White Flake Rabbit Snail

 

fish description – White Flake Rabbit Snail Care Guide ($Tylomelania\ sp.$ ‘White Flake’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Tylomelania\ sp.$ (‘White Flake’ Strain)
Common Name	White Flake Rabbit Snail, White Spotted Sulawesi Snail, Elephant Snail
Origin	Malili Lakes system (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Adult Size	3–5 inches (7.5–12 cm)
Temperament	Extremely peaceful, slow-moving, diurnal scavenger
Lifespan	1–3 years (some reports up to 5)
Care Level	Moderate (requires specific water temperature and $\text{pH}$)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: This large snail has a long, conical, whorled shell and a long, wrinkled snout that resembles an elephant’s trunk or rabbit’s nose. Its dark body (foot) is speckled with striking creamy white or platinum-colored spots or flakes.
• Coloration: Shell is typically dark brown or black. The exposed body/foot is jet black or dark brown, contrasting sharply with the scattered bright white or yellow spots.
• Fins: N/A (Mollusk).
• Behavior: Active during both day and night, moving in a distinctive jerky, heaving motion across the substrate and decor. They love to burrow in soft substrate, often resting with just their shell and snout exposed. They are livebearers, reproducing very slowly.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (75 liters) is the recommended minimum for a small group, providing ample foraging room. Larger tanks are better due to their adult size and waste production.
• Schooling: Highly social; best kept in groups of 3 or more to encourage activity, though they can be kept singly.
• Temperature: High Tropical range: $77^\circ$–$84^\circ\text{F}\ (25^\circ$–$29^\circ\text{C})$. They require consistently warm water. Lower temperatures significantly slow their metabolism.
• pH Level: Alkaline water is essential: 7.5 to 8.5. The water must have adequate minerals (calcium) to prevent shell erosion and deterioration. Avoid acidic conditions.
• Aquascape: Requires a soft sand substrate to allow for burrowing and to protect their delicate foot. Provide numerous hiding spots using rocks, driftwood, and hardy plants (like Anubias and Java Fern). Filtration should be gentle.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Rabbit Snail is an omnivorous scavenger with a need for calcium and varied foods.

• Staple Diet: Feeds on naturally occurring algae, biofilm, and decaying plant matter. This must be supplemented with specialized food.
• Supplementation: Calcium is essential for shell health (e.g., cuttlebone, crushed coral in the filter, or calcium supplements). Offer sinking herbivore food: algae wafers, spirulina pellets, and blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cucumber). They will also eat shrimp pellets and fish flakes that reach the bottom.
• Schedule: Feed once daily, ensuring food reaches the bottom. Monitor to ensure they receive their share, as they are slow eaters.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Avoid all fish and treatments containing copper, as copper is lethal to invertebrates. Avoid aggressive or predatory fish, especially Loaches (Clown Loaches, Kuhli Loaches), Pufferfish, or large Cichlids, which will actively prey on snails.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful fish and invertebrates. Examples include Small Tetras, Rasboras, Guppies, Corydoras catfish, and Dwarf Shrimp (Cherry, Amano). They are generally safe with healthy, robust live plants.