Black Devil Snail (Faunus ater) Care Guide

A large, elegant freshwater snail with a sleek, elongated black conical shell that can reach up to 7 cm. Completely peaceful and an efficient algae and detritus consumer. Cannot breed in freshwater.

Overview

Faunus ater is a species in the family Pachychilidae. A large, elegant freshwater snail with a sleek, elongated black conical shell that can reach up to 7 cm. Completely peaceful and an efficient algae and detritus consumer. Cannot breed in freshwater.

Taxonomy

Family: Pachychilidae
Genus: Faunus
Scientific name: Faunus ater
Other names: Faunus Snail, Lava Snail
Origin: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat

Faunus ater, a long, dark-shelled snail from brackish estuaries and lower freshwater reaches of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines. It grazes biofilm, algae and detritus and does not reproduce in pure fresh water.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 40 L
Temperature: 22-28 °C
pH: 7-8.5
GH: 6-18 °dGH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 5-7 cm
Lifespan: 3-6 years
Difficulty: beginner

Diet

Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: peaceful
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Any Peaceful Fish, Cherry Shrimp, Corydoras
Avoid with: Assassin Snail, Clown Loach, Puffer Fish

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-layer
Breeding difficulty: advanced