How to Raise Apple Snails

Apple snails are a freshwater snail that originated in the tropics. The snails are relatively large---2 to 6 inches in size---and have an attractive shell. Easy to care for, they make popular pets. Due to their ability to remove debris and algae, apple snails are useful in aquariums, and they coexist peacefully with fish. Unlike many snail species, apple snails are not hermaphrodites. They have separated sexes. You must have at least one male and one female for them to breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Male and female apple snails
  • Aquarium with cover
  • Water heater
  • Pellet fish food, brine shrimp and vegetables
  • Styrofoam slabs
  • Small wooden stick
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up the aquarium for the apple snails. Fill it with water that is free of copper and other metals. Provide at least 2.5 gallons of water for each snail. Leave a 6-inch gap at the top of the tank to allow the female snails to leave the water to deposit eggs. Place a cover on the aquarium to prevent the snails from crawling out of it.

    • 2

      Place the water heater in the aquarium. Heat the water until it is between 65 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is the optimal range for apple snails. It also will encourage breeding.

    • 3

      Introduce the apple snails to the tank and provide them with food. Apple snails eat a wide range of vegetation, including cucumber, spinach, lettuce and carrots. Feed them pellet fish food and brine shrimp as well. Start with a small pinch of each of these foods and adapt the amount of food you give them according to what they eat. For instance, if food is left in the water, reduce the amount you give them. If they eat all of the food right away, increase the amount.

    • 4

      Move the eggs laid by the female onto flat pieces of Styrofoam to float in the water. You can do move them with your finger or with the tip of a wooden stick, such as a popsicle stick or a chopstick. Be gentle with the eggs when moving them. The eggs will hatch in two to four weeks.

    • 5

      Feed the baby snails soft algae and leftover foods from the adult snails. Within one to two weeks, the baby snails will eat the same food as the adults.