Tree snails, or Caracolus, are an interesting species of aquatic plant that you may want to investigate further if you enjoy unusual and fascinating aquatic life. These fascinating animals add a hint of the rainforest to your aquarium; they’re not just any old snails. They are a remarkable addition to any aquatic setup because of their colorful patterns and intriguing behavior.
Caracolus snails are characterized by their eye-catching shell patterns, which can give your tank a pop of color and an element of the wild. These land snails, originally from the lush forests of Central and South America, have adapted to live in both water and land environments. They are highly resilient and adaptable to a range of aquarium conditions due to their capacity to thrive in a variety of settings.
Caracolus snails have practical uses in aquariums despite their unassuming appearance. They support the maintenance of a healthier tank environment by controlling the growth of algae and cleaning up leftover food. They are a great option for both novice and seasoned aquarium enthusiasts due to their gentle nature and minimal maintenance requirements.
Caracolus snails are certainly something to think about, whether you’re setting up a new tank or just want to add some diversity to your current setup. Their distinct charm and useful advantages can improve the aesthetics and usability of your aquatic environment.
Feature | Description |
Common Name | Tree Snail |
Scientific Name | Caracolus spp. |
Habitat | Usually found in tropical and subtropical forests |
Size | Generally up to 2 inches in diameter |
Shell | Conical and often covered in a hard, glossy layer |
Diet | Primarily eats leaves, fruit, and decaying plant matter |
Care in Aquarium | Needs a well-planted tank with high humidity |
Behavior | Slow-moving and prefers climbing on surfaces |
Breeding | Can lay eggs that hatch into small snails |
Description
The name Caracolus comes from the Spanish word "caracola" and means "shell". Caracolus are tropical tree snails and they feel great in many private snail houses. The appearance of mollusks of this species is very beautiful and unusual. But it is problematic to correctly determine their belonging to a certain species, since the genus Caracolus has been studied rather poorly. Caracoluses are often called "Cuban plates" or "saucer snails", due to the unusual shape of the shell – a pyramidal round. You can also find the name Pleurodonte. Home collections contain a wide variety of species and forms of caracoles, different in size, color and shell shape. The shell color can vary – black, brown, orange, white, with narrow or wide red and beige-brown stripes. The largest individuals can reach a size of up to 6-7 cm, and the smallest – up to 2.5 cm. The body color is also interesting – it is uneven, with a transition from dark to a lighter shade. The black horns stand out against the lighter color of the muzzle. And along the entire neck there is a thin strip of yellow or beige shade.
Lifestyle and habitat
In nature, representatives of this species can be found mainly on the Caribbean islands. Caracoluses are inhabitants of gardens, parks, household plots in regions with a tropical and subtropical climate. Since caracoleses are arboreal, they spend a lot of time on the branches and trunks of trees, getting food. They are interested in lichens and algae growing on trees. The climate in the natural habitat of caracoles is not constant, the hot and damp rainy season is replaced by a period of drought. Therefore, during the dry period, snails attach themselves to tree trunks and go into hibernation, and when rainy and humid weather sets in, they wake up and go in search of food. When keeping these mollusks at home, you should not arrange a dry period. It is not difficult to keep caracoles at home. To do this, you should adhere to several conditions:
- optimal humidity and temperature,
- a large amount of food – preferably lichen,
- the presence of twigs and driftwood,
- collective maintenance with representatives of their species.
Caracoles do best in a vertical terrarium that holds two to three liters of snail per snail. The ideal temperature and humidity levels for a home are +24…+27C and 80–90%, respectively. In order to maintain the high humidity required for the caracoles, there should also be a small ventilation in the lower portion of the snail cage. This ventilation can also be achieved by adding moss or fallen leaves.
These mollusks are not particular about the kind of filler they eat, so you can use any of the approved kinds of soil as soil. For the snails to lay their eggs, the soil layer needs to be at least 5 to 6 centimeters thick. The caracoles will either not lay eggs or will devour them immediately if there is not enough soil. Snails that have access to enough soil can lay 5–10 eggs every 2-3 weeks on average.
It is essential to have branches, snags, patches of bark covered in lichen, and shelters. Ultimately, the saucer snail primarily travels on vertical surfaces and spends its sleep underground, either on a terrarium wall or a branch that is partially buried in the earth. And the principal ingredient in the diet is lichen.
In their natural habitat, caracoluse snails do not require hibernation.
Since these snails live in colonies in their natural habitat, keeping just one in a terrarium is not worthwhile. The caracolus snail needs at least four individuals in a separate terrarium because when left alone, it gets depressed and loses interest in food and activities. To prevent hybrid offspring, however, it is also not worth maintaining representatives of various species and subspecies within this genus.
Limicolaria and Caracolus representatives get along well. Additionally, a colony of Rumina decollata will make a good neighbor for a pair of caracoluses. Additionally, a few Subulina octona will effectively remove food scraps from a terrarium that contains caracoluses. Rearing caracoluses with Achatina and Archachatina is definitely not advised.
