Red Ramshorn Snails Bright red freshwater Ramshorn Snails that naturally graze algae, clean up leftover food, and add vibrant colour to planted aquariums. Quick Facts Scientific name: Planorbidae family Size: ~1–2.5 cm Tank size: 10L+ recommended Difficulty: 🟢 Easy Temperament: Peaceful Best kept: Colonies Is this for you? ✔️ Good if: You want a colourful natural cleanup crew You keep shrimp or peaceful community fish You enjoy low-maintenance aquarium livestock You like vibrant colour in planted aquariums ❌ Avoid if: You keep snail-eating fish such as puffers or loaches You regularly overfeed your aquarium You don't want snails breeding You expect them to eliminate every type of algae Why this snail? Red Ramshorn Snails are one of the most colourful freshwater snails available, with vibrant red shells that stand out beautifully against green plants and dark substrates. They spend their day grazing on algae, biofilm, decaying plant matter, and leftover food, helping to recycle waste while adding constant movement throughout the aquarium. Unlike many larger snails, Ramshorn Snails remain relatively small and reproduce naturally in healthy aquariums, making them popular additions to shrimp tanks and planted aquascapes. Common mistakes Overfeeding, causing rapid population growth Assuming they will solve all algae problems Keeping them with snail-eating fish Removing every snail instead of reducing excess food Maintaining soft, acidic water that damages shells Care made simple Temperature: 18–28°C pH: 7.0–8.2 Diet: Algae, biofilm, leftover food, vegetables Water: Stable freshwater with moderate hardness preferred Setup: Planted aquariums and shrimp tanks Pair with Freshwater shrimp Peaceful nano fish Live aquatic plants Driftwood and botanicals Nature-style aquascapes NTA Insight: Red Ramshorn Snails are one of our favourite cleanup snails because they combine practicality with colour. Their bright red shells make them far more noticeable than traditional Ramshorns, and a healthy population is often a sign of a thriving ecosystem. If numbers increase rapidly, it's usually an indication that the aquarium is being overfed rather than a problem with the snails themselves. FAQ Will Red Ramshorn Snails overrun my aquarium? They can reproduce quickly if excess food is available. Keeping feeding under control naturally limits their population. Do they eat healthy aquarium plants? No. Healthy Red Ramshorn Snails feed primarily on algae, biofilm, leftover food, and decaying plant material rather than healthy aquatic plants. Are they good algae eaters? Yes. They are excellent grazers of soft algae and biofilm, although they won't remove every type of algae from an aquarium. Can they live with shrimp? Absolutely. Red Ramshorn Snails are completely peaceful and make excellent companions for freshwater shrimp and other non-aggressive aquarium species. Why are my Ramshorn Snails multiplying? Population growth is directly related to available food. Reducing excess feeding will naturally slow reproduction and help maintain a balanced population.
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