Giant apple snail (Pomacea maculata) care guide

Group
Snails
Other names
Island apple snail, Pomacea insularum, Channelled apple snail (often confused)
Family
Ampullariidae
Origin
South America: Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, probably Uruguay and Paraguay. Invasive in the USA and parts of Asia
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
15 cm
Temperature
18–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Hardness
8–18 dGH, 4–12 dKH
Minimum tank
100 litres
Care level
beginner

Care

The giant or island apple snail is a large South American apple snail with a thin, globular shell up to about 15 cm. Shells are banded in brown, black and yellowish-tan, and albino and gold forms exist. Females are larger than males and the operculum shape differs between the sexes. Pomacea insularum is a synonym. It is often confused with the channelled apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata. 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. Invasive species: introduced, probably from aquarium releases, it is now established in Florida, Georgia and Texas and recorded in Taiwan, Singapore and Puerto Rico. It is a pest of rice and crayfish farming, outcompetes native snails and is listed among Europe's worst alien species. Never release this animal or empty its tank water into drains or waterways. Set-up: a large, lidded tank of 100 litres or more with strong filtration, because it eats a lot and produces plenty of waste. Leave a gap between water and lid and do not let the snail escape. It can breathe air and survives long periods out of water. Water: it tolerates a very wide range (laboratory tests show survival from about 15 to 36 °C and in slightly salty water), but in the aquarium keep it at 18–28 °C in hard, alkaline water so the shell stays strong. Plants: it eats aquatic plants heavily and is not suitable for planted tanks. Health: wild snails can carry rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which can infect people. Wash hands after handling and never eat snails from an aquarium. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most invertebrates. Never dose copper in a tank holding this animal, and check fertiliser and medicine labels before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomaceamaculata). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Herbivore and scavenger. Eats live and dead plants and algae, and in tests even frog eggs. Feed blanched vegetables (courgette, cucumber, spinach, lettuce), sinking pellets and algae wafers, plus a calcium source such as cuttlebone. Remove uneaten food to protect water quality.

Breeding

Sexes are separate; females are larger and can store sperm, so one mating gives several clutches. Females lay bright pink clutches of about 1,500–2,100 eggs above the waterline on the glass or lid; eggs left under water die. They hatch in 10–14 days. One snail may lay tens of thousands of eggs in its life, so remove clutches you do not want and dispose of them by freezing, never down drains or into waterways.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful towards fish, but it will strip most aquarium plants. Avoid fish that nip snail feelers (puffers, some barbs and cichlids) and snail-eating loaches. Not a community-tank algae cleaner.

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

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