Tree snails, or Caracolus, are interesting animals that add a special touch to any aquarium setup. With their unique shells, these snails are not only visually pleasing, but they are also essential to the upkeep of your aquatic environment. You will learn how to add Caracolus snails to your aquarium to improve its aesthetics and harmony by reading this article, which will also cover their care requirements, benefits, and behavior.
Nutrition
Caracolus snails don’t require complicated diets. Lichen should form the foundation of your diet; you can harvest and prepare it yourself. Tree snails can be fed fruits, vegetables, and other supplements in addition to lichen. These mollusks have an extreme fondness for mushrooms; they relish both fresh and dried varieties. Some mushroom breeders use a special drying process to turn the mushroom into a powder, which they then feed to their gastropod pets. Caracoles are also good eaters of grain mixtures. However, animal protein should not be consumed.
Mollusks should always have access to calcium; ground eggshells and cuttlefish shells are recommended as sources of calcium. The snails start chewing on their own and other people’s shells if there is insufficient calcium or if the calcium is of poor quality.
Lichen, algae, dried mushrooms, calcium supplements, and vitamin supplements can all be combined to create a nutrient-rich supplement for caracoles. Caracoles eat very little in comparison to larger snails. This shouldn’t worry you because it’s typical behavior for tree snails.
Kindly take note! Representatives of this genus cannot be fed a diet consisting solely of cucumbers and lettuce; this is an extremely low-calorie and insufficient diet that can cause fatigue!
If the mollusks in the terrarium have lichen, the driftwood and branches will serve as both a decorative element and a food source for them. Gather lichen-covered branches in the forest, far from the city and the roads. Gather as many branches as you can; they keep well and for a very long time. After gathering the branches, sort them, remove any debris or insects, spread them out on paper, and let them dry for a few days. The branches should then be placed inside a box and left there for storage.
Drying them in the oven is not recommended because the lichen dries out and becomes more palatable to the snails. Rinse the branches under running water before giving them to pets as food. Boiling water is not necessary to treat them because the lichen will lose some of its advantageous qualities at such high temperatures.
Reproduction
Sexual maturity is reached by caracolus snails closer to a year, typically between 11 and 13 months, though individual differences may occur in these times. The development of a rounded thickening in the growth zone, referred to as the lip, is an indicator of sexual maturity. These tree snails mate after the lip appears.
Since caracolus snails are hermaphrodites, both partners carry eggs following a cross-pollination. The time between mating and egg-laying can be several months.
Usually, one snail will lay ten to fifteen oblong eggs in a soft shell. The eggs measure 7-8 mm in length and 3-5 mm in width on average. The eggs in a single clutch are typically varied in size. The majority of Caracolus species representatives have eggs that vary in size and shape, which is another intriguing characteristic.
Eggs take 10 to 14 days on average to incubate. The clutch can be carefully moved to a different container with side ventilation, or it can be left in the terrarium with the parents. Moving the eggs can break their shell, which will reduce the number of snails that hatch, but if you leave the eggs with the parents, there’s a chance the caracoles will eat the clutch.
Young people are incredibly delicate when they are born. They have the ability to remain in the litter for a few days, completing the shells of both their own eggs and the eggs of their unhatched siblings. They will consume the clutch in the container if there is another one. The young reach the surface after a few days.
Newborns can be given lichen-covered twigs, thinly sliced or grated vegetables, or calcium-sprinkled lettuce leaves as early as the first few days of life. Vegetables should not be the main course, especially if lichen is present. Additionally, any leftover food should be taken out right away to prevent spoiling.
The young are moved into a bigger container once they have grown. A one-liter container is sufficient for fifteen to twenty small snails. It is best to fill the terrarium with moss at the bottom and arrange the branches covered in lichen vertically.
A month after birth, caracole snails grow from tiny 5-7 mm to 2 cm in size. This is an example of how quickly these snails grow.
The snails reach adult size and start to develop a lip at six months of age or older. The corners of the mouth become thicker, curl outward, and take on a distinct hue.
Caracoles have an average lifespan of 4-5 years, but they can live up to 6-7 years if given the right care.
Caracolus, or tree snails, are interesting animals that give a special touch to aquariums and terrariums. For both new and seasoned hobbyists, their unique spiral shells and soft movements make them a delightful addition. These snails contribute to the preservation of their surroundings in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. They contribute to the cleanliness and balance of the habitat by feeding on algae and decomposing plant matter.
Caracolus is a fairly simple animal to care for. They can tolerate a range of water conditions and do best in a well-kept, humid habitat. To maintain the health and strength of their shells, you must feed them a diet high in calcium. They will stay lively and active if their habitat is regularly maintained and observed.
In conclusion, both aquatic and terrestrial setups benefit from the aesthetic and practical qualities that Caracolus, or tree snails, offer. They’re a great addition to any aquarium or terrarium because of their low maintenance needs and helpful role in ecosystem maintenance. These snails are a great option to think about, whether you’re looking to add a touch of elegance or improve the health of your setup.