Melanoides tuberculata
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Original Image: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2126617775_682b8d6034.jpg
Common Names
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail
- Trumpet Snail
- Live Bearing Snail
Acronyms
- MTS
Water Parameters
Temperature: 76-82 F
Ph: 6.5-8.0
Diet
Omnivorous
Eats: algae, fish food, invertebrate food, algae wafers, etc.
Breeding Behavior
Rate: Very Fast
Reproducing Type: Asexual
Live Bearers
This snail is one of the most versatile and beneficial snails within the hobby. Some hobbyist consider this snail a pest due to its prolific breeding, and try to annihilate the population. However, I want to show the good side of this wonderful invertebrate.
First of all, these snails eat minimal live plant matter. Some accounts of these snails eating their live plants is that the snails could be hungry. Supplement feeding of algae wafers prevent this from happening. These snails will happily eat algae and any leftover food for shrimp or fish. Another benefit of these snails is that they are not large enough to push shrimp away for food. Thus, shrimp and fish always get priority for food.
Secondly, these snails aerate the substrate. This prevents harmful pockets of uneaten food from building up, and in a cleaning, burst in a flurry of ammonia into the water column. The snails will bury themselves within the substrate and eat the food. Some hobbyist say that the snails destroy carpeting plants such as Hemianthus callitrichoides by uprooting them. I cannot say this is true or not, for I have never had this problem.
Thirdly, these snails reproduce quickly without eggs and with a single snail. Some hobbyist see the prolific reproduction as a benefit, however, many hobbyist see this as invasive. I personally, enjoy seeing baby trumpets eating algae and biofilm off my glass. Honestly, I see no harm in this snail being able to reproduce quickly, as you can give or sell the adults as the fry need no special attention. However, a rapid reproduction rate is a sign of overfeeding.
Finally, this is the only snail able to survive in the hard waters of African Cichlids!
Overall, these are great snails for any tank, hardy, undemanding sums them up.
Original Image: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2126617775_682b8d6034.jpg
Common Names
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail
- Trumpet Snail
- Live Bearing Snail
Acronyms
- MTS
Water Parameters
Temperature: 76-82 F
Ph: 6.5-8.0
Diet
Omnivorous
Eats: algae, fish food, invertebrate food, algae wafers, etc.
Breeding Behavior
Rate: Very Fast
Reproducing Type: Asexual
Live Bearers
This snail is one of the most versatile and beneficial snails within the hobby. Some hobbyist consider this snail a pest due to its prolific breeding, and try to annihilate the population. However, I want to show the good side of this wonderful invertebrate.
First of all, these snails eat minimal live plant matter. Some accounts of these snails eating their live plants is that the snails could be hungry. Supplement feeding of algae wafers prevent this from happening. These snails will happily eat algae and any leftover food for shrimp or fish. Another benefit of these snails is that they are not large enough to push shrimp away for food. Thus, shrimp and fish always get priority for food.
Secondly, these snails aerate the substrate. This prevents harmful pockets of uneaten food from building up, and in a cleaning, burst in a flurry of ammonia into the water column. The snails will bury themselves within the substrate and eat the food. Some hobbyist say that the snails destroy carpeting plants such as Hemianthus callitrichoides by uprooting them. I cannot say this is true or not, for I have never had this problem.
Thirdly, these snails reproduce quickly without eggs and with a single snail. Some hobbyist see the prolific reproduction as a benefit, however, many hobbyist see this as invasive. I personally, enjoy seeing baby trumpets eating algae and biofilm off my glass. Honestly, I see no harm in this snail being able to reproduce quickly, as you can give or sell the adults as the fry need no special attention. However, a rapid reproduction rate is a sign of overfeeding.
Finally, this is the only snail able to survive in the hard waters of African Cichlids!
Overall, these are great snails for any tank, hardy, undemanding sums them up.
