Black Mystery Snails (Pomacea bridgesii) - Tank-Bred!
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- Backordered, shipping soon
Mystery Snails are generally much more active and display more playful behavior than other types of freshwater snails. They are almost constantly scaling the walls of the aquarium, extending their antennae in search of food. They will climb up to the water line in to breathe air, so it's a good idea to make sure the water line in your aquarium isn't too high. When a Mystery Snail reaches the top of a wall or structure, it will often let go of the wall and glide rapidly downward until it crashes into plants or into the substrate below, often eliciting a "Weeee!" sound from any witnesses.
We try to ship mostly young Mystery Snails to customers so that they can be kept and enjoyed for more of their lifespan; thus, most of our Mystery Snails will arrive at a smaller size (around .25 - 1.5 inches (1.3 - 5 cm) in diameter). They have voracious appetites and grow in size VERY quickly if they are fed well; a young Mystery Snail can double in size in a matter of weeks to months. As with all freshwater snails, Mystery Snails are very sensitive to copper, so it's advisable to monitor your copper levels if you use tap water in your tank.
NOTE: If you search the Internet for Mystery Snails, many results will state that these are the same species as Apple Snails. These are NOT Apple Snails, though they do resemble them in shape. Apple Snails are considered an invasive species and are illegal to own in the United States. Our Mystery Snails do not grow to the tremendous size that Apple Snails do (often as big as an apple).
- Iridescent body and attractive shell coloration
- Its playful behavior makes it more fun to watch than other snails
- Safe with plants
- Completely peaceful
- Temperature: 68° - 84° F (20° - 29° C)
- pH: 7.6 - 8.4
- KH: 2 - 15 dKH
- Minimum tank size: 2.5 gallons per snail
- Diet: Other than algae and biofilm, Mystery Snails also eat leftover fish/invertebrate flakes and pellets and blanched vegetables such as zucchini, kale, spinach, or cucumber.
- Social behavior: Peaceful and solitary; will not engage with tankmates.
- Origin: Tank-bred, but indigenous to South America.
- Average adult size: 2.5 - 3+ inches (5 - 7.6+ cm)
- Average purchase size: .25 - 1.5 inches (1.3 - 5 cm) Jumbo Snails: 2-2.5"
What makes Black Mystery Snails different from other Mystery Snail colors?
The appeal is in the contrast. Their deep black shell looks especially striking against light sand, green plants, and bright fish. The color is solid and bold rather than patterned or translucent.
Are Black Mystery Snails tank bred?
Yes. These snails are tank bred, meaning they’re already adapted to aquarium life. That usually results in better survival, steadier growth, and easier acclimation.
Are Black Mystery Snails good algae eaters?
They help with soft algae, biofilm, and leftover food. They’re great as part of a clean-up crew, but they shouldn’t be relied on as the only algae control in a tank.
Are Black Mystery Snails safe with fish and shrimp?
Yes. They’re peaceful and won’t bother fish or shrimp. They also won’t harm healthy plants.
How big do Black Mystery Snails get?
They typically grow to about 2 inches in shell diameter. Given enough food and calcium, they grow steadily rather than quickly.
Do Black Mystery Snails need calcium?
Yes. Calcium is important for strong shell growth. This can come from mineral-rich water, calcium supplements, cuttlebone, or a balanced snail-safe diet.
Will Black Mystery Snails reproduce in my aquarium?
They can. If you have both males and females, you may see egg clutches laid above the waterline. The eggs won’t hatch unless conditions are right, so reproduction is easy to manage.
Do Black Mystery Snails stay active, or do they hide?
They’re fairly active, especially at night or during feeding times. It’s normal to see them cruising glass, plants, and décor throughout the day.
Are Black Mystery Snails beginner friendly?
Very much so. They’re hardy, easy to care for, and forgiving as long as the tank is cycled and water quality is stable.
Who are Black Mystery Snails best suited for?
They’re perfect for hobbyists who want a peaceful, useful snail that also adds visual contrast. If you like clean tanks and subtle movement without drama, Black Mystery Snails are a great fit.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
