Marisa cornuarietis

About This Species

Basic Description

The Giant Ramshorn is a large, active freshwater snail and an excellent cleaner of algae and leftover food. Be warned: its voracious appetite extends to most live aquatic plants, so it's best for non-planted tanks. It produces significant waste, requiring good filtration, and uniquely breathes air with a snorkel.

Detailed Description

Often mistaken for a true ramshorn due to its flat shell, Marisa cornuarietis is actually a large Apple Snail. This classification explains its significant appetite, making it a powerful cleaner but a risk to most aquarium vegetation. Unlike many snails, they have separate sexes; pairs will lay gelatinous egg clutches on submerged decor. Due to their high bioload, they are best suited for mature aquariums with robust filtration systems to manage waste.

Scientific Description

Marisa cornuarietis, a member of the Ampullariidae family, exhibits a planospiral shell morphology convergent with the Planorbidae, causing common name confusion. It is equipped with a bimodal respiratory system (gill and lung/siphon), allowing survival in hypoxic water. This gonochoristic species is oviparous, laying submerged gelatinous egg masses. Ecologically, its omnivorous feeding habits and predation on other snail eggs make it a significant grazer and a potential biocontrol agent, impacting community structures.