Rabbit snail
Tylomelania sp.
easy careOverview
Rabbit snails (Tylomelania sp.) are large, characterful snails from the lakes of Sulawesi, named for their long, wrinkled, droopy faces. Available in yellow, orange, black and patterned forms with elongated cone shells, they graze algae slowly and deliberately and, unlike pest snails, breed at a snail’s pace. For a big, peaceful, low-multiplication snail with personality, they’re a superb choice. Their deliberate, unhurried movement and expressive faces give them real presence in a display tank, and their unusual origins make them a talking point among keepers used to more ordinary pond snails.
Tank & water
A 75 litre (20 gallon) tank suits their size and warm-water needs. As Sulawesi natives they want conditions warmer and harder than most snails:
- Warm water — around 25–29 °C; they suit heated tropical tanks, not cool rooms.
- Hard, alkaline water — pH above 7.2 with real hardness keeps their large shells solid.
- Calcium — a cuttlebone or mineral supplement prevents pitting and erosion.
- A cycled tank, no copper — cycle fully and keep all copper out.
Feeding
Rabbit snails are omnivores that graze algae, biofilm and soft plant matter, but a clean tank rarely feeds a big snail fully. Supplement with algae wafers, blanched vegetables (courgette, carrot) and quality sinking food. They may nibble very soft or decaying plants, so keep them well fed if you value delicate planting. As big, slow snails they eat steadily rather than in bursts, so a reliable supply of algae and the odd sinking wafer suits them far better than occasional heavy feeding.
Tankmates & breeding
Rabbit snails are entirely peaceful and mix well with community fish, shrimp and other snails; avoid snail-eaters like loaches, pufferfish and assassin snails. Breeding is slow and undemanding in warm, hard water — a genuine advantage over pest species. A small group in a spacious tank is easy and rewarding.
Compare with the related yellow rabbit snail and the large mystery snail.
Rabbit snail — frequently asked questions
Why are they called rabbit snails?
Because of the long, wrinkled, droopy face that gives them a rabbit-like look as they graze. They're large Sulawesi snails (Tylomelania) with elongated cone shells, and their slow, deliberate movement and expressive faces make them a favourite characterful snail.
Do rabbit snails breed quickly like pest snails?
No — they're the opposite. Rabbit snails are slow-breeding livebearers that produce just one or occasionally two young at a time, wrapped in a white egg capsule, and only every few weeks. They'll never overrun a tank, so numbers stay very easy to manage.
What water do rabbit snails need?
Warm, hard and alkaline. As Sulawesi lake snails they want higher temperatures (around 25–29 °C) and hard water with a pH above 7.2, plus calcium for their large shells. Soft, acidic or cool water suits them poorly and erodes their shells over time.
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