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Midwest Aquarium and Pond Supplier LLC

(26) Yellow Apple Snails

(26) Yellow Apple Snails

$4.00 USD
$4.00 USD
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"yellow apple snail" can refer to two very different species with potentially significant consequences for the environment. It is crucial to distinguish between them: the non-invasive yellow mystery snail (a color variant of Pomacea diffusa or bridgesii) and the highly invasive golden or channeled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata). 

The non-invasive yellow mystery snail
This is the species most often sold in pet stores under various names, including "golden mystery snail". 
  • Scientific name: Pomacea diffusa or Pomacea bridgesii.
  • Appearance: They have a smooth, globular yellow shell with a low, less pronounced spire. Their bodies can range from yellow to orange.
  • Behavior: They are typically safe for planted aquariums, as they prefer to eat algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter rather than healthy plants.
  • Breeding: They lay clusters of eggs above the waterline, which are easy to spot and remove if you want to prevent breeding.
  • Origin: Native to South America, they were introduced to the aquarium trade as a manageable, peaceful snail species. 

The highly invasive golden/channeled apple snail
This species poses a significant threat to ecosystems and agriculture and is illegal to possess in many places. 
  • Scientific name: Pomacea canaliculata.
  • Appearance: This species is typically larger than the mystery snail and has a deep indentation or "channel" between the segments of its shell's spiral.
  • Behavior: It is a voracious herbivore that will devour all kinds of aquatic plants, including valuable crops like rice and taro.
  • Eggs: The most identifiable trait is their signature bright, bubblegum-pink egg clutches laid on surfaces just above the water.
  • Origin and impact: Also native to South America, it was introduced to parts of Asia and Hawaii as a food source but quickly escaped and became a major invasive pest. It is considered one of the "world's worst invasive alien species" by the IUCN
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