Malaysian trumpet snails (Melanoides tuberculatus)

Red-rimmed melanias are quite commonly found as aquarium snails. Opinion in the hobby is divided between those who see them as a pest and those who value their usefulness as algae-eaters and substrate-cleaners.

The red-rimmed melania (Melanoides tuberculatus) is a small freshwater snail with an operculum, a parthenogenetic, aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Thiaridae.

This species is native to subtropical and tropical Africa and Asia.

It is primarily a burrowing species that tends to be most active at night. Average shell length is around 30-36 mm but exceptional specimens may be up to 80 mm long. It feeds primarily on algae. The common name comes from the presence of reddish spots on the otherwise greenish-brown shell.

Biology
Red-rimmed melania shell, with the characteristic red spots apparent. Specimen length apporoximately 20 mm. Red-rimmed melania populations appear to consist entirely of females and, as yet, no males have been observed. Under good conditions, females will produce fertilised eggs that are transferred to a brood pouch where they remain until they hatch. The freshwater snails will begin reproducing at a size as small as 10 mm in length and broods may contain over seventy offspring.

Although normally freshwater snails, this species is very tolerant of brackish water and has been recorded in waters with a salinity of 30 ppt (about 85% the salinity of normal seawater). It is however a warm-climate species and appears to prefer a temperature range of 18 to 25°C.

As an introduced species
This species has become established outside of its natural range in large part through the activities of aquarists. Some of these exotic populations have become very large, with densities of 10,000 per square metre being reported from the St. Johns River in Florida. In some cases red-rimmed melanias are believed to have a negative impact on native snail populations.

Economic significance

• Agricultural pests. Red-rimmed melanias may be a pest species in some instances, as has been reported on Chinese cabbage plantations in Hong Kong.
• Parasitology. Red-rimmed melanias are known to carry certain parasites dangerous to Man, including the Oriental lung fluke and Chinese liver fluke.
• Aquaria. Red-rimmed melanias are quite commonly found in freshwater aquaria; opinion in the hobby is divided between those who see them as a pest and those who value their usefulness as algae-eaters and substrate-cleaners. Among aquarists, these aquarium snails are known as Malayan livebearing snails or Malayan/Malaysian trumpet snails (often abbreviated to MTS).

Just click following links to learn more about Fish-only tank and Aquascape keeping.