Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii) Breeding Guide

Pomacea bridgesii has separate sexes and lays a calcareous egg clutch above the waterline. Breeding requires a male, a female and an air gap below the tank lid.

Overview

Pomacea bridgesii is an apple snail of the family Ampullariidae, distinct from the invasive Pomacea canaliculata. It is gonochoristic, meaning a male and a female must both be present for reproduction. The species was formerly confused with Pomacea diffusa.

Sexing

Because the sexes are separate, a breeding group must contain at least one male and one female. Reliable external sexing is difficult, so keepers commonly maintain a small group to ensure both sexes are present before clutches appear.

Breeding Setup

• Keep both a male and a female together, as fertilization cannot occur otherwise.
• Leave an air gap between the water surface and a secure lid so the female can crawl above the waterline.
• Provide stable parameters within the species range to support shell and egg-shell formation.

Egg-laying / Reproduction

Egg clutches are deposited above the water surface rather than underwater; in aquaria females attach them to glass walls, the lid, driftwood or emergent vegetation. A single egg-laying event can yield as many as two hundred offspring, and the eggs take two to four weeks to hatch. Not all eggs are always fertilized, so hatch rates can vary.

Juvenile Care

When the clutch hatches, the juveniles drop into the water and begin grazing on detritus and biofilm. Hatchlings risk being eaten if they share an aquarium with fish, so a separate rearing space improves survival.