Mystery Snail

Shop Mystery Snails for sale — one of the most popular freshwater aquarium snails you can add to a planted tank or community aquarium. Every live Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii) at Splashy Fish is hand-selected for health and active behavior, then held through our 14-day quarantine before it's ever listed for sale. Peaceful, plant-safe, and one of the best natural algae eaters in the hobby, Mystery Snails are an easy way to add color and cleanup power to almost any freshwater setup.

Shop Mystery Snails by Color

Mystery Snails come in more shell colors than almost any other aquarium snail — pick the one that fits your aquascape:

• Golden Mystery Snail: Bright, sunny yellow shell — the most recognizable Mystery Snail color and a great choice for dark substrate or black-background tanks.
• Blue Mystery Snail: Cool steel-blue shell with an ivory or gray body — a modern, minimalist look that pairs beautifully with green live plants.
• Ivory Mystery Snail: Elegant, creamy white shell — a soft, understated option for Iwagumi or zen-style aquascapes.
• Black Mystery Snail: Sleek, near-solid black shell for dramatic contrast against light sand or a white-substrate tank.
• Jade Mystery Snail: Soft olive-green shell that blends naturally into heavily planted tanks — one of our newer, less common colors.
• Purple Albino Mystery Snail: A rare, deep violet-toned variety with a pale body — one of our most sought-after colors.
• Purple Black Mystery Snail: A darker, richly-toned purple-black shell — one of the rarest color combinations we carry.
• Albino Mystery Snail: Pearly white body with a golden-ivory shell for striking contrast.

Want the full rundown on every shade we carry, styling tips, and which colors pair well together? Read our Mystery Snail Colors guide.

Care Before You Buy: What Mystery Snails Need

Mystery Snails are beginner-friendly, but a little prep before they arrive makes a big difference in how long they thrive:

• Tank size: 5-gallon minimum per snail; 10 gallons or larger is ideal for a small group.
• Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C).
• Water chemistry: pH 7.2–8.0, moderate-to-hard water (GH 8–18 dGH) to support shell strength.
• Diet: Algae, biofilm, blanched vegetables, algae wafers, and calcium-rich foods to keep the shell strong.
• A tight-fitting lid: Mystery Snails climb above the waterline (that's also where females lay eggs), so a secure lid keeps them from wandering out of the tank.
• No copper medications: Copper-based treatments are toxic to Mystery Snails and other invertebrates — check any medication before dosing a tank that houses snails.
• Lifespan: 1–2 years on average, up to 3 years with excellent care.

Want the full breakdown — including breeding, egg care, and shell troubleshooting? Read our complete Mystery Snail Care Guide.

Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee

We ship Mystery Snails for sale within the USA from our Virginia-based fish store, packed to reduce stress during transit and backed by our live-arrival guarantee. Every snail goes through a 14-day quarantine before it's listed, so what you receive is a healthy, active Mystery Snail ready to settle into your tank.

Buy Mystery Snails Online from Splashy Fish

Browse our full selection of Mystery Snails for sale and discover why they're one of the best freshwater aquarium snails for planted tanks and community aquariums. Explore our complete selection of freshwater fish, freshwater shrimp, Nerite Snails, Betta fish, live aquatic plants, and premium aquarium supplies, all shipped safely from our Virginia fish store.

Mystery Snail FAQs

Will Mystery Snails eat my aquarium plants?

No. Mystery Snails mainly feed on algae, decaying plant matter, and leftover fish food. They may nibble on already-dying or soft leaves, but they won't harm healthy, live plants.

Can Mystery Snails live with Bettas?

Yes, generally. Bettas may show curiosity toward a Mystery Snail but most will ignore it. Avoid pairing with an especially aggressive or fin-nipping Betta.

How many Mystery Snails per gallon?

Plan on one Mystery Snail per 5 gallons of water. For a 10-gallon tank, two Mystery Snails is a comfortable number that leaves room for other tank mates.

How long do Mystery Snails live?

Mystery Snails typically live 1 to 2 years, with some living up to 3 years under excellent care — stable water quality, a calcium-rich diet, and no exposure to copper-based medications.

Do you ship Mystery Snails safely?

Yes. We ship Mystery Snails for sale within the USA from our Virginia-based fish store, packed to reduce stress during transit, with a live-arrival guarantee.