Malaysian Trumpet Snail (Melanoides tuberculata) is a small cleanup snail with a tall, cone-shaped spiral shell, tan to olive with reddish-brown flecks. Native to fresh waters across Africa, the Middle East, and southern and Southeast Asia, it spends most of the day buried in the substrate and comes out at night to forage, quietly cleaning up after your fish.
Trumpet snails are one of the most useful members of a planted-tank cleanup crew. As they burrow, they turn over and aerate the substrate, helping prevent compacted, stagnant pockets around plant roots, and they eat leftover food, detritus, decaying plant matter, and soft algae. They are completely plant-safe and peaceful with fish and shrimp.
Unlike nerites, Malaysian Trumpet Snails give birth to live young, so they do reproduce in the aquarium. Their numbers track the amount of food available — a population explosion is a sign of overfeeding. Cut back on feeding and the population levels off; extras are easy to remove by placing a blanched vegetable slice in the tank overnight.
Seeing many snails climbing the glass during the day can be an early warning of poor water quality or low oxygen, making them a helpful indicator species.
| Care & Ideal Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Very easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Adult Size | 0.75–1.25 in (2–3 cm) |
| Group Size | Any number |
| Ideal Temperature | 70–82°F (21–28°C) |
| Ideal pH | 6.5–8.0 |
| Ideal GH | 6–15 dGH |
| Staple Food | Leftover food, detritus, algae |
| Treat & Supplement | Hikari Mini Algae Wafers, Glasgarten Mineral Junkie Treats |
| Origin | Africa, Middle East & southern Asia |
| Notes | Copper-sensitive. Livebearer — population follows food supply. Burrows and aerates substrate. Mostly active at night. |
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