Mystery Snail
Pomacea bridgesii
Ampullariidae
InvertsDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The mystery snail is a large, peaceful apple snail (Pomacea bridgesii/diffusa) available in gold, blue, ivory, black and jade shells, popular as a hardy cleanup animal for community tanks. Crucially — unlike its invasive relative Pomacea canaliculata — it does not destroy healthy aquatic plants, feeding instead on detritus, algae and leftovers. It breathes air through a siphon and lays distinctive pink egg clutches above the waterline, so a tight lid with an air gap is essential.
Care
Give hard, alkaline water and calcium for shell integrity, plus a secure lid with an air gap (it breathes air and lays eggs above water). Large bioload for its size, so provide adequate volume and filtration; plant-safe.
Diet
Omnivorous scavenger eating detritus, soft algae, biofilm and leftover food. Supplement with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and calcium sources such as cuttlebone.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (43)
Amano ShrimpAssassin SnailBladder SnailBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpButterfly Hillstream LoachCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishEmerald CoryFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlowlight DanioGold BarbGuppyJapanese Trapdoor SnailLeast KillifishLeopard DanioMalaysian Trumpet SnailNerite SnailOdessa BarbParaguay EartheaterPearl DanioPenguin TetraPlatyRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRed-Tail SharkRubber Lip PlecoScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterSwordtailTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUpside-down CatfishVenezuelan CoryX-ray TetraZebra Danio
Possible with care (163)
Acei CichlidAfrican Butterfly CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAuratus CichlidBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBleeding Heart TetraBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckered BarbCherry BarbChocolate CichlidClown PlecoCobalt Blue ZebraCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDogtooth CichlidDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishGlass CatfishGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden JulieGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiHongi CichlidJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidJulii CoryKenyi CichlidKeyhole CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisLambchop RasboraLemon CichlidLemon TetraLittle CorydorasMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraOcellatus Shell DwellerOtocinclusPanda CorydorasParadise FishPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRosy TetraRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalt and Pepper CorySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSerpae TetraSeverumSilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStriped KribensisSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiUmbrella Dwarf CichlidVampire ShrimpWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakYoyo LoachZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (65)
Adonis PlecoAltum AngelfishAngelfishBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishCardinal TetraCheckerboard CichlidChili RasboraChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCrystal Red ShrimpDemon EartheaterDiamond TetraDuboisi TropheusDwarf Pea PufferDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliEmber TetraEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGerman Blue RamGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidKoiKuhli LoachLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMarble HatchetfishOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStrawberry RasboraStriped Raphael CatfishTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
There is no reliable way to sex this species by eye. That is the honest answer, not a gap in our data.
All the methods, with diagramsAlso in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Mystery Snail need?
- A Mystery Snail needs an aquarium of at least 38 litres (10 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Mystery Snail need?
- Mystery Snail does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 7–8 and a general hardness of 6–18 °dGH.
- Is the Mystery Snail suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Mystery Snail is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature18–28°C
Optimal temp.21–25°C
pH7–8
Hardness (GH)6–18°d
Carbonate (KH)3–12°d
Adult size5.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 38 L
Min. tank length≥ 45 cm
Swimming zoneAll levels
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~1.5 yrs
Try in the calculator