Mystery Snails

Mystery Snails (Pomacea diffusa) are freshwater apple snails native to tropical and subtropical South America, with wild populations associated with warm, slow-moving waters such as wetlands, ponds, floodplains, lagoons, and quiet river margins. They naturally graze across surfaces where biofilm, soft algae, and decaying organic material collect.

They have a rounded shell, a strong muscular foot for moving across glass, plants, wood, and substrate, and a siphon that allows them to breathe air from the surface while remaining mostly submerged. Their shell color can vary by strain, but the care and behavior remain similar across the common Mystery Snail varieties sold in the aquarium trade.

Mystery Snails are peaceful, highly visible freshwater invertebrates that fit well in planted tanks, shrimp-safe aquariums, and calm community setups. They are best kept in stable aquariums with good mineral content, clean water, and enough food to support healthy shell growth.