Snail of the Pondovik

Setting up an aquarium or pond can easily lead one to concentrate on the more glitzy fish and plants. But there’s an interesting animal that’s frequently disregarded: the pond snail. The pond snail, which is well-known for moving slowly and steadily, is crucial to preserving the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Pond snails add more to your aquatic setup than just a pretty backdrop. By feeding on algae, decomposing plant matter, and leftover food, they contribute to the cleanliness of the tank. This organic cleanup team works naturally to keep unwanted organic material from building up and causing low-quality water. Furthermore, their presence gives your setup a hint of organic charm.

Your experience in the water can be improved by being aware of the needs and behaviors of pond snails. Due to their high degree of adaptability, these snails can survive in a variety of settings, including indoor aquariums and garden ponds. They can be a helpful, low-maintenance addition to your aquatic community given the correct circumstances.

Finding out about the function and maintenance needs of pond snails can help you establish a healthy and vibrant aquatic ecosystem, regardless of experience level. Thus, the next time you’re designing your pond or tank, think about providing a home for these inconspicuous animals.

The appearance and structure of the snail of the pond

Lymnaeidae – the name of the pond on Latin. They live in fresh standing water or in reservoirs with a slow current. The user snail ordinary has a thin sink with 5-6 curls, usually twisted to the right. Types with left -bred shells are found only in New Zealand and on Sandwich Islands. The degree of its elongation depends on the current in a particular reservoir – the width can be 0.3-3.5 cm, the height is from 1 to 6 cm. There is a large opening in the shell from the front. The color of the pond snail depends on the natural features of the habitat. Most often, the shells are in a brown palette. And the head and body are from yellowish-brown to blue-black. The body of the mollusk consists of three sections – the head, body and legs. All these parts are tightly attached to the inner surface of the shell. The snail has a large head, on the head there are flat triangular tentacles, on the edges of which on the inside there are eyes. The mollusk breathes through an opening protected by a noticeably protruding blade.

Habitat

North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe are the regions where pond snails can be found. They can be found in fresh stagnant water, slow-moving reservoirs, slightly salted and salty waters, and geysers. They inhabit Tibet, where the elevation is 5.5 thousand meters, and the depth is 250 meters.

Types of pond snail

The species differ in the color of the shell, the thickness of its walls, the shape of the rings and mouth, the color of the legs and body, which is characteristic of each area. The pond snail (or large pond snail) is the most common species in the family of gastropods. The length of the conical shell is 4.5-6 cm, its width is 2-3.5 cm. The spiral of the shell has 4-5 rings, which expand significantly with each turn, ending with an impressive opening. The color of the semi-translucent walls is brown. The body has a greenish-brown tint. This species inhabits freshwater bodies of water in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere. The small pond snail (also called the truncated pond snail) has an elongated, pointed shell with 6-7 turns. The turns of the rings are twisted to the right side. The walls of the shell are thin, but strong, whitish-yellow, almost transparent. It is 1-1.2 cm long, 1 cm wide 0.3-0.5 cm. Body color is white-gray, uniform, but dark spots are possible on the mantle. This species is widespread in the nature of Russia, inhabits swampy reservoirs and ponds. Sometimes found in low water in drying up reservoirs. The auricular species has a shell opening that resembles a human ear – hence the name of this variety. The shell is 2.5 to 3.5 cm high and 2.5 cm wide. Its walls are thin, the color is gray-yellow. This mollusk has no more than 4 shell rings. The shell has an almost round appearance, since the last whorl is quite large in diameter compared to others. The body is yellowish-green and grayish-green with many specks. The mantle is gray or spotted. Found in reservoirs with different water compositions. Lives on rocks, sunken tree trunks, stems and leaves of aquatic plants.

• Frilled (Frilled);
• Oval (ovoid);
• marsh.

A fascinating addition to any freshwater aquarium, the Pondovik snail has both utilitarian uses and an eye-catching appearance. Pondoviks are known for eating algae and having unique patterns on their shells, which contributes to their ability to keep tanks clean and beautiful. Aquarium enthusiasts can improve their aquatic setups and create a thriving environment for these fascinating creatures by understanding their care requirements and behaviors.

Habits in the wild and lifespan

In their natural habitat, pond snails mostly consume vegetation. However, on occasion, they consume fish eggs, flies, and other tiny aquatic animals.

They ascend to the surface of the water to breathe. A snail must get up six to nine times a day at minimum. For species that inhabit significant depths, however, dissolved oxygen in water suffices. Water is gathered by the mollusk in its pulmonary cavity, which it then turns over in the water while its sole is up and draws the water slightly into the shell.

