Bladder Snail (Physa acuta) Care Guide
A tiny, ubiquitous freshwater snail often introduced accidentally on plants. An efficient scavenger that consumes decaying matter, uneaten food, and soft algae.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Physa acuta is a species in the family Physidae. A tiny, ubiquitous freshwater snail often introduced accidentally on plants. An efficient scavenger that consumes decaying matter, uneaten food, and soft algae. Its thin, translucent shell spirals to the left, distinguishing it from most other snails.
Taxonomy
- Family: Physidae
- Genus: Physa
- Scientific name: Physa acuta
- Other names: Acute Bladder Snail, Tadpole Snail
- Origin: Cosmopolitan
Habitat
Physa acuta, a small, fast-breeding bladder snail now cosmopolitan in distribution after spreading from the Americas. It tolerates a very wide range of conditions, grazes algae and biofilm, and often arrives unintentionally on plants.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 5 L
- Temperature: 15-30 °C
- pH: 6-8.5
- GH: 4-20 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Adult size: 0.5-1.5 cm
- Lifespan: 0.5-1 year
- Difficulty: beginner
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: self-feeding. 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, Shrimp
- Avoid with: Assassin Snail, Clown Loach, Puffer Fish
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-layer
- Breeding difficulty: beginner
Breeding the Bladder Snail
Overview
Physella acuta, the acute bladder snail, is a small, prolific freshwater snail. It reproduces year-round and a single introduced individual is enough to establish a population, which is why it spreads so readily in aquaria.
Reproduction Mode
P. acuta is a simultaneous hermaphrodite with functioning male and female organs at the same time. It is self-compatible, reproducing by outcrossing with other individuals or by self-fertilization. In natural populations outcrossing predominates, but self-fertilization accounts for between 10 and 30 percent of reproduction and increases when mates are scarce.
Egg-laying & Young
Mature adults lay 50-100 eggs per week, deposited in elongate gelatinous sacs attached to rock, compacted mud, or the shells of other individuals. Eggs hatch after 15-20 days. Snails reach maturity in about 5-7 weeks when outcrossing, or around 14 weeks when self-fertilizing.
Population Control
Rapid reproduction in aquaria is driven mainly by an oversupply of food, particularly from overfeeding fish and shrimp. Reducing surplus food limits population growth. Recorded laboratory lifespans are approximately 22-30 weeks, with one report of an individual surviving 88 weeks.