Type — Mollusca.
Class — Gastropoda.
Superfamily — Cerithioidea.
Family — Thiaridae.
Genus — Melanoides.
Melanoides granifera [Lamarck, 1822] — Granifera Snail.
Subclass Prosobranchia, family Thiaridae. “Malaysian Trumpet snail”, “Spike Tail Trumpet snail”. Synonym: Tarebia granifera. India, Sri Lanka, Southern Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand. In recent years, another species of melania snails — Melanoides granifera — has become established in aquariums. They look more attractive and harmonious than their relatives. Their dome-shaped shell is colored in two main colors: light brown (with a dark apex) and entirely dark brown (turning black toward the apex).
The height of its cone is smaller (up to 2 cm) and the diameter is larger (1-1.5 cm), with 5-7 whorls, moderately curved, the last whorl being somewhat larger. Old wide whorls have a weakly corrugated structure with light, almost white peaks and dark depressions. Beige or dark brown stripes with small tubercles run along the shell. The operculum can close the shell. The body is dark gray with light speckles, tentacles are thin, with eyes sitting at their base.
The habits of M. granifera differ somewhat from their popular relatives. They feed on green and diatom algae, decaying plant parts, and carrion. In the aquarium, they take food tablets. They are more heat-loving, with an optimal water temperature of about 24°C, more demanding regarding substrate composition, and at the same time somewhat less attached to it. Coarse sand is ideal for them.
It is difficult for these snails to push their wide shells into a substrate consisting of more massive and heavier particles. Instead, they spend more time in sight, concentrating on driftwood and large stones. And if the appearance of common melanias on the aquarium walls, decorations, or plants indicates problems in the lower layers of the body of water, this sign does not work for Melanoides granifera.
Compared to Melanoides tuberculatus, granifera snails are more sluggish. This applies both to movement speed and the rate of adaptation and reproduction. Granifera snails have good prospects of becoming one of the popular objects of decorative aquariums. The external attractiveness of these mollusks and their measured, unhurried lifestyle will certainly play a role here. After all, the population of common melanias, if large specimens are not regularly caught, grows exponentially, and eventually, the substrate begins to literally move from the abundance of snails inhabiting it. Meanwhile, granifera snails will slowly master the lower horizons of the indoor water body, doing their good deed while not annoying the aquarist with intrusive excess.
The population of Melanoides tuberculatus develops rapidly. It is enough for a pair of adult mollusks to get into the aquarium, and in a month or two, snails can be counted in dozens. To achieve a similar population density, granifera snails will take at least 6-8 months. In about 3 months, at a size of 6 mm, they are ready for reproduction. There is another difference. If common melanias are evenly distributed throughout the substrate, granifera form local communities concentrated in certain areas of the bottom. Nevertheless, both species get along well in the same home aquarium. They can only be removed by boiling or baking the substrate in the oven.
— Melanoides maculata [Born, 1780] — Black Melania. Native to Malaysia, they are widespread today in various aquatic ecosystems, always with sandy bottoms or fine gravel where they can burrow. Maximum size 4 cm. The shell is elongated, conical, and pointed. The shell is very strong and difficult even for fish that usually eat snails. Very dark in color, dark burgundy, usually almost black, sometimes garnet red, with prominent gray areas. It looks filigree and more graceful than M. tuberculatus, with which it can crossbreed; hybrids are called Melanoides tuberculata “P.A.P.”.
They do not have major requirements regarding aquarium size. Like all snails, they need calcium to form their shell. The aquarium substrate must be of medium or fine fraction so that they can burrow into the soil. Omnivorous, they eat any organic food that falls onto the substrate, usually feeding by digging in the substrate.
The basis of the diet of melanias consists of lower algae and semi-decayed organics, meaning these snails are typical detritivores. In search of food, they move along the bottom surface and delve into its thickness, provided that the soil is sufficiently loose and not compressed by stones or dense tangles of higher vegetation roots. Very peaceful, they loosen the soil and do not damage plants. Gonochoric, live-bearing. Temperature between 18-27°C, pH 5-8.5.
Family — Melanopsidae.
Genus — Melanopsis.
— Melanopsis praemorsa [Linnaeus, 1785]. Found in various countries of the Mediterranean basin. Inhabits rivers and spring water, very rich in oxygen, with the presence of algae and aquatic vegetation. 3 cm long. The shell is oblong with a thin end, the mouth of which the mollusk can tightly close with a calcareous operculum. This peculiar door allows the snail to escape from enemies, and in addition, to maintain the necessary microculture inside the shell for a long time and thus withstand unfavorable environmental changes for quite a long period.
It presents an almost smooth and almost conical shell, with light sutures in each whorl. The antennae are thread-like and have a prominent horn characteristic of the genus. Body color is dark, sometimes pale gray. Shell color can vary, but generally dark black, intense red, or brown tones. Melanias breathe with gills, meaning they are able to absorb oxygen dissolved in water and do not need periodic trips to the water surface to capture an atmospheric air bubble. Aquariums with abundant vegetation and the presence of green algae are recommended to limit their plant consumption.
The water must be well oxygenated, with a constant current and good filtration; they do not tolerate excess nitrates or ammonium, as well as heavy metals. pH about 7, hardness over 12 gH. In acidic and soft waters, the shell dissolves, leading to the death of the animal. Temperature 15-30°C, optimal 26°C. They need fine or medium fraction substrates.
Moss is an integral part of the aquarium where this species is kept. This species feeds mainly on green sticky algae from stones and glass, and also prefers delicate parts of green plants, which is a problem in planted aquariums. This is an active snail, although somewhat slow, but wanders constantly around the aquarium. Gonochoric, breeding is more complex, fry hatch after 2-4 months, grow slowly.
Neritina, Neritina turrita, Neritina natalensis Zebra.
Melania, Melanoides tuberculata. 
