Rabbit Snail

Looks how to spot one

Long, tapering spiral shell; soft body with a rabbit-like face

A long, narrow, many-whorled shell that tapers to a point. The soft body often comes in eye-catching colours, and the drooping feelers and wrinkled snout give the face a rabbit- or elephant-like look that inspired its trade names.13

Personality what they are like

A peaceful, unhurried grazer that gets along with fish, shrimp and hardy plants, and spends its time trundling over rocks and substrate in search of food.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Slow moving; best kept in small groups (5-7 suggested) with room to roam and graze across rocks and substrate.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs warm, hard, alkaline water with plenty of minerals for healthy shell growth; crushed coral or calcium supplements help. Feed enough so it has no reason to nibble softer plants.21

Home where they are happiest

Warm, alkaline freshwater. Sources give roughly 22-30 C (Wikipedia: about 24-29 C, Aquarium Co-Op: 27-30 C) and pH about 7.3-8.5, with GH above 8 recommended.132

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Grazes on algae films, plant debris and fallen leaves, and accepts sinking fish foods, vegetables and some protein foods.32

Company who they like around

Sociable; groups of 5-7 are suggested. Sexes are separate and females give birth to a single, fully shelled baby roughly every 4-6 weeks.321

The story where it all began

The genus was named by the Sarasin cousins in 1897 after their expeditions to Sulawesi. Its species spread through the island's ancient lakes over several million years, and many were only described in the 2000s. The animals reached the aquarium hobby under the trade name rabbit snail.1

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy (Sarasin & Sarasin)

Genus Tylomelania established by Sarasin & Sarasin in 1897; around 46 species are now recognised, many described by Thomas von Rintelen between 2003 and 2008.1