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Mystery snails are one of the favorite spices of snails preferred by most aquarists and hobbyists.
Most new hobbyists wonder about how fast mystery snails grow. If you are also looking for an answer, you are at the right place.
Mystery snails come in various colors and are fun to watch in the aquarium. It’s only natural to get attached to these lovely little creators at first sight.
Okay! Enough chit-chat; now, let’s get down to the business.
How Fast Do Mystery Snails Grow?
Mystery snails’ growth is much faster compared to other snails. From an egg to an adult, mystery snails can grow up to 2 to 3 inches in size in just 7 to 8 weeks. They keep growing throughout their life, but the growth rate slows down once they mature. Their shell, however, keeps growing throughout their life.
Yet, this growth rate is not constant and may differ a little bit from snail to snail and species. The growth of mystery snails also depends on various factors such as the quality of water, the type and availability of food, the temperature of the water, etc.
How Long Does It Take A Mystery Snail To Grow Full Size?
Mystery snails, because of their voracious appetites, can grow to full in just a matter of a few weeks to months. A young mystery snail can double in size in a matter of 2-3 weeks. However, as we have already discussed earlier, growth is not the same for all snails and depends on several factors.
Still, as a general rule, you can say they grow to full size in 2-3 months.
Main Factors Affecting the Growth of a Mystery Snail
1. Food & Diet
The diet of a mystery snail is a significant factor in its growth. The baby mystery snails will grow much faster if they are fed well compared to the ones that are not.
You can feed them fresh veggies, flakes, etc., to ensure they get the nutrients they require to grow from newborns to adults.
A diet rich in calcium is essential for the growth and development of mystery snails. It can be provided through a diet of blanched vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, and kale. You can also offer them a calcium supplement in the form of boiled cuttlebone.
If there is a food shortage in the aquarium and the snails are underfed, they may eat the live plant too.
2. Proper Vegetation In The Aquarium
The need for proper vegetation and plantation in the aquarium can’t be stressed enough, especially if the snails are in the growth phase or just a couple of weeks old. It is natural for mystery snails to go scavenging plants in their habitat. You should also have some algae in your tank because mystery snails love to eat it.
Vegetation, their core diet, is a must-have for the balanced growth and development of your mystery snails.
3. Water Parameters
Last but not least, the tank must have the correct water parameters for your baby mystery snails to thrive. It is observed that mystery snails have a hard time surviving when adequate water quality is not maintained.
Below is the ideal water parameter for the mystery snails:
- Water temperature: 68°F to 84°F
- pH levels: 7.6 to 8.4
- Water hardness: 12 to 18 kH
Also, one thing to watch out for is copper. Mystery snails react adversely to copper; hence your tank should be free from it. Usually, tap water may contain some copper, so you should check it.
Mystery Snail Breeding
Breeding the Mystery snails is not as hard as most people have made it seem. All you need is to get male and female snails from a reputed breeder and put them together in the same tank, and they will do the rest.
You don’t necessarily have to alter the water parameters to make them breed; the snails will mate on their own.
Still, if you want, you can increase the water temperature to a few degrees, but I suggest you not go above 74 degrees because they can get stressed from the heat level.
After breeding, the female will lay eggs above the surface of the water in a cocoon.
Conclusion
That’s it for today’s blog. So, now that you know how fast mystery snails grow, you can provide them with the necessary care to ensure they grow healthy and live happy lives.
For a quick summary, if you want your mystery snail to grow faster, you need to provide them with plenty of food, adequate water, and a relaxed environment.
The newborn mystery snail is extremely vulnerable, so it’s important to keep an eye on its surroundings as it grows.
You should also perform regular water changes to keep the water clean.
