10 MALAYSIAN TRUMPET SNAILS

Malaysian Trumpet Snails (Melanoides tuberculata) are small, cone-shaped freshwater snails that play a unique role in aquariums. Known for their burrowing behavior and ability to keep substrates clean and aerated, they are both useful and sometimes controversial depending on how they’re managed.

Appearance

– Slender, cone-shaped shells that range from light tan to dark brown, often with patterns or banding.
– Usually reach about 1–1.5 inches in length.
– Active mainly at night, often hidden during the day beneath the substrate.

Tank Requirements

– Can thrive in tanks as small as 5 gallons but are commonly found in larger aquariums.
– Water temperature: 70–82°F.
– pH: 7.0–8.0 with moderate to hard water to maintain shell health.
– Excellent for sand or fine gravel tanks, as they naturally burrow.

Behavior

– Primarily nocturnal, burrowing through the substrate during the day.
– Their burrowing action aerates the substrate, prevents gas pockets, and helps recycle debris.
– Completely peaceful and safe with fish, shrimp, snails, and plants.

Diet

– Scavengers that eat leftover fish food, algae, and decaying plant matter.
– Help reduce waste buildup in the substrate.
– Can survive with minimal feeding due to their scavenging nature, but populations may expand if excess food is available.

Breeding

– Reproduce quickly in freshwater through live birth (they give birth to fully formed baby snails).
– Populations can boom in tanks with overfeeding, making them both a helpful cleanup crew and a potential nuisance if not managed.

Benefits in the Aquarium

– Aerate substrate and prevent harmful gas buildup.
– Assist with breaking down uneaten food and organic waste.
– Provide natural movement in the substrate, mimicking riverbed ecosystems.

Considerations

– Overpopulation is the most common complaint; controlling feeding and not overstocking fish will help regulate their numbers.
– Can be considered “pest snails” by some aquarists, but many advanced hobbyists intentionally keep them for their utility.

Malaysian Trumpet Snails are hardworking scavengers that quietly maintain a healthy substrate while providing natural ecosystem balance. They are excellent for aquarists who appreciate functional tank mates, but they should be kept with awareness of their rapid breeding potential.