Pond snails are rarely observed in the wild sitting motionless on a snag. The mollusk is nearly always occupied, eating aquatic plants and scraping algae off of stones. The pond snail moves at a speed of roughly 20 cm per minute.

Pond snails live most of their lives in the water column, but they can also withstand dry reservoirs and water with an ice crust on it. The mollusk merely covers its shell with a film, which allows it to become alive when moisture enters or thaws.

A pond snail’s life span in the wild is only nine months on average. However, the pond snail can survive for up to two years in an aquarium with the right care.

Aquarium maintenance

Pond snails are mollusks that are gluttons. As a result, it is best to avoid placing them in exquisitely cultivated homes as "herbalists" because you risk losing all of the aquatic plants. Particularly soft plants with juicy stems and leaves appeal to snails. However, the pond snail is modest in terms of upkeep.

• The water temperature in the aquarium should be maintained at 20-26 ° C. In warmer water, the mollusk will actively reproduce, which is undesirable in a small volume of water.
• Water hardness – moderate, lighting – dim (optimally – a low-power fluorescent lamp).
• Aquarium volume will suit any, the main thing is to control the population, not allowing the pond snails to reproduce endlessly. If there are too many individuals, diseases may develop.
• Soil needs a rocky bottom – pebbles are best, but a coarse sandy bottom is also acceptable.
• Clean the aquarium with pond snails in the usual mode, replacing a third of the water every 7 days. Filter you will need a powerful one, the direction of the stream is preferably horizontal.

New pond snails must be quarantined for a few days prior to being settled. It is advised to purchase mollusks from pet shops. Since snails can be bought fresh from the pond in the markets, they can spread infections throughout the aquarium.

Who can you settle together in the same aquarium

Expert aquarium keepers advise exclusively retaining pond snails and designing the aquarium’s interior décor around them. Because they are frequent plant eaters and because they can harbor parasites and infections, these mollusks are dangerous to fish. Furthermore, a few common aquarium fish species—such as gourami, tetraodons, and botia—enjoy consuming mollusks.

It is not advised to place pond snails in the same habitat as other snail species.

Feeding at home

Pond snails favor eating plants. They don’t need to be fed more often because algae, decaying plant matter, and fish waste products provide them with plenty of sustenance. With their long, strong tongues, the mollusks scrape all these remnants off the walls and the ground like a grater. Additionally, you could offer them:

• fresh pumpkin,
• apples,
• zucchini,
• white cabbage,
• broccoli,
• tomatoes,
• carrots,
• greens grown at the dacha (cut everything into small pieces).

Pond snails occasionally require mineral feeding because shells require calcium. It can be found in cuttlefish, eggshells, and chalk; all of these should be consumed crushed.

Breeding

Pond snails have two halves. They procreate in schools as well as individually. Several times a year, they lay eggs. In other words, they hatch offspring from roughly 500 clutches during their lifetime. Plant leaves have egg clutches attached to them.

Little translucent eggs bound together by mucus to form an oval-shaped sac make up the clutch. When detention conditions are favorable, a single individual can produce up to 25 clutches of 80 eggs in 4 months.

Incubation lasts between 14 and 20 days. Babies that have just hatched already have thin shells.

In the ponds, sexual age is reached at around seven months.

Diseases

Although these snails are resistant to illnesses, they frequently carry the infection themselves—a fact that is virtually impossible to detect with the naked eye. They have a fungal illness that is causing them visual symptoms, such as a white plaque on the sink. Therapy includes extended isolation and routine baths with manganese and saline solutions.

How much does a snail pronoun

Purchase ponds from specialized pet stores rather than from individual sellers to prevent infections, and stay out of bodies of water. An adult costs approximately 50 rubles on average.

An intriguing addition to your aquarium’s aesthetics and practicality is the Pondovik snail. It’s a fascinating addition to any tank because of its distinct appearance and behaviors. By eating algae and debris, these snails contribute to the upkeep of a clean environment in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.

Pondovik snails are extremely easy to care for, which is one of their greatest advantages. They are ideal for both beginning and seasoned aquarists, as they flourish in a range of water conditions and require little upkeep. Because of their environmental adaptability, they can be a durable and dependable addition to your aquatic setup.

You can improve the aesthetic appeal of your aquarium and support a healthier tank ecosystem by adding Pondovik snails. These snails provide an organic means of controlling waste and algae, fostering a healthy and harmonious aquatic ecosystem. All things considered, Pondovik snails are an excellent option for anyone wishing to improve their aquarium experience.

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