Whats the biggest freshwater snail?

[Datnoid101]

I remember seeing a pic on mfk somewhere of a snail the size of someones hand. Is that the biggest and what species is it?

 

[pcfriedrich]

I've seen that. its green and sitting on his palm, bigger than his fist if he made one?

that was some kind of an apple snail. only certain kinds of apple snails get big like that (not the common mystery snail, anyway).

 

[pcfriedrich]

Pomacea (pomacea) maculata (Perry, 1810)​

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The South American ampullarid Pomacea maculata is classified under the canaliculata complex. This is a groups af very closely related species which are very variable in size and appearance.
Shell: The elegant, but large (up to 15 cm / 6 inch hight) of Pomacea maculata has a very smooth surface, without almost no malleation. The colour of the shell is pale olive green with faint dark band, although these can be almost absent as well. In general one can describe this shell as thin and fragile.
Operculum: The operculum is large, and much higher than width and is completely retractabel into the shell opening (aperture).
Body: Pale grey foot, with black pigment on the upper side of the body.
Eggs: The eggs of Pomacea maculata are green and laid in clutches above the waterline on emergent vegetation.

Pomacea maculata.
From George Perry's Conchology, or the Natural History of Shells, 1811.
Note the dark spots at the inside of the shell. Because of these spots, the snail got its name maculata (latin for spotted, stained).
(picture not licenced under creative commons)

Pomacea maculata.
(picture not licenced under creative commons)


Name: These snail species has been described by Georges Perry in march 1810. Perry also created the genus Pomacea, and Pomacea maculata was described as type species (see also the 'nomenclature' section).
The inside of the shell, near the shell opening (aperture), is spotted, hence its name maculata or the stained/spotted snail.
Behaviour: Pomacea maculata inhabits deep and still waters, where it hides in thick vegetation. It can be fairly difficult to spo these snails, despite their size.
Distribution: Brasil: Amazon river near Obidos; Peru: Iquitos (Manaron river at Santa Terega), Lapuna (Solimoes river), Napo river near Corocha, Porto Velho (Madeira river).
Looks similar to another member if the canaliculata complex: Pomacea haustrum. However, Pomacea maculata is larger, has a paler colour, the bands are less obvious and the shell is thinner and more fragile.

Edit: credit to http://www.applesnail.net/.

I know you thought I just came up with all this myself.

 

[pcfriedrich]

I gotta get me one.

 

[toehead11183]

You wont find one unless you know someone in SA plus their shell is very thin and most break or erode before getting that big. Your best bet is to go with a P. canaliculata. I had one get pretty good size and i have one of her offspring thats a little bigger than a golfball.

Post #6:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101276

 

[pcfriedrich]

I had some "mystery snails" get near golfball size, until their shells eroded (my tap water pH is low). I'm think I'm gonna get some crushed coral and try again in my 20, with a crawfish. what do you think are the chances a firemouth could survive living with a crayfish for life?

 

[flaringshutter]

Actually, there is some doubt as to whether P. maculata is truly a valid species. There are no recent records of a live snail anywhere, so it's thought that P. maculata either doesn't exist or was an isolated population of P. insularum or P. haustrum.
The largest snail you'll find in the hobby today is P. insularum.
However, P. haustrums come in a very close second and are much easier to find. I have quite a few of these guys - they're the snails I was giving out at the SoCal meet - and they will grow to the size of a softball, given enough food and space.
I actually still have a bunch of babies looking for new homes, if anyone is in SoCal....

 

[Datnoid101]

Thanks for all the info guys.

 

[Big-Kev]

The only snail i've seen that size is a giant african land snail.
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