You’ve probably heard that betta fish prefer to live alone, and for the most part that’s true, but they can actually live with a few select tank mates. The mystery snail is one such pal that is docile enough to cohabitate with a betta fish. Having a betta fish in your tank is great, but soon (if you don’t have it already) you’ll get the itch for more than one marine creature in there. If you’re not ready for a sorority of females or other tankmate fish species that require at least 8-10 gallons or more, you should consider the mystery snail.
Mystery snails require a similar water pH at 7.0-7.5, temperature between 68-82 degrees fahrenheit, and regular day and night cycles just like your betta fish. Your snail won’t be as active as your betta, but they can be very active when they are feeding and in an exploring mood. It is recommended that if you do choose to add a mystery snail to your tank that it be at least 5 gallons in size. This is because of good ecosystem care and space requirements, and the bio-load or amount of waste that can occur. The larger the tank, the more community members that can exist in the tank and remain healthy.
Mystery Snails are Cleaners
One of the biggest advantages to adding a mystery snail to your betta’s tank is that they feed on algae and fish flakes and betta pellets. They will scale across the substrate and sides of the tank’s glass to clean up all that excess waste that builds up! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure right? Do be careful though as mystery snails can become very stressed from similar situations that betta fish undergo. When adding them into the water, make sure they land right side up, and always acclimate them to the water temperature and its other parameters. Not doing so can result in death on day one.
Snails that go motionless for a day or more, or are upside down or floating may be dead. The ‘smell test’ or removing them from the tank and sniffing near them will be the true test. A dead mystery snail expels a very gross and pungent odor. Their average lifespan is much shorter than a betta fish’s and is typically around one year. Remove dead snails immediately to avoid disease and tank pollution (e.g. ammonia) which can harm your betta fish.
Gary is on the move, cleaning cleaning cleaning. #mysterysnail #mysterysnails A video posted by Betta Fish Fanatics (@bettafishorg) on
Mystery Snails Like to Escape
Although I have never experienced this myself, even from tanks without lids, some mystery snails can be great magicians and escape their habitat. Take care by keeping your tank’s lid on at all times, and lower the water level to prevent any mishaps. Escaped mystery snails should be acclimated back into the tank as soon as possible as they can dry out very quickly and die.
Coloring also varies across mystery snails because what their name implies many are a mystery. The most common coloring is blue and dark shell colors all the way to cream and yellow. They do need a male and female to mate so you also won’t have to worry about them reproducing asexually and taking over your tank. That is unless of course you purchase a pregnant female.
Spotting a Healthy Mystery Snail
Some things to look for when purchasing a mystery snail pal for your betta fish is signs of good health. These include the following: a strong shell with no visible cracks or pitted areas, snails that are actively moving or attached to the tank’s sides, cohabitating with living and healthy fish, and contains all of its tentacles and there is no damage to its eyes or operculum.
Good luck picking out one for your tank, and I’d love to see pictures on Facebook or Instagram if you’d like to share. In the future I plan to make an exhaustive list of betta fish tank mates, but for now I at least wanted to cover the mystery snail because it’s a great beginner addition to care for.
My Betta is in a .7 gallon is that good for him
.7 gallons is far too small for a healthy betta. 3 gallons minimum with a recommended 5 gallons in size. Read our care page for more information too.
Not really! He needs 5 gallon tank to be able to swim freely and have a stress-free life!
What do I do if my beta keeps jumping and attacking my mystery snail.
Hi Grayson. What do you mean by attacking? Is he physically injuring the snail or just curious, lunging at, and being territorial towards it and flaring? If he’s actually intolerant to having a tank mate and is injuring the snail then you should remove him from the tank as not all betta fish tolerate tank mates. The size of your tank can matter too.
