Yoda snail (egg-shaped mud snail) - Radix balthica

The shell of Radix balthica, the egg-shaped mud snail, is clearly rounder than that of other mud snails. The last shell is clearly higher and broader than the older shell parts. The slightly transparent shell is of a golden light brown, the dark spots on the mantle tissue, which is adjacent to the inside, shine through. On the light brown body the pretty egg-shaped mud snail has lots of golden dots. Their antennae widen significantly at the base, giving them a triangular shape. These triangular antennae are quite typical for egg-shaped mud snails and distinguish them from bubble snails with their thread-like antennae, which at first glance look somewhat similar to them. Unlike the bubble snail, the shell of the mud snail is right-wound, so the opening looks exactly to the other side. The egg-shaped mud snail is a lung snail and needs to breathe on the water surface.

Radix balthica is also found in nature in slow flowing and stagnant waters , so it is also very suitable for garden ponds and balcony ponds (the latter must be overwintered frost-free). Its shell grows up to 2.5 cm long, but usually remains smaller in the aquarium. Like all mud snails, the egg-shaped mud snail is a hermaphrodite, i.e. it has both male and female sex organs.

The egg-shaped mud snail is an adaptable, robust small aquarium inhabitant and pond snail. Medium to hard water and a pH above 7 help in shell formation.

An omnivore, it feeds on uneaten food scraps, as well as algae and the scum on the water surface, where it can often be seen floating up and feeding. Healthy plants with soft leaves are nibbled by the egg-shaped mud snail from time to time, usually the feeding damage manifests itself only as small holes.

The egg-shaped mud snail tends to reproduce well in cooler water. It deposits its gelatinous long narrow ice strings on hard substrates such as wood and stones. The young snails hatch after one to two weeks, depending on temperature.

Egg-shaped mud snails are excellent to keep with peaceful dwarf shr imp and fan shrimp, peaceful fish, other snails and with mussels . It is not recommended to keep them with large crabs, shrimps, longarm shrimps and predatory snails.  

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.