Black Sulawesi Snail

Tylomelania patriarchalis

Family : Pachychilidae

InvertebrateFreshwatersnail

Freshwater snail endemic to Sulawesi, recognizable by its elongated black shell. Peaceful and easy to keep.

Black Sulawesi Snail — photo 1 sur 3 — Paul Sarasin / Fritz Sarasin · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain1 / 3

Popularity

Freshwater snail

algivore or detritivore

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Description

Tylomelania patriarchalis has a conical black shell reaching up to 8 cm. Its body is dark with fine tentacles. It moves slowly on the substrate searching for food. It is a detritivore that helps clean the aquarium. Active both day and night. Reproduction is oviparous, eggs are laid on hard surfaces. It cohabits well with peaceful fish.

Habitat

Region :

Lakes and rivers

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature26–30 °C

pH7.5–8.5

GH8–15 °dGH

KH5–10 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 20 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty

2/5

Diet

Omnivore

Min. tank

40 L

Min. group

Adult size

8 cm

Lifespan

3 years

Temperament

Peaceful

Propagation

egg-laying

Care notes

Ideal temperature between 26 and 30°C, pH 7.5 to 8.5. Hard, alkaline water is recommended. A tank of at least 40 liters is sufficient. Diet consists of algae, blanched vegetables, and bottom feeder pellets. Avoid aggressive fish or large cichlids. A fine substrate is preferable to prevent injuries. Regular water changes are important. Nitrates should not exceed 20 mg/L.

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