My male Betta nips and flares at my 3 mystery snails all the time… They are new arrivals at this point (They’ve been in the tank for 3 hours so far) and all 3 of them have been nipped at and bitten by my Betta. I think that an antenna may have been harmed on my smallest, but I can’t quite remember if I adopted him that way. I don’t think so. I got a 10 gal so I could have my Betta and some snails live in it and I would like to keep them all there, as 10 gal is very big for just one Betta. I do have a 1.5 bowl always handy in case something goes wrong with any of them, I would just like my creatures to live in harmony 🙂
I have a purple mystery snail and just got a half-moon betta. I’m debating weather moving the betta in with the snail ( 2.5 gal.) or moving the snail to the bigger community tank.(55 gal.) The community tank includes a goldfish and we just got the goldfish and I have no idea if he is aggressive or not and read they might attack my snail. I also don’t want to over-feed my betta killing him and/or having my snail starve to death. Any help / decisions or tips? I love my snail and betta and don’t want either of them getting hurt or killed!
Feed your betta the recommended amount! Your mystery snail will snack on algae in the tank (live plants are heavily recommended). You should supplement your snails diet with sinking bottom feeder pellets.
My Betta ate one of my snails antenna so I moved them away just keep your eye out
I have a crowntail Betta male in a 1.5 gal tank. I have algae what can I do. The light Is not on all the time it’s ked light changes color. Sunlight does not hit the tank.
You should get a larger tank. 1.5-gallon is too small for a betta and the water quality quickly diminishes. To help fight algae you should do more frequent water changes and scrub the algae off of anything it’s growing on. You could also introduce a live plant or two.
How do I feed my snails fish food without my betta fish eating it all? I am concerned about her overeating if I leave fish food at the bottom of the tank.
Betta fish are surface feeders, so they shouldn’t bother with any food on the gravel in most cases. Also, snails will feed on algae in the tank too.
I am thinking about getting a snail for my betta fish tank. The only thing I’m concerned about is if they can climb out of the tank. If so, how can I stop that from happening without hurting the betta or snail?
just get a lid bro
LOL
My beta is biting my snail I have a 5 gallon tank with 1 beta and 2 snails I think the beta bits one the antennas also I have another question I went to Petsmart to buy another filter because the one the came with the tank stopped working and they give me a 10 gallon filter but I think the current is too strong for the beta you guys thinks it’s ok?
Oh no, poor snail! Some betta fish are too aggressive for any tank mates, but I would suggest at least adding more plants/decorations to increase hiding areas and it may help with the territorial-ness. If you think the filter current is too strong, it probably is, betta fish aren’t good swimmers and prefer calmer water or they will get stressed.
A five gallon is a good tank for one beta but bigger is always better. I suggest a 10-gallon tank for all of your pets to roam happily and freely!!! I personally have my betta in a ten gallon – and will soon be adding trumpet or mystery snails along with a few mini otocinclus catfish! Hope this helps 🙂
Look up how to make a homemade baffle with a soap dish and pebbles.
I have a 5 gallon tank and have recently gotten two female Bettas in it. A few days ago I added a very small mystery snail to see how aggressive my new fish are. The snail seems to be adapting quite well, but I am curious as to what an ideal temperature would be for the aquarium. Currently the aquarium is 76 degrees Fahrenheit. I am debating getting a heater, but I do not want to make it too warm for the mystery snail.
Bettas require 76-82, so you should be okay if your home stays around that temperature all year round. I would, however, be very cautious with only two females in that size tank. Female sororities are common but they require a larger tank and at least 4-5 females to not quarrel and attack each other.
Got 1 nerite snail for my 10gal betta tank. But have found out they actually are not a fresh water snail! And will not live long without being in brackish water, not just for breeding! What is the best real fresh water snails to keep with my betta?
It’s up to you and what you want, but I’ve enjoyed racer snails too. If you want to keep your aquarium slightly brackish, that’s an option too. I keep mine slightly brackish because my bettas do better – dosing in some aquarium salt with each water change.
I have a 2.5-gallon tank, with my beautiful betta, Arlo. He shares his tank with 2 mystery snails and 2 African Dwarf frogs. There seems to be a symbiosis in the tank. Some eat what the others don’t. I’m not sure if I’m just lucky or if the food I use is the charm…or how I clean it. The tank has a filter and a heater, and among the decorations, a small marimo moss ball (natural filter). They are all happy, healthy, and active.
