Horned Armour Snail

About

The Horned Armour Snail (Brotia pagodula) is one of those invertebrates that makes you do a double-take when you first see it. The shell is tall and conical, covered in rows of pointed spines and ridges that give it a genuinely prehistoric look. Somewhere between a pagoda tower and a porcupine. It is a freshwater snail, and while its exact wild distribution is somewhat broad, it is associated with flowing, well-oxygenated rivers where hard, alkaline water is the norm. That preference for harder water is worth keeping in mind when planning a tank, since it is not well-suited to the soft, acidic setups often kept for tropical fish. New arrivals tend to be shy and may tuck themselves away for the first few days or even weeks, which is completely normal behavior rather than a sign of stress. Once settled, though, these snails become noticeably more active, especially when food is on offer. They are carnivorous, which sets them apart from the algae-grazing snails most hobbyists are familiar with, so feeding needs a little thought. This is a manageable species for a beginner willing to meet its water chemistry needs.