Ramshorn snail
Planorbarius corneus
The classic flat-coiled snail every fishkeeper knows; it cleans up film and leftovers, breeds easily, and the red form is especially popular.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 4 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Algae, leftovers, blanched vegetables
- Origin
- Europe and western Asia
- Hardier than77%
- Bigger than12%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Ramshorn 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
- OtocinclusGreat ramshorn snail outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Great ramshorn snail is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidGreat ramshorn snail outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail (SF).Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Assassin snailAssassin snail eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail.Avoid
- Red swamp crayfishRed swamp crayfish eats snails: Great ramshorn snail.Avoid
- Figure eight pufferFigure eight puffer eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail.Avoid
- Green spotted pufferGreen spotted puffer eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail.Avoid
- Pea pufferPea puffer eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail (улитки — его корм).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for ramshorn snails: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3.5 cm (shell)
- Adult mass
- 0.26 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.35 BU
- Min. water
- 10 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore plant
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: AquariumInfo: Ramshorn snail
Care notes
Great ramshorns come from Europe and western Asia and grow to about 1.5 inches across. They are hermaphrodites and multiply readily.
They may nibble soft plants a little but are a minor threat to a planted tank. Numbers climb with overfeeding, and like all snails they are sensitive to copper.
Questions
What size tank does a ramshorn snail need?
At least 4 gallons (10 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.4 inches without fins.
How many ramshorn snails should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do ramshorn snails need?
70–81 °F, pH 7–8 and 0–0 dGH. Ramshorn snails come from Europe and western Asia.
How long do ramshorn snails live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with ramshorn 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.