Channelled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) care guide

Group

Snails

Other names

Golden apple snail, Channeled apple snail, Apple snail, Golden mystery snail (misapplied)

Family

Ampullariidae

Origin

Tropical and subtropical South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

15 cm

Temperature

18–28°C

pH

7–8

Hardness

8–18 dGH, 4–10 dKH

Minimum tank

75 litres

Care level

beginner

Lifespan

2–4 years

Care

The channelled apple snail is a large freshwater apple snail from South America, with a round shell up to about 15 cm. Wild shells are banded brown, black and yellowish tan, and gold and albino forms are bred. It is named for the deep channel along the shell's suture, which helps tell it from Pomacea diffusa, the smaller 'mystery snail' usually sold in Europe. It is among the world's worst invasive species: released and escaped snails spread across Asia, the USA, Chile and now Kenya, where they destroy rice and taro crops. Legal: The EU bans the import and movement of Pomacea apple snails because they damage rice crops. Check the current rules before buying or selling, never release them, and never put them in a garden pond. Never release this animal or empty its tank water into drains or waterways. Set-up: a covered tank of at least 75 litres with good filtration, because it eats a lot and produces a lot of waste. It breathes air with a siphon as well as gills, so leave a gap between the water and the lid. It tolerates a wide range of temperatures and hard water suits its shell; the figures here are general guidance rather than from a source. Plants: unlike P. diffusa, it eats almost any plant, from soft stems to tough leaves, so it is not suitable for planted tanks. Young snails mainly graze algae and detritus; larger ones switch to plants. Health: apple snails can carry rat lungworm, a parasite that infects people who eat raw or undercooked snails. Wash your hands after handling snails or tank water. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never treat a tank holding them with copper, check the label of any fertiliser or medicine, and keep nets and buckets used for copper-treated tanks separate. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomaceacanaliculata). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Eats almost anything: plants, algae, detritus and animal matter. Feed blanched vegetables (courgette, lettuce, spinach, cucumber), sinking pellets and algae wafers, with a source of calcium such as cuttlebone so the shell grows strongly. Remove leftovers, as large snails foul the water quickly.

Breeding

Sexes are separate, and a female can store sperm. Females climb out of the water at night to lay bright pink to orange egg clutches on plants, rocks and the tank lid. The eggs contain defensive proteins that deter predators, so handle them with gloves. They hatch in about two weeks, fading in colour as they develop, and submerging them lowers hatching. Breeding happens readily all year in warm water. To stop a population boom, remove clutches and dispose of them humanely, for example by freezing; never put them in the bin or garden or flush them.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful towards fish and shrimp, but it destroys aquarium plants and may eat snail eggs and dead fish. Avoid fin-nipping fish, puffers and loaches that attack snails. Never keep it outdoors or in a pond.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.