Purple mystery snails, also known as purple apple snails, are a popular type of freshwater aquarium snail. Their scientific name is Pomacea bridgesii, and they are one of the larger species of snail kept in home aquariums. Purple mystery snails get their name from their vibrant purple shells and the fact that their eggs seem to appear as if by mystery overnight in an aquarium. While common in the aquarium trade, purple mystery snails are native to South America. Understanding more about the natural history and breeding habits of these snails can help determine just how rare they really are.
Natural Habitat and Range
Purple mystery snails are native to areas of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and portions of Argentina in South America. They live in calm freshwater ponds, swamps, rivers, and streams, preferring slow-moving water with dense vegetation and muddy substrates. In the wild, these snails can be found in large groups or congregations on vegetation, roots, and debris in the water. They are widespread through their native range in South America.
While common in the aquarium trade, purple mystery snails are not considered an invasive species in the wild in South America. They have a limited natural range and have not demonstrated highly invasive characteristics. However, in some areas outside of their native range, such as Japan, Florida, and Hawaii, feral non-native apple snail populations have appeared from likely aquarium releases, though usually not purple mystery snails specifically.
Availability in the Aquarium Trade
Purple mystery snails are one of the most popular types of freshwater aquarium snails. They are frequently sold by pet stores that carry tropical fish and aquarium supplies. Purple mystery snails are bred and farmed in large numbers for the aquarium trade in Asia and Florida. They are commonly available for sale online and in-person.
While population numbers are not tracked specifically for purple mystery snails, their widespread availability through commercial breeding and farming indicates they are not rare in captivity. Their popularity and high demand ensures they are continuously bred in large numbers.
Breeding and Reproduction
One reason purple mystery snails are so common in the aquarium trade is that they are prolific and hardy breeders under captive conditions. Purple mystery snails are not picky about water conditions and will breed in nearly any aquarium with good water quality.
| Breeding Habits | Description |
|---|---|
| Gender | Purple mystery snails are not hermaphroditic and require a male and female for breeding. Females are generally larger than males. |
| Maturity | Purple mystery snails reach sexual maturity at around 1 year old. They live 2-3 years on average. |
| Mating | To stimulate mating, cool water of around 70°F can trigger spawning. Copulation lasts 6-12 hours, with the male mounted on the female’s shell. |
| Egg laying | Females lay gelatinous clutches of bright pink eggs just above the waterline on hard surfaces. Clutches can contain 100-200 eggs. |
| Hatching | Eggs hatch in 2-3 weeks. Baby snails start out too small to readily notice but grow quickly with proper feeding. |
In the home aquarium, purple mystery snail breeding can happen continuously throughout the year without any seasonal variations. Their egg clutches appear mysteriously above the water line, leading to their “mystery” name. Each female can produce multiple clutches every 2-3 weeks under ideal conditions. With such high fecundity, just a few adults can lead to a large population in a short time, supporting their availability in the aquarium trade.
Population Status in the Wild
Purple mystery snails are not currently considered threatened or endangered in their native range in South America. No major declines in their wild populations have been observed and their numbers appear stable.
They occupy a wide geographic range across several countries in South America. While not the most common snail species found, they also do not appear to be rare or in low abundance across their natural habitat. Given their widespread distribution and lack of population threats, purple mystery snails remain classified as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In the United States, purple mystery snails are considered non-indigenous to Hawaii and the continental states. They have not demonstrated highly invasive characteristics there compared to other apple snail species. While isolated feral populations exist from aquarium releases, these are not currently causing sufficient damage to earn purple mystery snails a classification as an invasive species. No special status or regulations currently apply to them outside of their natural range.
Collecting from the Wild
Currently, there is no major harvesting of purple mystery snails from natural wild populations for the aquarium trade. The vast majority available in stores and online are commercially captive-bred on snail farms and aquaculture facilities. This domestic breeding fully supplies market demand.
Wild harvesting does sometimes occur locally in parts of South America for food. But this is generally only for local subsistence consumption, not major national or international trade. Such collection practices focus more on the larger native apple snail species than the purple mystery snail specifically. No drastic declines in wild populations have been noted from such small-scale hand collecting.
Conclusion
In summary, while they may seem exotic, purple mystery snails are not considered rare or endangered in the wild. Their native populations in South America appear stable and occupy a wide geographic range. Extensive captive breeding supports their availability and popularity in the aquarium hobby. Moderate to high fecundity enables their numbers to be easily sustained under captive conditions. So while they may mysteriously appear in home aquariums, purple mystery snails are not rare or uncommon either in nature or the aquarium trade. Their bright purple shells and peaceful Bottom-dwelling behavior will likely continue making them a prized freshwater aquarium species.
