Giant Colombian Ramshorn care guide
Giant Colombian Ramshorn (Marisa cornuarietis) — minimum tank 40 L, temperature 21-28 °C, pH 7-8.
Overview
The Giant Colombian Ramshorn (Marisa cornuarietis), also called the Giant Ramshorn or Apple Snail, is a large freshwater apple snail with a flat, ramshorn-style coiled shell that can reach 5 cm across. Despite the common "ramshorn" name it belongs to the family Ampullariidae, not the Planorbidae.
Taxonomy
- Family: Ampullariidae
- Genus: Marisa
- Scientific name: Marisa cornuarietis
- Common synonyms: Marisa Snail, Giant Ramshorn
Habitat
Native to the northern South American tropics — Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and adjacent regions — where it inhabits warm, slow waters of lakes, ponds and ditches with abundant aquatic vegetation. Established feral populations occur in Florida and parts of southern Europe.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (10.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Temperature: 21-28 °C (70-82 °F)
- pH: 7-8
- GH: 6-18 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 2-4 years
Diet
A grazing herbivore that will consume soft-leaved aquarium plants in addition to algae and decaying material. It is used in some regions as a biological control agent against invasive aquatic weeds and parasite-carrying snails. Supplemental blanched vegetables and algae wafers prevent the snail from over-grazing live plants.
Compatibility
Peaceful toward fish and shrimp but unsuitable for planted aquaria with delicate or soft-leaved species, as the snail will eat them. Compatible with hardy plants such as Anubias, Microsorum and Vallisneria, and with most peaceful community fish.
Breeding
A gonochoristic species (separate sexes) that lays gelatinous egg clutches below the waterline rather than the aerial pink clutches of Pomacea. Eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks; populations can grow rapidly when conditions are favourable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is considered invasive in several introduced regions and release into wild waters should be strictly avoided.