About the species

The Cappuccino snail is a colour sorting with a warm beige-brown to cream gradient along its tall tower shell, often with a darker tip. That shift from light to dark is what gave it its name. It is a sociable cleaner that moves slowly across the bottom.

Facts

• Latin name: Faunus sp.
• Common name: Cappuccino Snail
• Size: 5–7 cm
• Lifespan: Several years

Behavior

Cappuccino Snail is a large, peaceful snail with a tall spire shell that moves slowly across the bottom and likes to bury itself partly. It is peaceful towards shrimp, fish and other snails. Being large it needs a roomy aquarium and a tight lid — bigger snails wander.

Reproduction

• The species has separate sexes and does not reproduce in ordinary fresh water
• The larvae require brackish water, just as with nerite snails
• You will therefore get no unwanted reproduction in the aquarium

Feeding

Cappuccino Snail is a detritus feeder rather than an algae eater and feeds on:

• Decaying plant material and leaves
• Leftover food and organic sludge
• Biofilm in and on the substrate

Expect to feed it regularly:

• Sinking food tablets for snails
• Blanched vegetables such as courgette and carrot
• Catappa and other leaves

Aquarium

• Minimum aquarium size: 60 litres
• Substrate: Sand or fine rounded gravel to burrow in

Difficulty level

🟡 Moderate

Recommendation

Give it at least about 60 litres, hiding places and a soft substrate it can move over and burrow into. Avoid copper and sudden salt or medication treatments. Extra calcium, such as crushed shell, helps keep the shell intact.