Red Ramshorn Snail
The red ramshorn (Planorbis corneus) snail is one of the larger types of snails available for the home aquarium. When placed in a tank with daphnia they reproduce magnificently. These snails must be fed a type of food that tends to produce profuse cultures of infusoria; lettuce, celery greens, spinach, and oatmeal mush are excellent. Daphnia must be used to clear the tank of too much infusoria, since an overabundance of these small creatures is detrimental to the health of the snails.
Given the proper care and aeration, and at a temperature of about 78° F., the red ramshorn will reproduce rapidly. Eggs are laid in groups of from eight to 30 and hatch out in about three weeks. Care should be exercised in choosing the type of fish to be introduced into the tank with the red ramshorn. Cichlids will eat them when they are small, and many fish will readily take their undeveloped eggs. Many aquarists place the reds in their aquaria in order to provide some extra living food for their fish.
