Aquariumsnail · freshwater
Ramshorn Snail: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Ramshorn Snail (Planorbella duryi) grows to about 1.2 in (3 cm TL). It needs a tank at least about 5 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 72–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 1.2 in (3 cm TL)
- Minimum tank
- about 5 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness
- 8–18 dGH
- Group size
- 1 (solitary or pair)
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- 2 years
Ramshorn Snail tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- German Blue RamNeeds careRamshorn Snail and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- Mystery SnailRamshorn Snail (pH 7–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careRamshorn Snail and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
- Boesemani RainbowfishRamshorn Snail and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.
- Assassin SnailAssassin Snail eats snails (that's its job as pest control), including Ramshorn Snail.
- Cockatoo Dwarf CichlidRamshorn Snail (pH 7–8) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH.
- Crystal Red ShrimpRamshorn Snail (8–18 dGH) and Crystal Red Shrimp (4–6 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- DiscusNeeds careRamshorn Snail (8–18 dGH) and Discus (0–5 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Avoid
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksBlood Parrot Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Clown LoachOutgrows tanksClown Loach eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksCommon / Comet Goldfish eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Electric Blue AcaraNeeds careElectric Blue Acara eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Electric Yellow LabNeeds careElectric Yellow Lab eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
- Fancy GoldfishOutgrows tanksRamshorn Snail (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.
- Firemouth CichlidFiremouth Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
All 105 species we checked against the Ramshorn Snail
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ghost Shrimp | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Iridescent Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kissing Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Caution | Assassin Snail eats snails (that's its job as pest control), including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Ramshorn Snail and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Caution | Ramshorn Snail (pH 7–8) and Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid (pH 5–6) prefer different pH. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Ramshorn Snail (8–18 dGH) and Crystal Red Shrimp (4–6 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Discus | Caution | Ramshorn Snail (8–18 dGH) and Discus (0–5 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Ramshorn Snail and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Ramshorn Snail (pH 7–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Ramshorn Snail (8–18 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Ramshorn Snail and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Ramshorn Snail and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Avoid | Blood Parrot Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Clown Loach | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Avoid | Common / Comet Goldfish eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Avoid | Electric Blue Acara eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Avoid | Electric Yellow Lab eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Ramshorn Snail (72–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Avoid | Firemouth Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Pea Puffer | Avoid | Pea Puffer eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Pictus Catfish | Avoid | Pictus Catfish eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.; Ramshorn Snail (pH 7–8) and Pictus Catfish (pH 5.8–6.8) prefer different pH. |
| Upside-down Catfish | Avoid | Upside-down Catfish eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Weather Loach | Avoid | Weather Loach eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Yoyo Loach | Avoid | Yoyo Loach eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
Care notes
Needs: Needs calcium/hard-ish water for shell (TSF: TDS 200+ best); may pick at soft-leaved plants if underfed; eaten by puffers, Botia loaches, large cichlids and goldfish
Group: Not a social animal; breeds readily and can become numerous
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Ramshorn Snail get?
About 1.2 inches (3 cm TL) as an adult, according to fws.gov.
What size tank does a Ramshorn Snail need?
At least about 5 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 5 gallon.
How many Ramshorn Snails should be kept together?
It can be kept on its own. Not a social animal; breeds readily and can become numerous
What fish can live with a Ramshorn Snail?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Ramshorn Snail setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 5 gallon (16 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 25 W for 5 gallons, holding 72–82°F.Find on Amazon →SandSoft sand protects barbels and lets it sift.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- fws.gov /sites/default/files/documents/2025-01/ecological-risk-screening-summa
- theshrimpfarm.com /posts/ramshorn-snail-care/
- riverparkaquatics.co.uk /red-ramshorn-snail-d18510
- fishkeepingworld.com /ramshorn-snail/