Scientific Name: Viviparus malleattus
Common Name: Trapdoor Snail, Japanese Trapdoor Snail, Chinese Mystery Snails
Adult Size: 2.5 inches
Life Expectancy: 3 - 10 years
Habitat: South America
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
-
Temperature Range: 65 - 75°F
-
pH Range: 6.5 - 8.5
-
Water Hardness: 8 - 18
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Herbivores that can exist by living solely on algae and leftover fish food.To ensure they’re getting the correct amount of nutrition, supplement their diet with sinking invertebrate pellets, algae wafers, and even blanched zucchini.
Breeding & Spawning: Unlike some snail species that breed so fast they may take over the tank, Trapdoor Snails have a 9-month gestation period, so no need to worry about overpopulation. These mollusks reach reproductive maturity at about one year of age. They are livebearers that birth up to 20 snails per cycle. The females use their tentacles to hold the newborn snails and remove the membranes that surround them. A separate breeding tank is not required nor are any adjusted parameters for breeding required.
Gender: Females have longer tentacles.
