White Wizard Snail (Filopaludina martensi) is a large, striking freshwater snail with a smooth, creamy ivory-white shell marked by fine spiral lines and a darker, often violet-black tip at the apex. Still relatively new and genuinely scarce in the aquarium trade, this species has a quietly devoted following among hobbyists who have discovered just how different it is from every other snail in the hobby. Growing to roughly 2 inches, with a dense, broadly conical shell of six to seven whorls, the White Wizard is one of the larger freshwater snails commonly available, and its pale coloration and long, elegant tentacles give it a genuinely distinctive look in a tank.
Native to Southeast Asia — Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia — where it inhabits slow-moving canals, swamps, ponds, rice fields, and ditches with soft, muddy or sandy bottoms. As a member of the family Viviparidae, the White Wizard Snail has a genuinely unusual feeding strategy not seen in any of the other snails we carry: it can use its gills to filter feed, drawing in fine suspended particles and microorganisms directly from the water column. This is a real and unique trait — but it is a supplementary behavior, not the snail's primary way of eating, so a tank that relies on filter feeding alone to sustain this snail will leave it underfed. See the feeding section below for what this snail actually needs day to day.
White Wizard Snails are entirely peaceful, solitary by nature, and pose no threat to live plants, fish, or shrimp — they have no means of attacking tankmates and rely solely on their shell and operculum for defense. They are shy at first and may stay hidden near plants, under rocks, or behind filter intakes when first introduced, but typically become bolder and more visibly active once acclimated. They are unlikely to overpopulate a tank — unlike Mystery Snails or Nerites, the White Wizard Snail is viviparous, giving birth to a small number of fully developed live young (typically 5–15 at a time, depending on the size of the female) rather than laying large clutches of eggs. This makes population growth slow and easy to manage.
Provide moderate water flow and clean, well-oxygenated water — this species does best in an established, mature tank rather than a brand new setup. A loose group of two to three snails can be kept comfortably in a 10-gallon tank; plan for roughly 5 gallons per adult snail as a general guideline. Avoid housing them with known snail predators such as loaches, puffers, or aggressive cichlids.
| White Wizard Snail | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly, but requires supplemental feeding — not "set and forget" |
| Adult Size | Up to 2 inches (5 cm) |
| Recommended Stocking | 1 per 5 gallons; 2–3 snails comfortably in a 10-gallon tank |
| Ideal Temperature | 72–82°F (22–28°C) — prefers warmer water |
| Ideal pH | 6.5–8.0 |
| Ideal GH | 5–20 dGH |
| Substrate | Soft sand or fine substrate — required for burrowing; avoid coarse gravel |
| Lighting | Low to moderate — nocturnal, does not require bright light |
| Staple Food | Hikari Sinking Wafers; Hikari Mini Algae Wafers; Glasgarten Snail Dinner; blanched vegetables (zucchini, lettuce, spinach) |
| Treat / Supplement | Glasgarten Mineral Junkie Treats; Glasgarten Mineral Treats (essential for shell health) |
| Origin | Southeast Asia — Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Notes |
Filter Feeding: Unique gill-based filter feeding — a real trait, but a supplement to scavenging, not a primary food source Feeding: Large snail — requires consistent supplemental feeding beyond available algae/biofilm Substrate: Needs soft sand/fine substrate for burrowing — coarse gravel causes stress Breeding: Viviparous — gives birth to 5–15 live young per brood; slow, manageable reproduction Shell Health: Calcium supplementation needed to prevent thin, cracked, or pitted shells Copper: Fatal — never use copper medications in snail tanks Temperament: Completely peaceful and plant-safe; shy initially, more active once settled |
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