The Snail Barn

Welcome to The Snail Barn

Beautiful Freshwater snails

Jewel Ramshorns

The Ramshorn snail (Helisoma trivolvis.) of the Planorbidae family gets its name from the shape of its shell, it is a North American native and can be found around the globe, it has long been a aquarium favorite ,Jewel ramshorns are selectively bred by fanciers out of the comman color of milk chocolate brown , to get unusual shell and snail color combinations ,They are cute and amusing and to one person a single ramshorn might be considered a pet while to another a pest.

Even sponge bob has a beloved pet aqua snail named Gary that meows like a cat

Don't confuse the Ramshorn /Jewel Ramshorn with the Gaint ramshorn also known as Colombian ramshorn. which is of the apple snail family from south America

Feeding-

The Ramshorn is generally used as part of a clean up crew in a aquarium . Somewhat of a scavenger . It's choice of foods are eating algae, fish food and some decaying matter and although they love algae ,it is a good idea to feed them daily especially if you have little to no algae ,I feed my snails flake food ,brine shrimp flakes and algae cookies / wafers.

Bowl Or Tank

If you decide to keep your snail with other tank mates (fish ,shrimp ,crabs,etc ) remember to watch how they behave when adding a snail. that the snail doesn't become picked on to death or someone's meal. If the snail is going to be a pet in a bowl or a mini tank by its self .you can buy a small under gavel filter that cleans the water by pulling any debris threw the gravel and under the filter bottom. there are also small sponge filters both powered by a air pump and other types of desk top filters for mini tanks and bowls that can be purchased or you can go without a filter or without gravel but in any case you will still need to change it's water weekly (or sooner if needed)

Water If your wanting to have a mini aquarium or bowl for your snail .It's a good idea to set up your snails new home letting it settle to a good temperature ,use a water conditioner that takes chlorine out of the water,then add your filter,gravel,plants,decor and snail toys always remember when you bring home a new snail to let it's bag with your new snail float in its new home with the top of the bag open, so he can slowly adjust to the water temperature of the container and not put it into shock. .Never pour the bagged water that came with your snail into your tank or the snails new home, that way if there is any uninvited guest you wont let it loose . The pH balance should be 7.0 -8.5 if under 7.0 or if you have soft water the snails shell will corrode. I would also suggest adding a couple drops of liquid calcium to their water weekly to keep their shell healthy and looking their best:)

Temperature They are comfortable at room temp as you might be in the 70's up to the mid 80 f ,I have read where they can survive at 50 f but I have never and will never put mine to the test.

Breeding

Said to be able to reproduce at 4 weeks this is where I repeat one can be a pet and more then one ......well remember the star trek episode with the tribbles? Exactly!

If You would like to breed them here is some information:

The ramshorn snail contains both sexes , and when placed with other ramshorns and it selects a mate, it and it's mate will choose their sex...how? only they I guess can say.

Ramshorn's lay clear globules of eggs on the sides of the aquarium ,decor and plants where ever it can. in the water The eggs become more visual as they develop. You will notice tiny little white dots ,these are the baby snails developing inside the clear jelly like mass . they will break free of the globule that holds it and you'll see those tiny little dots scattered about if you look close on the glass of your aquarium .

Other Infomation

The Ramshorn are one of the smaller snails a fraction of some of their cousins growing to about a inch or under and they come in a variety of colors from a albino's being the palest of pink from their lack of pigmentation which shows their hemoglobin blood color and pale shell to chocolate, striped , solids and even spotted! The most common color is the chocolate - milk chocolate in color .. the jewel colored Ramshorns have some of the prettest,oddest offspring,I love seeing what the recessive gene is doing next, Most Jewels would surely be picked off by predators in a pond. they stand out so much. Jewel Ramshorn's exotic ,fun and sometimes strange colors are a beautiful addition to a aquarium .

The Ramshorn snail is food for some fish like puffers ,koi ,and bettas ( I have caught even swordtails picking on them) to name a few and there are aquatic critters including shrimp,crabs and crayfish , there are birds and some animals which have a taste for snail meat and I have read where apple snails will prey on them. Baby ramshorn snails are easy prey.Some shrimp will turn them over and pick at them from within their shell as if being served in a bowl.Another No No Is never just pull your snail when its attached to anything for example the glass walls of your aquarium or you might pull him right out of his shell.instead tap it's shell or the snail gently with your finger so it lets go what ever it holding onto and so you might safely move it.

My snails are aquarium raised domestic aquatic's bred for fancy colors . then I hand pick my favorites, keeping what I think is the most beautiful.

They are such a pretty little snail.

Remember to be a responsible pet owner and never release any aquatic animal into the wild , streams ,rivers etc.

Crystal Pinks AKA Albino- -pearly Light shell- Pink / Pinkish red snail

Pearl Blue aka Sapphire Blue- Light-frosted shell -dark snail

Burgandy- light frosted Shell- Burgandy snail

Lilac - frosted lilac shell- lilac snail

Lavender- Lilac shell -Lilac snail

Lilac Leopard -Frosted Lilac spotted shell -Lilac Snail

Lavender Leopard -Lavender snail with dark spotted lilac/ lavender shell

The Leopards-Leopards have no set pattern markings, all spots are unique to that snail, some have large spots some have spots that grow making splotch marks and others have small spots.