Great Ramshorn
Planorbarius corneus · family Planorbidae
Parameters
- Temperature
- 15–28 °C
- pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hardness
- 5–25 °dGH
- Tank volume
- from 10 L
- Maximum size
- up to 3 cm
- Group size
- min 1, ideal 3
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
Pros and cons
- Extremely undemanding — tolerates almost any parameters
- Effective grubber of leftovers and surface film
- Free — arrives with new plants
- Reproduces without intervention
- Can explode in population if overfed — hundreds crawling on the glass
- Not the most decorative coloration (except the red strain)
- If fish are few, may chew delicate plants (mosses, riccia)
Description
Spiral flat shell up to 3 cm in diameter. Often turns up 'on its own' from store-bought plants. Breeds prolifically in fresh water. Red and pink selectively bred forms exist.
FAQ
- How do I keep ramshorn numbers under control?
- Don't overfeed — ramshorns only multiply when there's surplus food. For an outbreak, add assassin snails or pick them off manually in the morning.
AuthorGoldie Editorial
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Reviewed byGoldie Science Board
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Planorbarius corneus · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22