Mystery snails have become popular pets in recent years, offering a unique-looking and interesting pet snail to those looking for something a bit different.
They are relatively small, easy to care for and come in a variety of colors.
But the biggest question that comes to mind when considering getting a mystery snail is: what do they eat?
What Kind of Feed Does a Mystery Snail Need?
Mystery snails are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant matter and animal matter.
In the wild, they’d be eating a variety of things, but in captivity, they can live off of store-bought food sources that are designed specifically for them.
The most common kind of feed for mystery snails is a pellet or flake food, but they also enjoy sinking algae wafers and dried bloodworms as well.
What Kind of Plant Matter Can They Eat?
Mystery snails enjoy eating blanched vegetables such as spinach or kale, as well as shelled and cooked peas or beans.
They also enjoy Commercial veggie snacks intended for aquarium fish, such as freeze-dried vegetables like peas, spinach, kale, and broccoli.
Fruits can also be enjoyed, although should be limited to small amounts so it does not overwhelm the snail’s diet.
Learn More:
What About Animal Matter?
Animal matter can be enjoyed by mystery snails as well, if available.
Things like dried bloodworms or shrimp treats can provide them with the necessary protein that their bodies need to stay healthy and active.
Live foods like brine shrimp, earthworms, and even small slugs may also be offered occasionally if available.
Do Mystery Snails Eat Other Snails?
The good news is that mystery snails generally don’t eat other snails, so you don’t have to worry about them devouring any of their tank mates.
That being said they can still cause accidental harm if their shells come into contact with another snail’s shell.
It’s best to make sure your other tank inhabitants are smaller than your mystery snail so there’s no risk of injury happening accidentally.
Do Mystery Snails Need Calcium?
Yes! Mystery snails need calcium in their diet just like any other animal would – it helps keep their shells strong and healthy.
You may need to supplement with calcium powder every so often, though this isn’t always necessary as long as you have cuttlebone or another calcium source in the tank at all times.
You can also feed them things like shelled peas which provide them with some of the calcium they need.
Conclusion
Overall, mystery snails are easy to take care of when it comes to food – although what your snail ultimately eats may vary depending on what you have available to you.
As far as plant matter goes, blanched vegetables and specially designed veggie-based aquarium snacks are best suited to them; while animal matter such as dried bloodworms and brine shrimp can be fed as treats or supplements to their diet if available.
Calcium is also essential to their diet so adding calcium sources like cuttlebone or calcium powder is highly recommended.
