▷ Yoda Snail – Mud Snail | All information and details

Datasheet Yoda Snail

Latin name:
Radix balthica

Trade name:
Yoda Snail, Common Mud Slug, Egg Shaped Mud Slug

order name:
Lung snails (Pulmonata)

Family:

Mud Snails (Lymnaeidae)

Genus:

Ampullaceana

Origin:
Central Europe, Northern Europe, North America, Asia

Size (in cm:

Up to 2.5 cm – sometimes smaller in the aquarium

aquarium size

Length and width in cm:

from 30cm edge length

Content in litres:

from 30 liters

water values

Temperature:
4°C and 30°C

pH:
6.5 to a maximum of 9.5

GH:

5 – 20°dGH

CH:
3 and 15 KH

behavior / stocking

Area:
bottom dwellers

Lining:
Omnivores, leftover food from the other aquarium inhabitants, scum, algae, growth, brown autumn leaves, sheets of algae, snail feed, vegetable chips

Behave:
peaceful

Number:
Individual housing or small group

Life expectancy:

1.5 years

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Shrimp compatible:
Yes

Bj.schoenmakers, Radix balthica (Lymnaeidae sp.), Elst (Gld), the Netherlands, CC0 1.0

The actual name of this animal species is Egg-shaped mud snail or Common mud snail.

The molluscs owe their nickname Yoda snail to their feelers. They widen towards the base and look like ears with their triangular shape. A certain resemblance to the well-known Star Wars figure cannot be denied.

The animals are common in Europe. She inhabit standing or slow-flowing water, streams and lakes. They feel comfortable all year round in natural garden ponds.

The snails eagerly eating algae and other waste are also welcome to aquarium friends. In most cases they were not used specifically, but brought in as spawn with aquatic plants. Once they have established themselves, they do their job as health police conscientious.

The adaptable and robust water dwellers have been known since the Pleistocene. As survivors, they withdraw under stones during longer dry periods and wait there for the next rain.

Look

The little creatures are not only useful, they are also pretty to look at.
The name already suggests it, you Housing is oval-ovoid. It has four to four and a half whorls and is rounder than the other mud snail species.
The last turn is particularly striking. It can grow up to 19 mm high and 17 mm wide, making it significantly wider and taller than the others.

The Case is right-handed. This distinguishes the species from the bladder snails, which look similar at first glance. Bubble snails also have filamentous feelers.
The thin, slightly transparent case makes the mollusks appear distinctive and dainty. The colors range from light brown to golden tones to yellow. The dark snail body with the light, golden shimmering dots shimmers through the shell.

have yodas no protective foot cover.

behavior and diet

The species is one of the pulmonary snails. In order to breathe, the animals have to go to the surface of the water, to the air.

The mollusks can change the density of their bodies through movements with the mantle muscles. This allows them to quickly ascend to the surface or descend quickly.
In nature they feed on mulm, plant remains, carrion, algae and other microorganisms.
If you have a functioning eco-pond, you do not need to feed it extra. Your protégés are self-sufficient.

In the aquarium you will often find the animals swimming upside down at the surface of the water. They like to eat the scum.

aquarium requirements

Radix balthica makes no special demands on the pool and the water temperature. The floor comes with Sand or fine to medium-grain gravel covered. Some stones and pieces of bark offer retreat opportunities.

Aquatic plants complete the decor. The snails do not bother the plants. Soft, leafy parts may be lightly nibbled on. They do not cause much damage, there are a few small holes in the leaves.

Important is calcareous water. They need that to build their housing.
If the animals live in the garden pond, it must be deep enough so that it does not freeze completely in winter.

gender differences

Gender differences do not exist, which are mollusks hermaphrodite. Every animal has male and female sex organs.

breed

Breeding is simply. In cool water, the animals reproduce well.
are for reproduction at least two copies necessary, which fertilize each other.
In nature, this happens in spring, in the aquarium they reproduce all year round.
During mating, each animal releases sperm from the male genital opening to the other snail and receives the sperm from the other animal through the female genital opening. Both snails are fertilized and both lay eggs.

They prefer to lay them long, gelatinous cords of egg on stones or roots. A clutch can up to 200 eggs consist.

The eggs contain a lot of yolk. Tiny, finished snails hatch from them after 1 to 2 weeks.

rearing

The tiny creatures look for their own food.

socialization

A socialization with fan shrimp, dwarf shrimp, mussels, peaceful fish and snails is easily possible.

Predatory fish, crustaceans, crabs, predatory snails, long arm shrimp and fish that eat snails and their clutches should not be brought into the tank.
It is also not advisable to socialize with apple snails. While they leave the Yodas alone, they eat the clutches.