How do you care for apple snails?

Care for an apple snail by buying the right tank size, using hard water, maintaining the tank environment, feeding the snail properly and keeping the water clean. You need a tank, hard water, cuttlebone and kale.

1. Get the right tank size

   Purchase a 2 1/2-gallon tank for one medium-sized apple snail. Increase the tank size by 2 1/2 gallons for every additional snail. As the snail grows, the tank needs to be upgraded as well.

2. Use the right type of water

   Use hard alkaline water for the tank. This type of water has more calcium than soft water, a necessary component for the snail's shell. If the shell starts to grow holes, the snail needs more calcium.

3. Maintain the tank environment

   Keep the temperature of the tank between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH can be anywhere between 7.0 and 8.0.

4. Feed the snail properly

   Make sure the snail receives calcium-rich foods for its shell, such as kale or cuttlebone. Different species tend to have different preferences. For instance, the P. diffusa apple snail does not eat aquarium plants although other species eat anything. Feed picky snails boiled lettuce, spinach or fish pellets, but also avoid overfeeding it.

5. Keep the water clean

   Remove any food from the water before it rots. Doing so keeps the water from becoming dirty.