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mousey · 05-26-2007, 06:37 PM

Hi, i copied this off "Robyn's snail Page"

Survive in aquariums: Yes
Survive in warm ponds: Yes
Survive in cold ponds: No
Plant eating capacity: Low to High (varies with species)
Algae eating capacity: Moderate to High
Breathing: Gilled
Breeding: Sexual, egg-laying; some people say that some are live-bearing

Mystery snails are medium-sized tropical snails. Some mystery snails are Ampullaria sp. such as the four horned and Golden Inca snails above which are heavy algae and plant eaters. Another keeper of apple and mystery snails says that all mystery snails are the apple snail, Pomacea bridgesii (usually written incorrectly as Pomacea bridgesi). Yet another source says they are all Pomacea cuprina! The guy who runs applesnail.net says most mystery snails are Pomacea bridgesii or from the Viviparidae family. I have seen snails sold as mystery snails that are all different colors and obviously multiple species. There is no agreement between stores, keepers, and "experts" as to what is what. Some mystery snails eat algae and detritus and do not overly harm plants. Since they must be kept above 70 degrees F at all times, they cannot be kept in ponds except in tropical regions. They make a good heated aquarium snail. Males may have a convex (sticks out) operculum or trap door, and females may have a concave (goes in) operculum. Mystery snails may "play dead" for days or even weeks by floating on the surface or laying still on the bottom (see here for more information). The reason for this dormancy is unknown. Most commonly sold mystery snails are also apple snails. Apple and mystery snails are often interchanged. This is confusing to many people including myself. For apple snail information and links, see above. If anyone has a list of proper common and scientific names for any of the dozens of species of mystery snails, please e-mail me. The mystery snail truly is a mystery because it can refer to dozens of possible species with totally different attributes. No "experts" seem to agree on what is what!

My "Mystery" Snail:

05-26-2007, 06:37 PM	#2
mousey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 807	Hi, i copied this off "Robyn's snail Page" Survive in aquariums: Yes Survive in warm ponds: Yes Survive in cold ponds: No Plant eating capacity: Low to High (varies with species) Algae eating capacity: Moderate to High Breathing: Gilled Breeding: Sexual, egg-laying; some people say that some are live-bearing Mystery snails are medium-sized tropical snails. Some mystery snails are Ampullaria sp. such as the four horned and Golden Inca snails above which are heavy algae and plant eaters. Another keeper of apple and mystery snails says that all mystery snails are the apple snail, Pomacea bridgesii (usually written incorrectly as Pomacea bridgesi). Yet another source says they are all Pomacea cuprina! The guy who runs applesnail.net says most mystery snails are Pomacea bridgesii or from the Viviparidae family. I have seen snails sold as mystery snails that are all different colors and obviously multiple species. There is no agreement between stores, keepers, and "experts" as to what is what. Some mystery snails eat algae and detritus and do not overly harm plants. Since they must be kept above 70 degrees F at all times, they cannot be kept in ponds except in tropical regions. They make a good heated aquarium snail. Males may have a convex (sticks out) operculum or trap door, and females may have a concave (goes in) operculum. Mystery snails may "play dead" for days or even weeks by floating on the surface or laying still on the bottom (see here for more information). The reason for this dormancy is unknown. Most commonly sold mystery snails are also apple snails. Apple and mystery snails are often interchanged. This is confusing to many people including myself. For apple snail information and links, see above. If anyone has a list of proper common and scientific names for any of the dozens of species of mystery snails, please e-mail me. The mystery snail truly is a mystery because it can refer to dozens of possible species with totally different attributes. No "experts" seem to agree on what is what! My "Mystery" Snail: __________________ mousey Toronto. Canada