Paradise snail - Marisa cornuarietis

Paradise Snail - Marisa cornuarietis

There is probably no apple snail as unusual in appearance as the Paradise Snail Marisa cornuarietis from Central America and northern South America. In fact, due to its rather plate-shaped shell, it is often mistakenly assigned to the posthorn and plate snail family (Planorbidae). The Paradise Snail, up to 5 cm in size, has an attractive pattern of brown-black stripes of varying thickness on a cream to light yellow ground, rarely the animals are also pure cream to gold in color without stripes. The soft body itself is usually light to whitish gray and is broken up by many small darker pigmented spots.

The Paradise Snail is one of the apple snail species that actually goes to healthy, living plants and accepts them as a food source. In doing so, it does not even stop at decidedly hard-leaved plants such as Anubias. You can curb their feeding frenzy a bit by feeding lots of vegetables, but even then they won't necessarily spare the plants completely. Due to its considerable size, the Paradise Snail cannot live on falling food scraps or algae alone, but it is relatively undemanding, which makes feeding easy. Fish food can serve as food for the omnivores as well as fresh vegetables (which should always be peeled or washed). Meaty foods such as dried water fleas (daphnia) or tubifex or even some scraped fish are also suitable supplements. As an additional calcium supply, commercial cuttlefish shells for ornamental birds can be given as well as crushed eggshells, which are simply added to the water. Since paradise snails grow strongly and reproduce well, they draw a lot of lime from the water. To avoid a drop in acidity, they should definitely be supplied with calcium through their diet.

Due to their extremely active metabolism, this large, very robust snail should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 54 l under any circumstances. Per apple snail one also calculates 10 l.       

The Paradise Snail delights with its lively activity, because in contrast to many other snail species it does not only go on forays for mating and foraging, but is also a curious and active animal independently of this. It is extremely interesting to observe. It is a peaceful and very robust species of apple snail, which allows it to socialize with almost all fish and invertebrates. It is especially suitable as a permanent live food source, for example in crab or crayfish aquariums, due to its very good reproduction.

Like all representatives of the family Ampullaridae, the Paradise Snails are separately sexual, i.e. there are males and females. The sexual orifice, or penis, is located on the right side of the head, and the male sexual organ should not be confused with the respiratory tube (sipho), which is found on the left side. As far as egg-laying is concerned, the paradise snails are absolutely unique among the apple snails, because they lay their eggs in the water and not outside of it. The eggs, about 3 - 5 mm in size, are glued in jelly packets to plants and are easily visible. If no offspring are desired, they can be easily removed - please freeze them and do not simply put them into the sewage system! No human intervention is necessary for the young to thrive.

Our food recommendation: With the Natureholic Snail Feed Power Paste you create a feeding lawn that is very well accepted by all aufwuchs feeding snails. Also delicate wild-caught snails such as racing snails or staghorn snails, which are stressed after transport and do not go to conventional food, can be fed up well with it.

Our plant recommendation: Use for the planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Actively prevent outbreaks: With the invisible Natureholic Snail Barrier you prevent the escape and loss of your snails from the aquarium.