▷ Piano snails in the aquarium | All information and details

Data sheet piano snails

German name:
piano snails

Scientific name:
Taia naticoides

Origin:
Myanmar / India

Size:
Up to 4cm

Aquarium

Length:
at least 30 x 20 x 20 cm

Contents:
from 12 liters

water values

Temperature:
23-28ºC

pH:
7 to 7.5

GH:
at least 6 °dH

CH:
at least 3 °dH

Behave

propagation:
viviparous

Lining:
Algae, growth, leaves

Behave:
sociable, peaceful

age expectation:
up to 3 years

Due to its interesting appearance, the Pianoschenke is a very popular aquarium species among shellfish (Conchifera).

Look

The piano snail has a conspicuously high-contrast colored housing. It is striped brown and yellow, knobbed and can reach a diameter of up to 4 cm.

Feed & Nutrition

Fish food (in the form of food flakes) is suitable as food for the piano snails. However, this should not be administered in excess, as the water quality is reduced by oily and greasy residues.

If algae (e.g. brush algae) form in the water or on the equipment, the piano snail will eat away this growth itself.

Brown autumn leaves should also be offered to the snails as food. The piano snails like to eat the biofilm on it – the leaf itself is also eaten.

Generally suitable as food and fodder:

• growth of all kinds
• algae coatings
• seaweed sheets
• carrion
• Snail food / fish food (tablets, dust, sticks, paste)
• mineral feed
• freeze-dried food (e.g. mosquito larvae)
• brown fall leaves (should always be available)
• mulm
• Limestone / Sepia
• Spirulina Tabs / Spirulina Powder

breeding and reproduction

Taia naticoides shows sexual dimorphism, ie reproduction takes place in separate sexes.

As a viviparous, ie live-bearing mollusc, the piano snail gives birth to live young. Fertilization takes place internally, after which the eggs develop in the uterus. The hatchlings exit as fully developed animals. They are like miniature adults.

Fertilization is possible all year round. There are several different stages of development in the ovaries of the female.
The female releases a single cub every few weeks, mainly at night.

In good conditions and when the piano snail feels comfortable, up to 20 young can be born in this way each year.

Stress can lead to miscarriages and miscarriages.
In the case of fall births, the young animal is still in the egg shell, which, however, breaks down and the young can then come out. In the case of miscarriage, on the other hand, an empty shell is discarded.

socialization

The piano snail is sensitive to interference. When something approaches from above (e.g. a shrimp) it retreats very quickly compared to other snails.

Keeping them together with predatory species (e.g. predatory snails, large arm shrimp, dwarf crayfish and crayfish is not advisable. So socialization should be avoided.

socialization with fish:

A socialization with smaller, peaceful fish is possible. Since fish are faster than snails, care must be taken when socializing that they do not eat away the food of the slower piano snails and that the snails also get enough food.

socialization with shrimp:

Compare section ‘Fish’, see above. Here, too, care must be taken to ensure that the faster shrimp (e.g. dwarf shrimp) do not become too dominant and eat away the food of the slower piano snails.

Socialization with other snail species in the aquarium:

Taia naticoides is not very assertive. Therefore, it should not be kept together with other, larger snails. They would eventually oust them as a competitor for food.

The socialization with smaller snail species, on the other hand, is unproblematic, since they do not represent competition.

Keeping them in pairs or keeping several conspecifics in a species tank is recommended. Piano snails are sociable and should not be kept individually, but are best kept in small groups of 5-6 animals.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions: