Malaysian Trumpet Snails – 20+ Live Aquarium Snails

Give your freshwater aquarium a busy little cleanup crew with 20+ Malaysian trumpet snails. These peaceful burrowers graze on algae, biofilm, and leftover organic matter while sifting through the substrate, making them a useful addition to planted community tanks with sand.

Small snails with an important job

• 20+ live snails: An assorted mix of sizes and tones, with adults growing to approximately 1 inch.
• Natural scavengers: Feed on algae, detritus, leftover food, and fish waste.
• Substrate sifters: Burrow through fine substrate such as sand, helping turn it over and reduce trapped gas buildup.
• Peaceful and plant-safe: Do not eat live plants, but may climb foliage to graze on algae and biofilm.

A good fit for planted community aquariums

Malaysian trumpet snails, also called red-rimmed melania (Melanoides tuberculata), are undemanding snails that prefer a planted community aquarium. Their digging makes them especially appealing to aquarists who want a cleanup crew that works below the surface as well as above it.

Do not be surprised if they spend much of their time out of sight. They love to bury themselves and are often easier to spot around food, in the morning, or in the evening.

Care and feeding notes

The supplier reports raising these snails at pH 7–8, KH 2–8, GH 7–15, and temperatures of 65–85°F. Fine substrate such as sand suits their burrowing habits. Occasional cuttlebone provides calcium to support their shells.

For a closer look at your cleanup crew, try a small piece of blanched zucchini. Remove it after a few hours so uneaten food does not foul the water.

Know before adding them

Malaysian trumpet snails are live-bearers, producing tiny versions of adult snails rather than laying visible egg clutches. They can reproduce sexually or through parthenogenesis, meaning they can reproduce without a mate.

Population growth is closely tied to available food. Overfed aquariums can develop large snail populations quickly. A sudden increase in babies is a useful cue to check feeding amounts and leftover food; population levels tend to settle as food availability changes.

Cold-weather reminder: If temperatures at your destination are below 40°F, plan for a live-animal heat pack.