Photo by Lupin.
Scientific Name: Cipangopaludina chinensis;
Bellamya chinensis;
Viviparus malleatus
Common Names: Chinese Mystery Snail, Chinese Vivipara, Tanisha, Rice Snail, Chinese Apple Snail, Asian Apple Snail
Care Level: easy
Adult Size: 2.5 inches
pH Range: 7.0-8.0
Temperature Range: (F/C) 59-71 degrees Fahrenheit (15-22 degrees Celsius)
Origin/Habitat: Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea and everywhere else as exotic.
Temperament/Behavior: peaceful
Compatible Tank mates:
Like all other snails, these are best kept with fish that will not bother them too much. Plecos, guppies, corydoras, rasboras, tetras and most other placid fish will work well.
Diet:
In the wild, these eat mainly algae, phytoplanktons, zooplanktons, and organic and inorganic matter. They will however appreciate commercial foods in captivity but not as much as the planktonic substances as these are very slow to become accustomed to different diet preferring algae over anything else.
Tank Size For Adult: 1 per 2.5g
Lifespan: 2-3 years
Narrative:
Cipangopaludina chinensis is found mainly in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea and everywhere else as exotic species since they have been introduced worldwide as food for human consumption and even intentionally released from the aquarium particularly in North America. They were not observed to have any negative impact to the ecosystem although they pose a threat to the human health by serving as vectors/hosts of most parasites such as
Aspidogaster conchicola which is the first ever recorded in North America.
These are the true "mystery" snails, not the
Ampullaridae. They have dark olive green shells and are livebearers that will give birth to several young snails. There are 6-7 whorls, all of which are globose.
Locally in the Philippines, they are called "bagunggong" and are used as food by the local folks. They are far tastier than the introduced species,
Pomacea canaliculata. They are not as commonly available in the trade as the true apple snails despite the fact they have already been distributed globally particularly in North America where they are not a native of.
These snails are suitable for planted tank setups as these will not devour healthy plants mainly focusing on algae making them another species that are quite efficient in consuming algae. These snails are very shy and more often than not, they are very slow crawlers and will quickly withdraw into their shells when they feel threatened. They will also withdraw into their shells when conditions are unfavorable especially when the temperature soars above 71 degrees Fahrenheit as these are basically coldwater species.
They have been widely displaced in the Philippines since the introduction of the aggressive feeders
Pomacea canaliculata. They are now seldom found around the rice paddies, rivers and other waterways and remain isolated until now from much of the human activities.
The taxonomy of this species has been branched around creating too much mess and confusion in the literature therefore you will find that this species has other synonymous scientific names such as
Bellamya chinensis, Viviparus chinensis, Viviparus japonicus, Viviparus malleatus and many more.
References/Links:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/malacology/fl-snail/snails1.htm
http://nis.gsmfc.org/nis_factsheet.php?toc_id=125
http://nematode.unl.edu/mysterysn.htm
http://66.218.69.11/search/cache?ei...arium+aquariums&d=GCJOY52uSaa_&icp=1&.intl=us
