About Golden Apple Snails

Golden apple snails are available at most neighborhood pet stores. Unfortunately, there is some misinformation about these snails, especially considering that there is no "'golden apple snail." Apple snails actually represent a wide variety of species, that can prove to be wonderful and relatively low-maintenance pets. But knowing how to properly care for such animals requires some careful planning and research.

  1. The Facts

    • As the biggest freshwater snail on earth, apple snails have become common aquarium pets. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, although the larger types can reach up to 6 inches in diameter. Although apple snails are often sold under the name "golden apple snail"' or even the "golden mystery snail," these names aren't scientifically accurate. Golden apple snails are not a distinct speciesl they are simply apple snails that happen to be gold in color.

    Benefits

    • These snails can make delightful pets. While they are perfectly capable of living with most fish species in a single aquarium, they are able to live even in still water with almost no oxygen. Their individual diet may vary widely by species, however. And despite having become invasive in other parts of the world, they are being introduced in Africa as competitors to local snail species (which serve as disease vectors for swimmer's itch and schistosomiasis).

    Type

    • Apple snails is the informal name for the Ampullariidae family of mollusks. This family is broken down into seven genera, which subdivides further into about 120 species. Most of the apple snails sold at pet stores are either Pomacea bridgesii, or Pomacea canaliculata. These snails can vary widely in color within their own species, and the only means of reliable identification requires careful examination of the shell. The most distinct species, however, is the Marisa cornuarietis (giant ramhorn snail), which has a flat shell with or without dark stripes.

    Features

    • Apple snails thrive in tropical environments and have evolved accordingly. They are capable of closing off their shells completely during dry periods. In addition, they are not exclusively aquatic; while the right side of their body sports gill-like structures for breathing underwater, the left side sports a single lung for coming to the surface. Apple snails may prefer to live in the water, but they have learned to lay their eggs above the water line for protection.

    Risk Factors

    • As a pet, the varied appetites of apple snails can wreak havoc. While some may nibble away at your aquarium's algae population, others may devour valuable aquatic vegetation. Meanwhile, apple snails have become invasive throughout much of East and Southeast Asia: their ability to venture on land in search of food has caused significant damage to local ecosystems and agriculture. Ironically, their invasive abundance means that they are now sold in local markets. Undercooked snails, however, can transmit a a parasite called Angiostrongylus cantonensis.