Get to Know the Spixi Snail – Everything You Need to Know

Spixi is an aquarium snail that has been around for a while. Unlike other snails, its diet is not limited to just algae or phyto-organisms. In fact, it loves snails and crustaceans as well as fruits and vegetables.

Here we’re going to tell you all about the Spixi striped mystery snail, including what it is, where it lives, how it feeds, tips on keeping it as well as some interesting facts about them.

Quick Notes about Asolene Spixi Snails

Asolene Spixi Snails, also known as Zebra Apple Snails or Spixi Snails, are from South America and can reach up to 2.5cm in diameter. They have separate sexes and typically have a lifespan of 1 to 3 years, depending on the temperature.

Asolene snails are useful for eliminating hydra in aquariums, as they are plant-safe and eat sinking fish foods. These snails will provide hours of entertaining aquarium activity as they hunt for food and swim around the aquarium. Asolene spixi snails are an ideal addition to any aquariu as they are easy to care for and provide hours of fun.

Distribution of the Spixi Snails

The Spixi Snail is native to South America and has a distribution that ranges from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru. It inhabits various provinces and departments of these nations, with its optimal tank size being 40 L / 11 gallons.

The snail thrives in a water temperature of 18 to 25 degrees Celsius and a pH range of 5.5 to 8.5, so as long as the parameters are maintained it can be kept in any aquarium.

The Spixi Snail requires soft water with low concentrations of dissolved minerals but can tolerate slightly higher levels as long as they are well balanced with the snail’s needs.

It is highly sensitive to copper in the aquarium and should not be equipped with copper-based decorations ornaments as this can cause harm to the snail. This snail is an aquatic herbivore that feeds on algae, aquatic plants, and other small organisms in the aquarium.

Natural Habitat of the Spixi Snails

The Spixi snail is a native of South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru. These snails prefer habitats with slow-moving waters, such as ponds, ditches, shallow lagoons, and rivers with sandy or loamy bottoms.

They also thrive in environments with plenty of vegetation. The ideal temperature ranges for the Spixi snail are 70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C) in summer and 61 to 68°F (16°C) in winter.

The pH of the water should be kept between 7 and 8.5 for the Spixi snail to thrive. Asolene snails are highly adaptable and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions as long as there is enough nutrients available in the water. These snails also feed on plants and algae.

The Behavior of the Spixi Snails

Spixi snails have an unusual way of movement, using a staccato mode of locomotion on very smooth surfaces like glass. They are known for eating hydra, and can be seen going after this aquatic invertebrate as they move along the glass surface.

These snails are also known as glass snails due to their habit of eating from inside glass containers. The spixi snail has the ability to lay eggs in clutches, and as a result, it is a species that is important for the reproduction of other aquatic organisms.

These snails are nocturnal and therefore do not require light to survive. They can be easily separated into sex by looking at the mantle of each snail as they swim around in a aquarium.

Spixi Snails Diet

Spixi snails are a popular aquaristic snail species with a diverse diet. They feed on decaying plant and animal matter as well as algae and may pick up leftovers from the aquarium.

These snails prefer to be fed a varied diet, including blanched vegetables, such as carrot, spinach, and zucchini, as well as pellets made from common aquarium fish like shrimp and salmon.

However, they should be offered quality aquarium food such as pellets made from common fish species. Copper-based fertilizers can be harmful to snails as they can cause downstream toxicity issues. Instead of using fertilizers, it is best to use quality aquarium food that is tailored to the spixi snail’s needs.

Benefits of Keeping Spixi Snails

Spixi snails are a great pet for aquarists as they are easy to care for and can live for years with proper care. They are nocturnal so don’t need light, making them perfect for keeping in aquariums with the lights off. Spixi snails are mostly detritivores, feeding on decomposing plant and animal matter. This makes them ideal as cleanup animals in aquariums as they help to keep the aquarium clean and healthy.

However, spixi snails should be kept away from copper-based chemicals as they may become sick or die if exposed. Aquarium fertilizers should not contain copper as it is toxic to spixi snails. Also, spixi snails are sensitive to heavy metals such as mercury and gold as these can harm their health. Thus, it is essential to follow the care instructions provided by the aquarium manufacturer and monitor spixi snails’ health carefully.

Interesting Facts About Spixi Snails

Spixi snails are scientific name asolene spixii. They are nocturnal creatures and originate from South America. The body of the spixi snail is generally dark in color and has a zebra-like appearance. They grow to about 2.5 cm or 1 inch in diameter.

Spixi snails are popular as companion pets because of their friendly nature and beautiful appearance. These snails are known for eating hydras and helping keep the tank clean by eating food particles and small debris. However, they do not interfere with other fish in the tank as they are considered as non-predators.

Spixi snails are known as easy keepers as they require less care compared to other freshwater snails. They can be housed in a bowl or aquarium with a water depth of 2-3 cm or 1 inch as an adult spixi snail doesn’t need much water besides its requirement for metabolism, circulation, and respiration (known as basic requirements).

Keeping Spixi Snails

Spixi snails are popular among hobbyists as they are not demanding and easy to care for. They are also quite prolific and lay up to 20-30 eggs per cluster. Their lifespan is about 1-3 years, and they’re separate sexes, not hermaphrodites.

