Theodoxus are the favorites of many aquarists, as they have an exotic appearance and at the same time do not cause problems in terms of maintenance. Consider the main features of these gastropod creatures and the subtleties of caring for them.
general description
These mollusks belong to the neritid family. Among possible habitats, both fresh and slightly salty water bodies can be noted. Individuals are able to reach 2 centimeters in height. Their shell is rounded, with a small curl at the end, a bit like a cup. The surface of the sole has a small lid of a yellowish tint, which serves to ensure that theodoxus can block the entrance to your house, if necessary.
Aquarists are often attracted by the coloring of such snails. It can be very diverse. The pattern remains unchanged, clearly distinguished by bright dots or intermittent zigzag stripes on a light or grayish background. The mollusk shell is very durable, due to their initial needs. The fact is that Neritids live in bodies of water with a strong current, respectively, without a strong shell, they would have been hard in such conditions.
Aquarists especially appreciate the tropical members of the Neritidae family. It is these mollusks that look especially exotic, their appearance attracts attention.
It should also be noted that in the aquarium, these snails perform a useful function. They are not interested in tall plants, but are not indifferent to the plaque that appears on the walls of the aquarium.I must say that at present these creations are not too widespread for home maintenance, since few people are engaged in their large-scale breeding, and the price of individuals is quite impressive.
Main varieties
There are not so many varieties of these mollusks. We will consider the most famous of them.
- Theodoxus danubialis has a lime-colored carapace. On it, a pattern formed by zigzags of different sizes is very clearly visible. The maximum size of such snails can be 1.5 centimeters. Most often in nature, they can be observed in reservoirs with hard water.
- Theodoxus Fluviatilis - One of the most common varieties. They can be found not only in Scandinavia and Europe, but also in some regions of our country. They have a fairly dark shell, the color of which can be blue, purple or brown. The pattern is a large number of clear light specks.
Theodoxus fluviatilis has one characteristic feature. Before eating, the snail first rubs the vegetation on the stones. For this reason, most often the mollusk lives in reservoirs having rocky soil.
- Theodoxus transversalis - These are small mollusks, and their shell has no pattern. May have a shell of a grayish, brown or yellowish hue.
- It should be noted theodoxus euxinus or the Black Sea. Its carapace is black, and inside there is a crescent-shaped groove. Color can be different, like the picture. The body is light gray, dark spots on the sides and head. Most often found in the warm countries of Europe, distributed in Greece and Romania. In Russia, it can be seen in the areas of the Black Sea coast.
- Theodoxus pallasi lives in brackish or salt water. Most often found on the Black Sea, Azov and Aral coasts. Can live in rivers belonging to the basins of these seas. Such snails are very small, they can grow no more than a centimeter. The gray-yellow shell is decorated with a dark contrasting pattern.
- Theodoxus astrahanicus is common in the area of the Sea of Azov and in the Dniester. The color of the shell is predominantly yellow; the pattern consists of beautiful zigzags.
Content Rules
These gastropods are quite comfortable at home. Their maintenance does not cause difficulties for aquarists. The main advantage is that you do not need to monitor the temperature of the water. The snail will fit both an indicator of +19 and +30 degrees.
There is no harm from these babies, but the benefits are substantial. It should be noted that the food for them is algae, which over time grows on the walls of the aquarium. Therefore, a peculiar cleaning takes place. However, if the grass is too hard, the snails simply can not cope with it. Tall plants are also not interested in them, the owner should not worry about their damage. In general, the habitat of such mollusks in an aquarium has many positive aspects, the main of which is maintaining cleanliness in the tank without human effort.
Most subspecies prefer to live in hard water. This is due to the fact that it contains more calcium, which is required in order for the shell to be strong. Sea limestone stones are also useful for babies, they need to be specially placed in the aquarium. The main thing that should be observed is that the liquid does not stagnate, this theodoxus simply does not tolerate.
Aquarists should keep in mind that approximately 6–8 individuals can be placed in one tank. Snails are small, no more than 2 centimeters, so 1-2 pieces will be simply invisible. It is also worth considering the fact that a flock of 8 pieces will not have problems with reproduction, even in an aquarium. It is almost impossible to distinguish between male and female. Mollusks can be not only heterosexual, but also bisexual.
I must say one more interesting feature of these aquarium creatures. Each snail has its own zone.This implies an area in the aquarium where she can rest or eat. A mollusk needs a hard surface to rest. Theodoxus cubs often settle in the shell of adults.
Propagation Features
If theodoxus feels quite good in a home aquarium, and the water temperature is suitable, there will be no problem with reproduction. Theodoxus can give offspring throughout the year. The average temperature of the liquid, comfortable for the above process, is about +24 degrees.
Mollusks breed by laying eggs. To do this, they need hard surfaces, such as stones or just the walls of an aquarium. The eggs themselves are small, about 2 millimeters in length, and are enclosed in several pieces at once in one oblong capsule. However, only one cub appears from the capsule, for which the remaining eggs will serve as food.
It should be noted that small theodoxus grow very slowly. After they are born, they hide in the ground. Their shell during this period is white and very fragile. Over time, the shell darkens and acquires the necessary color, patterns appear more contrasting. This is an indication that the mollusk has matured.
Sexual maturity in theodoxus, contained at home, occurs approximately after reaching 6 months. In nature, this happens after 2 years, despite the fact that babies live about 2 and a half years. Males on the right side have a characteristic growth necessary for mating. The main period of reproduction is considered to be from April to October.
Mollusks breed at intervals of 2-3 months. However, this does not mean that soon the new inhabitants of the aquarium will have to get rid of. They grow very slowly, and live less than 3 years, which, to some extent, helps maintain balance. All of the above features make theodoxus the favorite of aquarists, they get and begin to breed more often, as the content does not cause trouble, and the kids bring significant benefits.
An overview of theodoxus snails in the video below.
