Black Rabbit Snail
Tylomelania zemis
A slow-moving, long-lived snail that grazes peacefully and breeds one giant baby at a time.
About
The Black Rabbit Snail (Tylomelania zemis) is one of those snails that actually makes you stop and look twice. Native to the ancient lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia, this species sports a dark, elongated shell that tapers into a distinctive spire, giving it a silhouette unlike anything else you'd typically find crawling around an aquarium. The body itself tends to be a deep charcoal to black, with a face that does indeed have a somewhat rabbit-like quality thanks to its long, dangling antennae. In the tank, rabbit snails are deliberate and unhurried, plowing slowly through substrate and grazing on biofilm, decaying plant matter, and soft algae. They are peaceful, completely uninterested in bothering fish or shrimp, and actually make good tankmates for many Sulawesi shrimp species that share their home waters. One of the most fascinating things about this snail is its reproductive strategy. Rather than laying clutches of eggs, females give birth to a single live, fully formed juvenile at a time, encased in a small membrane. Breeding happens slowly, so populations don't get out of hand. Despite their exotic origins, they are considered a forgiving choice for newer keepers willing to give their tank a bit of stability.
Similar species
Other invertebrate you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Black Rabbit Snail
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Black Rabbit Snail need?
- The Black Rabbit Snail does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 7–8.5, hardness around 8–20 dGH.
- Is the Black Rabbit Snail aggressive?
- The Black Rabbit Snail is generally peaceful and suits a community tank with similarly calm tankmates.
- What does the Black Rabbit Snail eat?
- The Black Rabbit Snail is a herbivore. It needs a plant-based diet such as algae, blanched vegetables, or spirulina-based foods.