Mystery snail
Pomacea diffusa
The most popular large aquarium snail; it leaves healthy plants alone and lays its eggs above the waterline, so numbers are easy to control.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.2 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 7 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Algae wafers, blanched vegetables, sinking pellets
- Origin
- Amazon basin, South America
- Hardier than59%
- Bigger than33%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Mystery 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
- 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
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusMystery snail outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Mystery snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidMystery snail outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Mystery snail.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Mystery snail.Risky
- DiscusMystery snail outcompetes the slow-eating Discus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Red swamp crayfishRed swamp crayfish eats snails: Mystery snail.Avoid
- Figure eight pufferFigure eight puffer eats snails: Mystery snail.Avoid
- Green spotted pufferGreen spotted puffer eats snails: Mystery snail.Avoid
- Pea pufferPea puffer nips fins; Mystery snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for mystery snails: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 5.5 cm (shell)
- Adult mass
- 25.00 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 8.28 BU
- Min. water
- 20 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, surface
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore plant
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Applesnail.net: Pomacea diffusa
Care notes
Mystery snails come from the Amazon basin and have shells around 2 inches across. Sexes are separate, and pink clutches of 200 to 600 eggs are laid above the water.
A 5-gallon tank or larger needs a lid and an air gap at the top. Plant-eating invasive apple snails are sometimes sold under the same name, so buy P. diffusa from a trusted seller.
Questions
What size tank does a mystery snail need?
At least 7 gallons (20 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.2 inches without fins.
How many mystery snails should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do mystery snails need?
68–82 °F, pH 7–8 and 0–0 dGH. Mystery snails come from Amazon basin, South America.
How long do mystery snails live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with mystery snails?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.