White-Spotted Rabbit Snail care guide
White-Spotted Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania kruimeli) — minimum tank 60 L, temperature 26-30 °C, pH 7.5-8.5.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
White-Spotted Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania kruimeli) is a large freshwater snail of the family Pachychilidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Sulawesi rabbit snail with brown body sporting striking white spots. Slow grower, slow breeder.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pachychilidae
- Genus: Tylomelania
- Scientific name: Tylomelania kruimeli
- Common synonyms: Kruimeli, White Spot Rabbit
Habitat
Pachychilid snails are large freshwater gastropods of tropical Asia, including the Sulawesi lake endemics of the genus Tylomelania and the sculptured Brotia and elongate Faunus of South-East Asian rivers. Most are livebearers and graze algae, biofilm and detritus. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from Sulawesi (Indonesia).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L (15.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 4-8 cm
- Temperature: 26-30 °C (79-86 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 6-14 °dGH
- KH: 4-10 °dKH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
The species is a herbivore, grazing algae, biofilm and decaying matter from surfaces and substrate; in aquaria its diet is supplemented with algae wafers and blanched vegetables when natural growth is scarce.
Compatibility
The Aquairi knowledge base lists this species as peaceful. Suitable tank mates include Sulawesi shrimp. It should be kept away from Loaches, Pufferfish, Assassin Snail. It grazes and may damage soft aquarium plants, so it is best suited to hardscape or species tanks.
Breeding
Reproduction is live-bearing: females release fully formed juveniles rather than eggs, and aquarium breeding is rated moderate. Populations can build up steadily in stable, well-fed tanks.
Breeding the White-Spotted Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania kruimeli)
Overview
Tylomelania kruimeli is a Sulawesi rabbit snail marked by striking white spots on a brown body. It belongs to the family Pachychilidae and shares the genus trait of being dioecious. It is both a slow grower and a slow breeder, adapted to the warm, hard, alkaline waters of Sulawesi.
Its measured growth and reproduction mean a breeding effort spans many months. As a Sulawesi endemic, propagating it in the aquarium helps relieve collection pressure on wild stocks.
Sexing
External sexing is not reliable, and one snail cannot reproduce alone. Keeping a group is the practical way to secure both sexes; the appearance of young confirms a viable pair.
Conditioning
Condition adults with steady chemistry and continuous grazing on algae, biofilm and leaf litter. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate low, and avoid soft water that pits the shell of this slow-growing species.
- Temperature: 26-30 °C (79-86 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (alkaline; avoid soft water)
- GH: 6-14 °dGH
- KH: 4-10 °dKH
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
Breeding Setup
No dedicated spawning tank is needed. A stable Sulawesi-style display with fine substrate, hiding spots and dim lighting works well. The reproductive driver is hard, warm, alkaline, oxygen-rich water of high quality.
Reproduction & Young
Like all Tylomelania, this species is an ovoviviparous livebearer: the uterine brood pouch releases a single fully formed juvenile at a time rather than eggs. Newly born juveniles of some genus members reach nearly 2 cm, among the largest of any viviparous gastropod, and feed independently once free of the capsule.
Common Challenges
The slow growth compounds an already low birth rate, so progress is gradual. Soft or unstable water damages the shell and suspends reproduction. Avoid keeping with loaches, pufferfish or assassin snails.