Ampularia in the aquarium: do they benefit or harm?

Many people prefer to have fish at home. There are reasons for this. Fish are less whimsical and do not cause a lot of difficulties, unlike other pets. But despite this, they still need proper care and attention. Many fish lovers have probably heard that there must be snails in the aquarium. For example, ampullia. What benefits they can bring, and whether there is any harm from them, we will tell you later in the article.

For starters, it's worth mentioning that snails are placed in an aquarium for more than just beauty. They have a more important and practical function.... Shellfish can actually be of great benefit to the ecosystem of any aquarium. The main thing is to know which snails are right for your aquarium and which are not.

Ampularia very often become inhabitants of home aquariums. These creatures can grow up to 15 cm in length. Snails are often found in bright yellow color. Less often, specimens of black or white come across. Since these mollusks have a very sharp scent, then quite easily find food for themselves in any environment.

On average, these snails live for 4 years.... But this is provided that the most comfortable conditions are created for them.

Before introducing such molluscs in your home aquarium, it is imperative to find out what benefits they can bring, and whether their neighborhood will harm the fish.

Let's start with the positive qualities of this vibrant clam. Ampularia, due to their unusual color, may well serve as a kind of decorative element in your aquarium.They look very beautiful and unusual in the aquarium, ideally complementing the habitat of domestic fish. Another plus of these snails is that they do not require special care.

Since ampullia are snails, they do an excellent job of cleaning glass. They will regularly crawl along the inside of the glass, thereby cleaning its surface from various contaminants.

In addition, this type of snail feeds on the remains of fish food - this is another plus.

If one of the fish in the aquarium dies for some reason, the ampullia will eat the already non-living fish. This will prevent the corpse of the fish from decomposing in the water, thereby poisoning it. Thus, molluscs protect living and healthy fish from toxic poisoning. It turns out that This type of snail is of great benefit, purifying the water in the aquarium and creating a comfortable environment for the fish to live.

Like any other molluscs, ampullae can also be harmful. For example, they may start eating plants due to lack of food. You shouldn't worry about the fish. Despite popular belief, these molluscs are completely indifferent to live fish and do not eat them.

It is worth mentioning that These molluscs are best placed in the same tank with smaller fish, as larger fish can harm the snails. Before buying, be sure to consult with a specialist to find out how compatible ampullae and your pets are.

In the event that you want ampularia to bring only benefits and live as long as possible, then you should create comfortable conditions for them. Remember that if the mollusk feels uncomfortable, it will try to crawl to another place.

It is important to remember that a long stay on land can not only harm this living creature, but even kill it. Since these are underwater snails, they spend most of them in the water. Nevertheless, they need a supply of oxygen, so the ampullia should be able to crawl out onto land. For this, it is only enough so that there is a layer of air above the water level in your home aquarium.

With a sharp rise in water temperature, it becomes ill, health deteriorates and, accordingly, life expectancy is reduced.

This type of molluscs does not need special nutrition, they are omnivorous, and this is their plus. They usually feed on leftover fish food. But despite this, it is worth periodically giving the molluscs fresh carrots or white cabbage. It is important to remember that you can't just throw vegetables into the water. Small slices should be strung on a fork with a long handle and lowered to the bottom. Since the ampullaria has a very good sense of smell, it will quickly find food intended for it.

In addition, it is worth remembering that they should not be placed in the same aquarium with crayfish, shrimp or large fish.

See below for ampullary snails.