Looking for a fun new aquarium project? Or maybe you own a pufferfish that's in need of food? Whatever your reasons, breeding ramshorn snails is easy and a great beginner-proof way to obtain more snails to keep or sell. And did you know you can even breed them in different colors?

Below, we'll go into absolutely everything you need to know about breeding ramshorn snails of the family Planorbidae, including stuff like color genetics, what to do with the babies, and much more.

🐌 Dealing with an infestation?

Before we begin: this article is for aquarists looking to breed ramshorn snails on purpose. They usually don't overrun a balanced tank, but if you've come here to look for advice on dealing with an infestation, we can also help with that. The solution is simple: CLEAN!

Reduce feedings and remove uneaten foods as soon as possible. This won't get rid of the snails, but will ensure the population stays manageable. If you want to reduce it more quickly, use snail traps or bait them with an algae wafer. Once the food is covered in hungry snails, remove it and dispose of the snails however you prefer.

If you want to eradicate the snails entirely, you can use copper-based snail killers, but keep in mind these also kill other invertebrates such as shrimp. Don't buy fish like pufferfish or clown loaches to deal with an infestation, as they're unsuitable for 99% of aquarium set-ups and need specialized care.

How do ramshorn snails reproduce?

The most important thing to keep in mind about ramshorn snail reproduction is that, like many snail species, these are hermaphrodites. They're not male or female, but possess both sets or reproductive organs, which means that any two ramshorns can reproduce with each other.

When two healthy ramshorn snails meet, they're likely to mate. According to research, they're quite unique among snails in that they do so face-to-face. The snails will touch each other's plicae, enlargements at the base of their tentacles to express their interest, and will then exchange spermatophore packages. These are stored inside the snails' bodies until they're ready to lay eggs.

Once egg-laying time has come, the eggs are fertilized internally using the stored packages and then attached to surfaces like plants, rocks, or the aquarium glass. You'll have no problem recognizing the small egg clutches: they're enveloped in a glob of protective, gelatinous substance. This jelly keeps the eggs in place and helps prevent any damage.

Ramshorn snail egg mass
Example of a ramshorn snail egg mass

Why should I breed ramshorn snails?

Ramshorn snails aren't for everyone; some aquarists loathe them for their ability to reproduce quickly and take over entire tanks. However, this same "flaw" is also an advantage for many! If this is your first time trying your hand at breeding any kind of aquarium fish or invertebrate, ramshorns certainly make a great choice.

For example, if you own a freshwater pufferfish, breeding ramshorn snails (along with self-cloning crayfish for larger puffers) can be a great way to obtain free food for your pet. The hard shell of a ramshorn snail helps keep puffers' teeth in good condition.

Another reason to breed ramshorn snails is the fact that many folks do keep them as pets. This especially goes for the more unique color morphs, which are always in demand in the hobby. You may be able to sell nice-looking ramshorn snails to other hobbyists or trade them in for credit at your local aquarium store.

Various ramshorn snail colors in a pile
You can breed all of these ramshorn snail colors and MORE in your tank!

Breeding ramshorn snails: A guide

If you're looking to breed your ramshorn snails, the best option is to set up a small, separate tank. The babies are very vulnerable, and many common fish species—such as guppies—prey on them. Inoffensive invertebrates like dwarf shrimp are fine as tankmates, though!

Here are the basics of what you'll need:

  • Aquarium or food-safe storage tub, ideally around 5-10 gallons
  • Sponge filter
  • Heater (only if the ambient temperature drops below 68 °F)
  • Some live plants

Once you've got all this ready, don't introduce any snails yet. In order to ensure optimum survival, the tank should be cycled before introducing any livestock. Once this is done, usually after around 3-4 weeks, you can buy your starter colony of 5-10 ramshorns.

Tip: Looking for a place to get your starter snails? The Shrimp Farm offers two different shades of ramshorn snails, and we also have the option of a variety pack. We ship your snails right to your doorstep, with live arrival guarantee!

Once you've actually got your snails, there isn't a whole lot you have to do except take good care of them. For that purpose, we'd like to invite you to give our full ramshorn care guide a good read! If you follow all the guidelines in this guide, you should have no problem getting your snails to reproduce prolifically.

The most important factors are:

  • A calcium-rich and varied diet, optionally with calcium supplements included
  • A pH above neutral (7.0+)
  • Water that is not too soft (TDS or total dissolved solids at least 150 ppm)
  • Weekly water changes
  • Water quality monitoring with liquid test kits

The more space and the more food, the faster the snails will reproduce. If your ramshorns are happy and healthy, you'll soon notice the first egg globs appear. You don't have to do anything for these aside from keeping the water quality high; they'll hatch in up to three weeks depending on the water temperature.

Ramshorn snail colors

As mentioned, ramshorn snails come in different colors. Their skins can be dark brown to blackish, reddish, or reddish pink, while their shells may show a variety of colors and patterns. The standard is dark brown, but selective breeding with different color morphs can result in:

  • Pale blueish
  • Ivory
  • Red
  • Pinkish
  • Gold
  • Jade

All shell and foot colors can be either plain or show a spotted ("leopard") pattern, although the latter often fades as the snails mature.

Brown ramshorn snail
Standard brown ramshorn snail
Red ramshorn snail
Red ramshorn snail with red foot
Blue ramshorn snail
Blue ramshorn snail with red foot

Now, a lot is still unknown about ramshorn snail color genetics. To us, that's the cool part: unexpected things pop up all the time, and we like tracking the output of a breeding tank in terms of color. Our general conclusion is that brown coloration is dominant, and a colony tends to drift to brown over time if you mix colors. This is similar to what happens in Neocaridina dwarf shrimp.

Pink, blue, ivory, and yellowish coloration appear to be recessive, with pink being the most common. The colors don't mix, so if a pink and blue ramshorn mate, the offspring will be mostly pink and some blue; they won't turn out purple.

If you're interested in breeding for a specific color, your best bet is to set up another breeding tank and move snails of the desired color (let's say blue) in there, along with possibly a few specimens of other colors to maintain diversity. Move offspring that isn't blue back to the general breeding tank and you'll gradually notice more and more blue snails popping up. The lines will never breed 100% true, but you can get them stabilized pretty well over time.

Soldatenko, E., & Petrov, A. (2012). Mating behaviour and copulatory mechanics in six species of Planorbidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 78(2), 185-196.