They are nocturnal, friendly with most snail species, with the exception of assassins and trumpet snails. Unfortunately, spixi snails can be cannibalistic, eating their own offspring and younger siblings. Despite this common drawback, spixi snails make an excellent choice as a pet snail as they are hardy, beautiful, and fun to watch.

Tank Size

Spixi snails can live in a tank as small as 2.5-gallon (10 liters). However, eggs should be removed or isolated in the aquarium as they can be eaten even by the mother. To ensure that the eggs are properly developed and not eaten, temperature should always be kept at 25C (77F) to ensure proper development.

PH, GH, KH, and TDS levels of water should be within specific ranges for spixi snails to survive in their environment. They are herbivorous snails that prefer soft aquatic plant matter such as java moss and some plants like Amazon sword. They are an exotic aquatic snail native to Brazil and other South American countries.

Water parameters:

Spixi snails are aquatic invertebrates, which means they are members of the phylum Mollusca. They can be kept in freshwater aquariums as aquarium scavengers and as a decorative element of the aquarium.

These snail species thrive in aquariums with a pH range between 7.0 – 8.0 and a hardness level between 0 – 20. To keep them healthy, it is important to provide them with appropriate water parameters such as a pH range that is suitable for their biology and avoiding acidic water (pH 6.5 or lower) for longer than a few weeks to avoid damage to their shells.

It is also important to ensure that the water parameters of your aquarium are appropriate for the plants and fish in the tank as over- or under-watering can be harmful to them as well as to the snail species. Finally, it is vital to provide snails with adequate space as they have a tendency to bury themselves if provided with too little substrate. This can cause them to hibernate until the temperature of the aquarium rises above 24 °C (75 F).

Lighting

Spixi snails are nocturnal and do not require lights in order to survive. A planted tank requires specific lighting to thrive and spixi snails are sensitive to the type of light that is provided.

They need plants as a source of oxygen and nutrients, as well as appropriate lighting to thrive. An aquarium with natural sunlight is not enough to provide the right light for a planted aquarium and will result in plants growing slowly or not at all.

The best option for a planted aquarium is dedicated lighting, which can be purchased as a separate fixture or as part of an integrated system designed specifically for aquatic plants. For more information on planting tanks, read the “Advanced Guide to Planted Tank Lighting” on our website.

Filtration

Spixi snails are relatively easy to care for as long as they have a properly cycled aquarium. These snails require filtration with a sponge filter as it provides both mechanical and biological filtration. It is also beneficial to keep the water clean and ensure optimal water conditions for these snails.

Regular water changes are necessary to maintain a healthy aquarium. In addition, the tank must be provided with adequate oxygenation as this is necessary for the snails to breathe.

A quality filter can help to keep the water clean and ensure that the aquarium remains healthy and thriving. To ensure that your Spixi snail is happy and healthy, it is important to provide it with adequate space in the aquarium as well as a diverse range of plants and food sources. If you are looking for an excellent snail to add to your aquatic ecosystem, consider getting a few Spixi snails to start with.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Spixi Striped Mystery Snails?

Spixi Striped Mystery Snails are detrivores that reach about 1″ long and are generally safe for planted aquariums. They are nocturnal, spend most of the day partially buried in the substrate and eat hydra, making them useful for eliminating this harmful pest in shrimp tanks.

Spixi Striped Mystery Snails can be found at our massive aquarium store in San Diego, California. They will be friendly with almost all fish, shrimp, and snails species with the exception for assassins snails, trumpet snails.

Where do Spixi Striped Mystery Snails live?

Spixi Striped Mystery Snails can be found at a large aquarium store in San Diego, California. They generally prefer to spawn near the surface, either underwater or on the glass.

They are generally safe for planted aquariums and can be kept in tanks of 2.5 gallons or more. They are nocturnal, spending much of their day partially buried in the substrate.

They are friendly with most fish, shrimp, and snails species, with the exception of assassins and trumpet snails.

How do Spixi Striped Mystery Snails reproduce?

One common way to reproduce Spixi Striped Mystery Snails is by spawning them near the surface of the aquarium. Spawning can be done by depositing eggs on stone, driftwood, glass, or vegetation. However, never deposit the eggs on the bottom of the aquarium as this may lead to their death and contaminate your tank with snail eggs.

The eggs will usually develop and hatch within 14-21 days at a temperature of around 25C (77F). Once hatched, the snails will move about near the surface of the aquarium, but may also be found on the glass.

What are the benefits of keeping Spixi Striped Mystery Snails as pets?

There are many benefits to keeping Spixi Striped Mystery Snails as pets. Some of the benefits include:

– Being a peaceful species that is friendly with most aquarium fish, shrimp and snails, with the exception of assassins and trumpet snails.

– These snails can be kept in aquariums of 2.5 gallons or more, and reach a maximum size of 1″ in size.

– As detrivores, Spixi Striped Mystery Snails do well on sinking fish foods. Lighting is not necessary for these snails as they are nocturnal.

– Overall, Spixi Striped Mystery Snails are an interesting species that has a lot to offer as a pet.

Conclusion

You now know everything about Spixi Snails. You might as well keep reading more about them and other snail species so that you can have a better understanding of these snails. Want to learn more? Here’s a blog that will help you understand snail slime, as well as the different snail species.