Swamp cover snail juvenile 7-14mm - Viviparus viviparus

Here are German offspring (DNZ) of the swamp cover snail Viviparus viviparus for aquarium and garden pond. The young snails are still growing, they are not yet sexually mature. The distinction between males and females is not yet reliably possible here. Therefore we recommend a somewhat larger group of 5 animals, so that later also relatively surely males and females are present.  

The swamp cover snail Viviparus viviparus is native to sediment-rich flowing and stagnant waters in Central and Eastern Europe. It can be kept in the garden pond without problems and can also be overwintered. In the aquarium a temperature reduction in winter is advisable, also in summer the temperatures should not rise above 24 °C. Finer substrate like sand is preferred. The swamp cover snail can be kept from 45-50 liters, at a pH of 7-8 and a GH up to 22. The KH should be above 3.

The shell of the swamp lidded snail grows up to 4 cm in size and is grayish yellow to brownish green in base color. It is adorned by three spiral red-brown bands. The sexes can be distinguished quite easily in the separately sexual swamp lidded snail, as in all Viviparidae, because the males have two unequally thick antennae, unlike the females. The right antenna is significantly thicker than the left and functions as a mating organ.

The swamp cover snail is a live-bearer. In about every two weeks the female releases a 7 to 10 mm live young, which is immediately on its own in the aquarium.

As a filter feeder the swamp lidded snail needs daily Dust foodbut it also likes to graze on algae growth and other biofilms, and it also likes brown Autumn leaves. After some time in the aquarium, the swamp cover snail also goes for leftovers from fish or shrimp food.

Despite its size, the swamp cover snail is not a particularly hardy snail, so it should not be kept with curious and stressful aquarium mates. Very assertive snails like Marisa can give it strong food competition and displace it in the long run. It can be kept together with mussels or other invertebrates that eat dust food, such as fan shrimps . In such an aquarium, however, it needs low-flow zones!

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

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.