Description

Yellow Spotted Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania gemmifera)

📌 Basic Info

• Scientific Name: Tylomelania gemmifera

• Family: Pachychilidae

• Origin: Sulawesi, Indonesia (lakes & rivers)

• Size: 3 – 5 inches (7 – 12 cm)

• Lifespan: 2 – 5 years

• Tank Zone: Bottom dwellers

🌊 Water Parameters

• TDS: 120 – 250 ppm

• pH: 7.2 – 8.2 (alkaline water is important for shell health)

• Temperature: 26 – 30°C (78 – 86°F)

• Hardness: 6 – 12 dGH

🐌 Characteristics

• Known for their dark shells with bright yellow/orange spots on their body.

• Long “rabbit-like” face with antennae.

• Peaceful and slow-moving, great for community tanks.

• Do not breed quickly – livebearers with very slow reproduction.

• Active diggers, may burrow into sand.

🍽️ Food

• Type: Omnivorous with herbivore preference.

• Diet: Algae, biofilm, blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), sinking pellets, algae wafers, calcium-rich foods for shell health.

• Feeding: Supplement food if algae is low in the tank.

🛠️ Maintenance

• Tank Size: Minimum 20 gallons (larger for groups).

• Filtration: Gentle but efficient (they dislike strong currents).

• Decor: Sand or soft substrate (they burrow), driftwood, hardy plants, rocks.

• Water Change: 20–30% weekly; avoid sudden changes.

👥 Social Behavior

• Minimum Group Size: Can live alone, but thrive in small groups.

• Tank Mates: Guppies, Tetras, Rasboras, Corydoras, peaceful shrimp, snails.

• Avoid: Loaches, Pufferfish, Cichlids, Assassin Snails (they prey on snails).

✅ Do’s

• Provide calcium for strong shell growth.

• Use sand substrate to allow natural burrowing.

• Keep in warm, stable, alkaline water.

❌ Don’ts

• Don’t keep with snail-eaters.

• Don’t expose to acidic or soft water (causes shell damage).

• Don’t allow sudden temperature or pH drops.

⭐ Quick Tips

• Unique snail with spotted yellow/orange body and rabbit-like face.

• Peaceful algae-eater, great for planted community aquariums.

• Slow breeder – won’t overpopulate tanks.