It is not uncommon for aquarium owners to be surprised at spontaneous new residents. They sneak in and enjoy the optimal living conditions in the new environment. Bubble snails are among these animals. Contrary to what was assumed, the aquatic organisms do not cause any damage.

The bladder snail is not only found in aquariums

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Characteristics
  3. Bubble snails in the aquarium
  4. lifestyle and development
  5. food
  6. identify species
  7. Breed bubble snails
  8. enemies and dangers
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • Bladder snails are often brought into the aquarium through aquatic plants and decorations
    • They are very useful because they are hardworking cleaners, like to eat algae and ensure good water quality
    • Bladder snails are extremely frugal and can cope with both warm and cold water, even polluted waters
    • They do not eat living plants, live fish or fish eggs and therefore do not pose a threat

    Characteristics

    Bladder snails are a family within the aquatic snails. There are around 80 species worldwide, three of which are native to Central Europe and one was introduced from North America. In aquaristics, bladder snails are seen as spontaneous accompanying fauna that are introduced by new aquatic plants, decorations or fresh substrate. From a biological point of view, they are an enrichment for the ecosystem because they break down organic substances more quickly.

    Good to know:

    • Shell is formed from dissolved lime in the surrounding water
    • at low pH the shell dissolves
    • Addition of carbon dioxide favors the dissolution of the skin
    • Snails can no longer survive

    features

    Bubble snails have a transparent and shiny shell with a smooth surface and can reach a size of up to 12 millimeters. Most of the time, however, they remain significantly smaller. The snail shell is always left-handed and is pointed or blunt. The lightly dotted sheath fabric is clearly visible through this bulbous, horn-colored case. Bubble snails appear bubble-like dotted with gold, which earned them their name. Despite the low wall thickness, the snail shell is comparatively stable.

    Particularities:

    • tapered and narrow foot
    • long, thin antennae
    • Eyes are located at the base of the antennae

    digression

    This is how bladder snails breathe

    Bubble snails have an air pocket that they carry with them at all times in their shell. This reserve of oxygen is occasionally replenished at the water surface. The lung function is taken over by the adjacent mantle tissue, which is heavily supplied with blood. Species like the pointed bladder snail have a finger-shaped rim that protrudes beyond the edge of the shell and functions as a secondary gill. With this organ, the bladder snail can absorb additional oxygen from the water.

    locomotion

    The snails can reach considerable speeds in the water. They only need ten seconds for one centimeter. They leave behind a thin film of mucus that is secreted by a gland and coats the soil. When the snails glide through the water without touching the bottom, they drag the slime behind them like a thread. These almost invisible threads can expand into a complex system of tracks when the water current is low. The snails can shimmy along these threads and return to the starting point.

    Bubble snails are amazingly fast

    protection from enemies

    In case of danger, land snails can withdraw into their housing and close it with a lid. Bubble snails do not have such a closure and must protect themselves in other ways. They are able to expel air from their respiratory system. This makes the snail heavier than the water and quickly sinks to the bottom of the water, where it is safe from predators.

    aquatic snails

    The small bubble snail is one of the freshwater dwellers that breathe with the help of a lung. Their gills have receded so that the animals can only absorb oxygen from the air. Therefore, bubble snails crawl to the surface of the water. Mud snails, which are sometimes confused with bladder snails, and ramshorn snails also breathe in this way.

    sensor casing food
    mud snails triangular right-handed occasional live plants
    ramshorn snails thickened rolled up in one plane Algae deposits, remains of dead plant parts
    bubble snails threadlike, long left-handed, brightly spotted Algae growth, biofilms and residues

    Bubble snails in the aquarium

    Bladder snails often get into the aquarium through bought water plants, where they reproduce quickly under optimal conditions. Contrary to what is often assumed, the species are completely harmless and can be bred together with different organisms. Bubble snails are not a threat to shrimp and fish. However, some shrimp eat the spawn of the bladder snails.

    Useful

    Bubble snails cannot ensure that the aquarium remains completely free of algae. Nevertheless, they are a valuable aid in cleaning. They maintain water quality by controlling the algae population. They eat fish excrement and leftover fish food that has sunk to the bottom.

    The bladder snail thus deprives many bacteria of an important basis for life and thus reduces the germ density in the water. The immune system of the fish has to withstand a lower germ pressure so that the organisms can live in clean water.

    Bubble snails are the underwater health police. They utilize both spoiled and half-digested leftovers.

    lifestyle and development

    Bubble snails are diurnal and nocturnal which are extremely adaptable. They can cope with both warm and cooler temperatures and also colonize polluted waters with a high pH value. The snails are hermaphroditic animals that do not necessarily need a partner to reproduce. Therefore, one introduced snail is enough to establish a small population. Nothing is known about the life expectancy of a snail.

    pairing

    If enough conspecifics are available, the snails look for a mating partner. The individuals take on either the male or the female role. Often several animals can be observed mating in a long chain. During mating, a snail crawls onto the partner's shell and bulges out the male sex organ. The lower animal acts as a female. The act is completed after a few minutes and the female drives her partner away with beating shell movements.

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    egg laying

    Bubble snails lay their eggs in the form of elongated masses. This so-called spawning ball is slightly curved and feels soft and jelly-like under pressure. A bladder snail can produce between three and 40 spawning balls. They are deposited on parts of plants and left to their own devices. The eggs stand out as bright dots from the mass, which consists of several layers. The spawn is almost invisible and can only be seen against a black background or when the light falls at an angle.

    development

    At a water temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, embryonic development takes ten days. The tiny young snails usually leave the spawn after eight to 14 days to go in search of food. There is no brood care by the parents.

    food

    Bladder fish feed mainly on dead plant parts in the aquarium. They feed on unused or half-digested remains of organic material, including fish excrement or sunken fish food. They do not eat higher plants, but eat the growth of lower plants such as diatoms and green algae. Their rasping tongue is unable to break down the tissue of healthy plants.

