Trapdoor snails
Viviparus viviparus
- A large native snail species with 5 or 6 whorls, commonly reaching 2.5cm. Viviparus viviparus has a durable yellow-green shell with three brown spiral stripes and can be kept with large carp, goldfish and other large fish that would predate on many other snail species. The trapdoor snail has a calcareous or corneous operculum, an anatomical structure that acts like a ‘trapdoor' to close the opening of the shell when the soft parts of the animal are retracted - the perfect defense mechanism!
V. viviparus graze on algae, cleaning it from rocks, glass and plants (they’ll leave live plants untouched). Excellent at clearing green or murky water, these scavengers will feed off detritus, dead fish and plants and left over fishfood. Snails make up an essential part of a pond or aquarium ecosystem and would make a superb addition to a wildlife pond.
The trapdoor snail is very easy to keep, it's hardy and can survive UK winters. Potentially sensitive to acidic water (low pH) it can easily survive from scavenging especially if being kept in an outdoor pond. If required they can be fed algae wafers, bloodworm pellets, shrimp pellets or fishfood.
The snails are currently approximately 2.5 to 5cm in length.