Assorted Ramshorn Snails (Planorbarius corneus), Tank-Bred!
- In stock, ready to ship
- Backordered, shipping soon
⚠️ Important Legal Note: All aquatic invertebrates are prohibited to possess in any form or sell in the state of Maine. Please check your local regulations before purchasing. We are unable to ship livestock from this listing to Maine. If you reside in Maine and try to checkout with this in your cart you will be unable to checkout and receive an error message until it is removed from the cart.
Ramshorn Snails are attractive and are great for adding some color and decoration to your aquarium, but they also serve some very useful purposes. They clean algae off of glass, plants, and decorations, they eat hair algae, and they keep your substrate clean and the correct color. While they are relatively effective algae-eaters, they do not harm live plants.
- pH level range: 7.0 and up
- Temperature range: 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water type: Soft to hard
- Recommended Aquatic Arts tank mates: Other types of snails (Nerite snails, Mystery Snails, Sulawesi Snails, etc.), dwarf shrimp (such as Blue Velvet shrimp, Sakura Fire Red Cherry Shrimp, Neon Yellow Shrimp, etc.). They can also be kept with small to medium-sized, non-aggressive fish.
- Additional notes: Ramshorn snails are not picky at all about their water parameters, and they tend to reproduce like crazy in almost any conditions. If you run into problems with snail overpopulation, a few Assassin Snails will quickly take care of the problem. Ramshorn snails eat algae, waste, and invertebrate pellets or fish food. Snails are very sensitive to copper, so watch out for copper if you use tap water in your tank.
What does “assorted” mean for Ramshorn Snails?
Assorted means you’ll receive a mix of shell colors and patterns. Ramshorns can vary widely, including reds, browns, blues, and mottled tones. No two batches look exactly the same.
Are these Ramshorn Snails tank bred?
Yes. These ramshorn snails are tank bred, meaning they’re already adapted to aquarium life and typically acclimate very smoothly.
Are Ramshorn Snails good algae eaters?
Yes. They’re excellent grazers and very effective at cleaning soft algae, biofilm, and leftover food from glass, décor, and plants.
Do Ramshorn Snails eat live plants?
Healthy plants are safe. Ramshorns prefer algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter. If a leaf is already dying, they may help clean it up.
Are Ramshorn Snails safe with shrimp and fish?
Yes. They’re completely peaceful and shrimp safe. They won’t bother fish, shrimp, or other invertebrates.
How big do Ramshorn Snails get?
Planorbarius corneus can grow larger than many smaller ramshorn species, often reaching around 1–1.5 inches in shell diameter.
Do Ramshorn Snails reproduce easily?
Yes. They reproduce readily in most aquariums. Population size is closely tied to feeding levels — more food usually means more snails.
How do I control Ramshorn Snail population growth?
Feeding control is key. Avoid overfeeding, remove excess food, and populations usually balance themselves naturally over time.
Are Ramshorn Snails active or mostly hidden?
They’re quite active. You’ll regularly see them moving across glass, plants, and hardscape throughout the day.
Who are Assorted Ramshorn Snails best suited for?
They’re ideal for planted tanks, shrimp tanks, and aquarists who want an efficient clean-up crew and don’t mind natural reproduction.
Shipping, Arrival & Acclimation
How are Assorted Ramshorn Snails shipped?
They’re packed for live arrival with insulation and temperature control used as needed. Shipping methods prioritize animal health over speed.
What should I do when my snails arrive?
Open the box promptly and inspect the snails while they’re still sealed in the bag. It’s normal for some snails to be inactive during shipping.
How should I acclimate Ramshorn Snails?
A slow acclimation works best. Gradually introduce tank water to the bag water so the snails can adjust to temperature and water chemistry differences.
Is drip acclimation recommended for snails?
Yes. Drip acclimation helps reduce stress and supports healthy shell and body adjustment, especially if your tank parameters differ from the shipping water.
Should I expect immediate movement after adding them to the tank?
Some may begin moving right away, while others may take a few hours to settle in. Both behaviors are normal.
How can I tell if a Ramshorn Snail is alive after arrival?
Give them time. Snails that remain closed may simply be resting. Once acclimated, most will slowly extend and begin grazing.
Should I feed Ramshorn Snails right away?
You can wait. Ramshorns usually begin grazing on algae and biofilm immediately. Supplemental food can be added later if needed.
What tanks are best for newly arrived Ramshorn Snails?
Established, cycled tanks with visible algae or biofilm are ideal. Stable conditions matter more than exact water parameters.
Shell Care & Calcium (Important for All Invertebrates)
Once acclimation is complete, long-term success depends on shell and mineral support. This applies to all snails, shrimp, crabs, and crayfish.
Why is calcium important for invertebrates?
Calcium and trace minerals are required to build and maintain shells and exoskeletons. Without proper mineral support, shells can thin, pit, crack, or erode over time.
Which animals need calcium and mineral support?
All invertebrates do. If it has a shell or exoskeleton, minerals matter.
What problems are caused by low minerals?
Common issues include shell erosion, pitting, cracking, soft shells, and failed molts — especially after shipping or water changes.
Is it normal to see shell changes after arrival?
Yes. New shell growth may look different from older sections, and this is normal as the animal adjusts to its new environment.
Can damaged shells be repaired?
Old damage won’t disappear, but new growth can improve significantly once mineral balance, diet, and stability are corrected.
Does water hardness affect shell health?
Yes. Extremely soft or acidic water can contribute to shell erosion over time. Supplemental calcium becomes especially important in these conditions.
What’s the easiest way to add calcium?
Cuttlebone is a simple, low-maintenance option that slowly releases calcium and can remain in the tank continuously.
Does diet affect shell health?
Absolutely. In addition to natural grazing, offering quality invertebrate foods helps provide consistent mineral intake. Dedicated foods from Kats Aquatics are an easy way to support shell strength and long-term health.
What helps most after acclimation?
Stable parameters, available calcium, gentle feeding, and avoiding sudden changes. Consistency is the biggest factor in long-term success.
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.
