Acute Bladder Snail

Environment

Extremely hardy, it tolerates a very wide range of parameters (pH 6.5 to 8, 15 to 28 °C, variable hardness) and adapts to all tank sizes. It breathes air from the surface and requires no special equipment. Found in almost all freshwater aquariums.

Feeding

Detritivore and opportunistic omnivore: leftover food, algae, biofilm, dead leaves and plant debris. It does not attack healthy plants, only dead or dying tissue. No need to feed it specifically.

Health & common diseases

Bladder snails are robust but sensitive to heavy metals (copper, zinc) present in certain medications and fertilizers, which can cause rapid death. A fragile, whitish or perforated shell often indicates calcium deficiency (insufficient GH hardness); compensate with hard water or calcium supplementation. Overpopulation and excessive organic waste promote parasitic infestations and poor water quality. Beware of antiparasitic treatments containing copper, always toxic to gastropods.

Tips & tankmates

Hermaphroditic, it reproduces very quickly: a population explodes especially with overfeeding. To control it, reduce food input rather than using chemicals. Sensitive to copper (beware of treatments). Often wrongly labeled as a 'pest,' it is actually useful for cleaning and waste recycling.

Sources

• Physella acuta — Wikipédia