Hey Jill, I would be very careful long-term in that size tank with the addition of the dwarf frogs. While the tank is 2.5-gallons, you have a filter, decorations, moss ball and tank mates – all of which are displacing water volume and making that tank far less than 2.5-gallons. The bioload is too high for that tank (it’s currently overcrowded) and could present issues in the future. The rule of thumb is 1-gallon per 1-inch of fish. I’m glad you are enjoying them so far though!
After an exhausting amount of research when I decided to have a betta fish again, I went with a mystery snail and they really are good tank mates! The betta (Charles the 17th) used to be scared of when the mystery snail (D’artagnan) would jump from the top of the tank wall and drift down to the bottom but now I see them hanging out all the time. Charles is usually the one who hangs with D’artagnan when D’artagnan is resting and when D’artagnan is ready to scavenger, Charles leaves him alone. I love them both so much. I’d send a picture of them but there’s no option to do it here.
That’s lovely to hear Sherelene, snails are really cool additions.
Hi Bryan,
We have had a happy Betta for about a year in a 9 gallon tank with live plants. We recently decided to introduced a mystery snail. Unfortunately it only survived a couple of days. We adopted a second snail and it lived happily and actively for a few weeks and then suddenly passed away also. The third snail also only lasted a few days. All the levels and temperature seem fine and the Betta does not seem to be bothering the snails. Do you know what might be happening to our snails? What could we be doing wrong? What is the best way to introduce them to the tank? Our son really loves his Slimy and we would love to keep one. Thanks!
Slimy hah I love it! Snails can be fickle, especially mystery snails when you bring them home and introduce them. Are you making sure the acclimate him to the tank? Floating him in the cup or bag for 20-30 minutes? Also, adding small amounts of the tank water to the bag or cup during that time-frame is also ideal. This should reduce stress. If you are still having problems, you may want to try a hardier snail species like the black racer snail.
Thanks for getting back to me. We are off to buy Slimy number 4 tomorrow and will try your tips to acclimatise him and will hopefully have more luck. However, when we were cleaning the tank yesterday we found what we think is a clutch of snail eggs on the tank cover! Could it be that the snail died after laying its eggs? Also we are not sure if they are fertile but do you think Nigel (the Betta) will eat the baby snails if they hatch?? Thanks again
Dying after laying a clutch is possible but not the norm, and yes they deposit the eggs above the surface of the water. Yes, Nigel will likely snack on the baby snails if allowed to.
I’ve had my mystery snail in with my halfmoon betta for a day, in a 10 gallon tank. However, my betta has nipped at the snail a couple of times… would you recommend me remove the snail from the aquarium?
It really depends on the bettas temperament, but snails can hide in their shells for protection and usually the betta is more curious than anything. I would give it a little more time, monitoring closely, and if the betta is nipping at the snails tentacles then I would consider removing the snail.
Love your site! I’ve been visiting you regularly since I was gifted my betta, “fishy” last Christmas. I’m obsessed with him…so thanks for all your help this past year!
I just added a yellow mystery snail to my five gallon hab. Fishy is unimpressed and has spent the past two days hanging out in his pothos and avoiding the rest of the tank. He seems okay for now…still nesting and coming up to me when I approach…but I feel like I’ve invaded his space.
1. How long should I wait this out before I remove the new addition? Fishy hasn’t been aggressive but he’s approached the snail only twice that I’ve witnessed and seems to be hiding from it.
2. Can mystery snails thrive in slightly brackish water? I like to add just a bit of aquarium salt when doing my water changes.
FYI:
5 gallon tank heated to 78F and covered
Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0-5ppm
Thanks Adam, that’s great to hear! 1 – Your betta should get used to him and if there is no quarreling that’s a good sign for permanency. One thing you may need to be more aware of is that a snail will produce additional waste in the tank and the water will get dirty faster with another inhabitant. This means you may need to perform more frequent partial water changes although your readings provided look great. 2 – yes the snail should be just fine in slightly brackish water.
