gallons (2 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 0.6 inches without fins.
How many bladder snails should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do bladder snails need?
63–84 °F, pH 7–8 and 0–0 dGH. Bladder snails come from North America, now cosmopolitan.
How long do bladder snails live?
0.5–1 years with good care.
What fish can live with bladder snails?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.