    Mistakes cleared up:

    • plant killer: does not eat plants that are alive
    • spawn robber: Bladder snail does not go to fish spawn
    • window cleaner: tiny mouths cannot get a glass completely free of algae

    identify species

    Of the 80 species worldwide, there are three that are native to Central Europe. These species can be distinguished from one another by their appearance. Often the body of water also gives clues to the species, with some bladder snails being adaptable and also tolerant of suboptimal conditions.

    habitat Look casing
    Pointed bubble snail no demands on water quality yellowish horn-colored six turns
    source bladder snail clear, plant-rich standing and flowing water yellow-brown to black-blue four turns
    moss bubble snail plant-rich ditches, ponds, bogs yellowish to reddish brown slim

    Breed bubble snails

    There are some types of fish, such as puffer fish or paradise fish, which prefer to feed on snails. Zebra loaches and clown loaches are also known to eat snails and eat snails and their eggs. If you keep such fish, you can feed them from your own snail farm.

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    vessel and feeding

    A five quart container is a good place to start when breeding bladder snails. You can feed the animals slices of cucumber and raw potatoes. Occasionally add a pinch of fish food to the water. Bladder snails like to take fish food tablets that are actually intended for bottom fish. You can also throw dead flies into the water. This approach food is a protein-rich treat.

    planting and location

    Put some aquatic plants in the jar to optimize the living conditions. Waterweed is perfectly sufficient for bladder snails to feel comfortable. Place the container in a light location to allow algae to develop. These cover the aquatic plants and offer the hatched larvae a good source of food.

    care and cleaning

    The water should be changed occasionally. Make sure that the water hardness is not too low. Tap water is usually sufficient. If you are unsure, you can crumble the shell of a chicken egg and add it to the water. If you place the vessel in living rooms with normal room temperature, you do not need to heat it up. However, temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius accelerate the reproduction and development of the larvae.

    enemies and dangers

    If bubble snails reproduce intensively, you should check the conditions. A strong population development indicates a high nutrient input. Excessive amounts of fish food lead to uncontrolled reproduction, because the natural conditions are optimal for the bladder snail.

    tips

    Feed sparingly and be careful not to let fish food sink to the bottom. If you collect bladder snails from the aquarium, more and more unused remains will be left on the bottom

    parasites

    Bladder snails are used as intermediate hosts by parasitic flukes. The approximately one millimeter long Zekaria of the genus Trichobilharzia spread through the duck droppings. The hatching larvae settle in the snails and presumably infest other hosts before the worms, which live freely in the water, burrow through the ducks' skin again.

    Predatory rook snails

    Raptor snails eat bladder snails

    The carnivorous species of snail is a useful aquarium inhabitant that lives in both soft and hard water. With its striped shell, the species is a visual enrichment. The animals have separate sexes and are less prone to mass reproduction. After the bladder snails have been eradicated, you can feed the snails with fish food.

    apple snails

    The species originate from the tropics, where they live in swampy waters. They prefer a water temperature of 18 to 28 degrees Celsius. Apple snails use the spawn of other snails as a source of protein and do not stop at living snails in the event of deficiency symptoms, even though they mainly eat plants.

    copper

    Sometimes it is necessary to use copper-containing medicines against flukes, parasites or planarians. In large amounts, copper kills bladder snails. However, low concentrations are not bad and even beneficial, because the snails need copper as a trace element. Plant fertilizers containing copper are harmless in most cases.

    tips

    Stay away from being attacked by any species of fish. As soon as this has eradicated the bladder snail, it lacks the basic food and shows signs of deficiency.

    frequently asked Questions

    What are bubble snails?

    Bladder snails belong to the aquatic snails and live in fresh water. Their left-handed housing is typical, with a pointed or blunt end. Bubble snails do have secondary gills, which they use to draw oxygen from the water. Nevertheless, they occasionally have to come to the surface of the water to fill up the gas bubbles in their shells. They absorb oxygen through the mantle tissue.

    Are bladder snails harmful?

    Many aquarium owners are afraid of the bladder snail. They worry about their aquatic plants and the spawning of other creatures. But bladder snails are completely harmless and anything but harmful. They prove to be extremely useful because they are considered indicator organisms and indicate mistakes in aquarium care. The snails play an important role as regulators because they use excess food and dead remains.

    Why do bladder snails reproduce in large numbers?

    The snails react extremely to the conditions in their habitat. If there is a surplus of food, the animals reproduce in large numbers. If the food resources dwindle, the animals stop their mating activities. You should only put as much food in the water as the fish can eat. Be careful not to let large amounts sink to the bottom.

    Can you breed bubble snails?

    The animals can be bought commercially, because many aquarium owners use bladder snails as food for their fish. Bubble snails can be bred in the aquarium with simple means. During the summer months you can put them in the garden pond. Bubble snails are tolerant and will tolerate cooler temperatures. The optimal water temperature is between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius. Sea water is not suitable for breeding as the animals live in fresh water.

    Where do bladder snails live?

    Many of the approximately 80 species of bladder snails were taken from their original ranges, allowing them to spread widely. The climatic conditions represent the dispersal limit. Bubble snails live in stagnant or slow-flowing waters. They prefer dense vegetation because this serves as a source of food, hiding places and spawning grounds. Four species are known in Germany, with one species being introduced from North America.

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