Ramshorn snail care guide
Also called: Ram's horn snail, Red ramshorn snail, Pink ramshorn snail, Blue ramshorn snail, Leopard ramshorn snail, Seminole ramshorn, Planorbella duryi
Ramshorn snails are small, flat-coiled snails in red, pink, blue or brown that graze algae, leftovers and dead leaves. They are harmless to fish and shrimp and very easy to keep, but they breed on their own and multiply fast if you overfeed.
Ramshorn snails need a tank of at least 5 gallons (19 L), and water at 21–27°C (70–81°F) with a pH of 7–8. They grow to about 2 cm (0.8 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with ramshorn snailsSee all tank mates
Ramshorn snail quick facts
| Scientific name | Planorbella duryi |
|---|---|
| Family | Planorbidae |
| Origin | Florida, United States (the red, pink and blue forms are captive-bred; related ramshorns live across North America and Europe) |
| Adult size | 2 cm (0.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 5 gallons (19 L) |
| Temperature | 21–27°C (70–81°F) |
| pH | 7–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 8–15 dGH |
| Group size | Can live alone |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | All levels |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 1–2 years |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
Tank setup
A few snails can live in any tank of 5 gallons (19 L) or more. Gentle filtration suits them, since strong flow knocks small snails loose. Cover filter intakes with a sponge so babies aren't pulled in. They breathe air, so you will often see them grazing near the surface.
How many ramshorn snails in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits ramshorn snails is a 5 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Ramshorn snails (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Up to 96 |
| 10 gallon | Up to 192 |
| 15 gallon | Up to 289 |
| 20 gallon | Up to 385 |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 385 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 558 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 770 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 1059 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 1445 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 2409 |
What you need for ramshorn snails
Sized for a 5 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits ramshorn snails. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 5 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 25 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 75 °F (24 °C) in a room at 68 °F (20 °C). A bigger heater can overheat a small tank if it sticks on. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Sponge filter for 10 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gentle flow, about 15–25 GPH, suits shrimp and snails, which prefer slow water. Needs a small air pump. How to choose
- About 15 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 16 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for ramshorn snails
- Calcium-rich snail food (opens Amazon in a new tab)Snails need calcium to keep their shells healthy.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 21–27 °C (70–81 °F), pH 7.0–8.0 and 8–15 dGH. Water below pH 7 or very soft water slowly dissolves the shell and leaves it pitted. They cope with a range of conditions but don't like sudden changes. Copper kills them.
Best tank mates for ramshorn snails
These popular species share ramshorn snails' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 121 good matches.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Avoid keeping ramshorn snails with
- Oscar: Oscar eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
- Assassin snail: Assassin snail eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
- Clown loach: Clown loach eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Ramshorn snail 21–27°C (70–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Dojo loach: Dojo loach eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
Feeding
They eat soft algae, biofilm, leftover fish food and decaying leaves, and in most community tanks they find enough on their own. If you keep them on purpose, add algae wafers, blanched vegetables and a calcium source. Well-fed snails mostly ignore healthy plants, but hungry ones may nibble soft leaves.
Behavior
Peaceful and active day and night, climbing over glass, plants and decor. They are safe with fish, dwarf shrimp and other snails. Puffers, many loaches, large cichlids, goldfish, crayfish and assassin snails will eat them, and some bettas pick at their feelers.
Breeding
Each snail is both male and female, so even one or two can start a colony, and numbers can rise very fast. They lay small, clear blobs of jelly with eggs inside on glass, plants and decor, and the babies hatch after about one to three weeks, faster in warm water. The easiest way to keep numbers down is to feed less and remove extras by hand or with a trap.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Feed less if their numbers explode. Ramshorn populations follow the food supply.
- Trap extras overnight with an algae wafer or blanched vegetable slice, then lift it out with the snails in the morning.
- Quarantine new snails, and rinse new plants. Ramshorns often arrive as hitchhikers.
- Pitted or cracked shells mean the water is too soft. Add crushed coral or a mineral supplement.
- Don't mix them up with the giant or Colombian ramshorn. That is a different, much larger snail that eats plants.
Frequently asked questions
Are ramshorn snails pests?
Only when there is lots of food, because they breed quickly. In moderate numbers they help by eating leftovers, algae and dead leaves, and many keepers like them.
Do ramshorn snails eat live plants?
Mostly no. They prefer algae, leftovers and dying leaves. A large, hungry population may nibble soft plants, so keep numbers down by not overfeeding.
Can ramshorn snails live with shrimp?
Yes. They are one of the best snails for shrimp tanks, since they share the same food and never harm shrimp or their babies.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.