Not furry either, still lovely.
Ramshorn Snail
Planorbella duryi
Also called Seminole rams-horn, Ram's horn snail, Red ramshorn snail, Blue ramshorn snail
From Florida, USA, in streams, ponds and other fresh waters; it has since spread to Hawaii and parts of Europe and Africa.1
At a glance the quick version
Fishkeeping World gives 1-2 inches across including the shell.
Looks how to spot one
Flat coiled shell
A small air-breathing snail with a flat, tightly coiled shell that looks like a ram's horn, held upright as it glides along. The body is dark or reddish, and the shell ranges from light to dark brown in wild snails, with many bred colours in the hobby.132
Personality what they are like
A peaceful, slow grazer that wanders the tank looking for algae and leftovers, often resting near the waterline.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Very low; it simply needs surfaces to graze.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Easy care. Feed lightly, because snail numbers grow quickly when there is plenty of spare food. Keep a lid on, as they can briefly leave the water.12
Home where they are happiest
Fishkeeping World suggests about 8 litres (2 US gallons) for one snail and up to about 75 litres (20 US gallons) for a group; water about 18-30 °C (64-86 °F), pH 7.0-8.0 and GH 8-18. Harder, mineral-rich water supports the shell.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivorous scavenger that eats algae, soft decaying plant matter and leftover food. If algae runs short, add blanched vegetables or a little fish food.12
Company who they like around
Lives happily alone or in groups, and gets along with peaceful fish and shrimp.2
The story where it all began
First described by Wetherby in 1879 from Florida, the species also shows up in the fossil record of the region. It became a staple aquarium snail, where some keepers value it as a cleaner and others find it multiplies too freely.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Unlike most molluscs, ramshorn snails have iron-based haemoglobin in their blood, which is why red forms look so vivid.3
- 2
They breathe air with a lung rather than gills.3
- 3
Each snail is both male and female, and clear jelly-like egg clutches hatch in around two to four weeks.1
- 4
Fossils of this species have been found in Florida's Tamiami Formation, dating back to the Pliocene.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy (via Wikipedia)
- Planorbella duryi (Wetherby, 1879), family Planorbidae. NatureServe rank G5 (Secure).1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Ramshorn Snail. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amountsevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeSmall, gentle water changesevery week
- Water testevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Planorbella duryi - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, taxonomy, colours, diet, reproduction, history
- Ramshorn Snail care guide - Fishkeeping World fishkeepingworld.comused for size, lifespan, tank size, water parameters, diet, behaviour
- Planorbidae - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for haemoglobin, air breathing
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.