Mystery/Japanese Trapdoor snails

These large freshwater snails are quite unusual-looking yet very attractive, varying in coloration and patterns.   Japanese Trapdoor Snails are named for their operculum, which is a tough plate that protects the snail by forming a seal at the edge of the snail's shell when its soft body is retracted inside. They are also known by the name Chinese Mystery Snails. These snails' shells are spiral-shaped, but otherwise they vary significantly in appearance - no two snails look exactly alike!  Each snail has slightly different coloration and patterns, but they usually feature more natural-looking colors such as brown and green. Trapdoor Snails are quite large as adults and can grow up to 2 inches in length, making them one of the largest freshwater snails in the aquarium hobby.   They also serve some very useful purposes. They clean algae off of glass, plants, and decorations, and they keep your substrate clean and the correct color.  They are particularly adept at keeping your tank or pond and any live plants free of algae, with minimal damage to the plants.  They are totally safe with any fish, shrimp, or plants, and are completely peaceful.  In addition to eating algae, they consume uneaten fish food and waste on the floor of tanks and ponds.   We offer 2 variants of Japanese Trapdoor Snails (please specify your preference by selecting a pack at the top of this page): Adult Japanese Trapdoor Snails (1/2 up to 2 inch snails)  Juvenile Japanese Trapdoor Snails (1/16 to 1/4 inch snails)   RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:  pH level range: 6.5 - 8.0  Temperature range: 68° - 85° F (20° - 29° C) Water type: Soft to medium hard  Recommended Aquatic Arts tank mates: Other types of snails (Nerite snails, Mystery Snails, Sulawesi Snails, etc.), dwarf shrimp (such as Blue Velvet shrimp, Sakura Red Cherry Shrimp, Bee Shrimp, etc.). They can also be kept with small to medium-sized, non-aggressive fish.  Additional notes: With trapdoor snails, it's a good idea to make sure the water line in your aquarium isn't too high, as these snails tend to climb up to the water line to breathe air. Other than algae and biofilm, they also eat fish or invertebrate pellets and blanched vegetables such as zucchini, kale, spinach, or cucumber. Snails are very sensitive to copper, so watch out for copper if you use tap water in your tank. All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support directly from the owners!