About the species

The Hercules snail is a powerful and unusual freshwater snail from Asia that quickly becomes a centrepiece thanks to its large, heavily sculptured spiral shell. It can reach 10 cm, making it the largest snail in our range. Despite its size it is calm and entirely peaceful towards its neighbours.

Facts

• Latin name: Brotia herculea
• Common name: Hercules Snail
• Size: Up to 10 cm
• Lifespan: Several years

Behavior

Hercules Snail is an impressive giant and a real centrepiece. It is peaceful and slow, moving across the bottom in search of organic material. It needs a roomy aquarium with a soft substrate, good oxygenation and stable values. Avoid snail-eating fish and animals that could damage its tentacles.

Reproduction

• The species is livebearing and releases small, fully formed juveniles
• Reproduction is slow and never produces a population that grows out of control
• Stable warmth and plenty of organic material give the best conditions

Feeding

Hercules 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: 100 litres
• Substrate: Sand or fine gravel to burrow in

Difficulty level

🟡 Moderate

Recommendation

Reckon with at least 100 litres, sand or fine gravel and warm, oxygen-rich water with stable values. Important to know: this is not an algae eater. It needs sinking snail food and greens regularly and should not be expected to keep the glass clean.