Pagoda Snail (Brotia pagodula) Care Guide
A unique freshwater snail with a distinctive spiky, tiered shell resembling a pagoda tower. Native to fast-flowing rivers in Thailand, it requires excellent water quality with high oxygen levels and m…
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Brotia pagodula is a species in the family Pachychilidae. A unique freshwater snail with a distinctive spiky, tiered shell resembling a pagoda tower. Native to fast-flowing rivers in Thailand, it requires excellent water quality with high oxygen levels and moderate to strong water flow.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pachychilidae
- Genus: Brotia
- Scientific name: Brotia pagodula
- Other names: Porcupine Snail, Spiky Snail
- Origin: Southeast Asia, Thailand
Habitat
Brotia pagodula, a freshwater snail from fast-flowing, oxygen-rich rivers of Thailand, recognised by the spiny, pagoda-like sculpture of its shell. It grazes biofilm and detritus and prefers clean, hard, well-oxygenated water.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C
- pH: 7-8.5
- GH: 6-18 °dGH
- Water flow: strong
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as herbivore. 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, Hillstream Loach
- Avoid with: Assassin Snail, Clown Loach, Puffer Fish
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: live-bearer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Breeding the Pagoda Snail
Overview
Brotia pagodula is a freshwater snail in the family Pachychilidae, the type species of the genus Brotia. Reproductive data specific to this species is limited, but the genus has a well-documented and distinctive reproductive mode.
Sexing & Reproduction Mode
Snails of the genus Brotia are gonochoristic, meaning each individual is either male or female, so both sexes must be present to reproduce. They are viviparous: developing eggs and young are retained in a specialized brood pouch and released as crawling juveniles rather than as free eggs or planktonic larvae.
Young
Because young are brooded internally and emerge as small, fully formed snails, there is no separate egg-laying or larval phase to manage. The number of young produced is not specified in the available source.
Common Challenges
Reliable external sexing is not documented, and there is little published guidance on triggering reproduction in aquaria. As a result, controlled captive breeding of this species is difficult and not well established.