Hello I’m a new betta owner and I was thinking about putting an algae eater in my tank but I’m not sure how Zeus will like it. I have a 1.3 gallon tank right now.
Your tank is too small for a betta as it is, you cannot add another tank mate to a tank that small. Please refer to the tank mate page.
I’m about to get a Betta, and I am also gonna try to get my hands on a Mystery Snail. I am just confused if I should add the Betts first and then the snail, or if I should add the snail first and the Betts second. Any ideas?
I would personally acclimate the snail in first and then the betta.
I recently purchased 2 mystery snails. My Betta rolled one over and now I’m worried that he is too aggressive. Both snails have climbed up a plant and have stayed there for three hours. They seem to be scared. I have them in a 5.5 gallon tank with lots of plants and places for them to hide. I have a 1.5 gallon tank I am considering moving my snails into as a temporary home. I really don’t want my snails to be harmed! Please give me advice. Also I got the snails five hours ago as of the time I am writing this.
The betta may have been very curious of it at first but may be disinterested over time. I would give it some more time to see if he adjusts to them, just making sure he isn’t nipping at their tentacles or anything as that would be bad. Snails can go dormant a lot, especially when first introducing them into a new habitat. It’s your decision, but I think you would be okay giving it some more time and monitoring them.
I have a male betta in a 10-gallon tank by himself; I am considering adding one mystery snail to the tank. Would it be a problem for the snail if the substrate is sand? Also would aquarium salt be harmful to the snail?
The current setup is as follow:
10-gallon tank
Sand substrate
Medium driftwood
20 Marimo moss balls
Catappa leaves
Sponge filter
Heater
Thermometer
Aquarium cover with LED lights
Auto feeder
That’s a lot of moss balls haha. Snails can tolerate slightly brackish (salty) water and the sand is fine.
Hi, I have a 5 gal tank with one male Betta. It has a medium tetra filter that the starter tank came with. I’ve had it all up and running about 3 weeks now and so far I’ve had to completely change water twice, after about 5-7 days the water becomes super cloudy. I feed a (very) small amount every morning and the Betta seems to eat it all within a few minutes of feeding, however the water still becomes very cloudy. I have tried additives to clear it up, but it just makes it worse. Any recommendations? (Note I only have artificial plants)
I’m not sure, based on the information you’ve provided, what is causing the cloudy water. In general, you should be doing a 20-25% partial water change once per week in a 5-gallon tank.
my Betta kill the snail in less than 2 hours in a 3.5 gallons tank.
Hi, I have a Betta fish for first 2 weeks, We call him Blue. I clean the 5.5 gallon tank once a week is very clean. I just want to know if I need to change all the water at the end of the month or only 25% of the water. Blue likes to hide in his little house. I feed him twice a day. I want to be sure I’m I doing this well. I’m not sure about the amount of food. I give it to him a little portion of food. Please, I always have dogs so, this is a new world for me. Thank you, we already love Blue.
100% water changes are usually needed when the tank or substrate and decor becomes excessively dirty – once every 1-2 months is usually ideal as necessary. You should be doing 20-25% partial changes weekly though. For food, 2-3 pellets 1-2 times per day is ideal.
I have a 39 gal well established tank. My beta has just a few tank mates including 2 mystery snails. Yesterday was tank cleaning and tank enrichment day (changing decor to provide new stimulation). The beta nipped at the antenna of the smaller snail. The snail quickly retracted and stayed shut for a bit. When he came back out the beta nipped again! I haven’t seen any more interactions between them but am looking for advice since I want to create the happiest environment possible.
You may find that your betta is too aggressive with the snails and they have to be removed; or he will get used to them and start to ignore them. I would monitor closely and refer to the tank mates page for further information on companions with bettas.
I have a Betta & a mystery snail. The Betta is very fond of his snail friend. Looks for snail but never nips. I love watching both. I didn’t know a snail could be so entertaining. I have had them for 7 months