Rabbit snail
Tylomelania spp.
A large, colourful snail with a rabbit-like face from the lakes of Sulawesi; it needs warm, alkaline water and plenty of detritus.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Detritus, sinking pellets, blanched vegetables
- Origin
- Lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Hardier than7%
- Bigger than42%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Rabbit 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; Rabbit snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Rabbit snail.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Rabbit snail.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Rabbit snail.Risky
- GoldfishGoldfish needs cool water; rabbit snails need tropical heat.Risky
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Rabbit snail.Risky
- Red swamp crayfishRed swamp crayfish eats snails: Rabbit snail.Avoid
- Figure eight pufferFigure eight puffer eats snails: Rabbit snail.Avoid
- Green spotted pufferGreen spotted puffer eats snails: Rabbit snail.Avoid
- Pea pufferPea puffer nips fins; Rabbit snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for rabbit snails: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 7 cm (shell)
- Adult mass
- 2.06 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.11 BU
- Min. water
- 40 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom, substrate
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- detritivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Care notes
Rabbit snails come from Lake Poso and other lakes of Sulawesi. They give birth to live young and breed slowly, so they do not become pests.
Keep them at 79–82 °F with pH 7.5–8.5, which does not suit crystal red shrimp. They feed on detritus rather than algae and can starve in a spotless tank, so leave some mulm on the bottom.
Questions
What size tank does a rabbit snail need?
At least 13 gallons (40 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.8 inches without fins.
How many rabbit snails should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do rabbit snails need?
79–82 °F, pH 7.5–8.5 and 0–0 dGH. Rabbit snails come from Lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
How long do rabbit snails live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with rabbit 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.