Orange Rabbit Snail

Rabbit Snails (Tylomelania sp.) get their name from the elongated, tapered snout that genuinely does give them a rabbit-like face compared to the rounder profile of most freshwater snails. Originally from the Malili Lakes system in Sulawesi, Indonesia — a unique freshwater ecosystem isolated long enough to develop its own distinct fauna — they carry an ancient-lineage strangeness that makes them genuinely different from the garden-variety pond snails most people picture when they hear "aquarium snail."

Unusually for a snail, they're livebearers, giving birth to a small number of fully formed young in a thin egg membrane rather than laying exposed egg masses. Population growth stays slow and manageable — you'll never wake up to a Tylomelania explosion the way you will with ramshorns or bladder snails. They're peaceful algae and detritus grazers that move slowly and deliberately, cleaning up biofilm and leftover food without touching healthy plant tissue.

The Sulawesi origin matters for water chemistry: these snails evolved in hard, alkaline, warm water unlike the soft blackwater preference of many other Sulawesi endemics. They do well in neutral to slightly alkaline, moderately hard water — standard community tank parameters work fine.

Scientific name: Tylomelania sp. (orange form)
Origin: Malili Lakes system, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Water parameters: Temp 77–86°F · pH 7.0–8.5 · GH 6–15 (moderately hard to hard preferred)
Tank requirements: 10 gal minimum; fine substrate for burrowing; live or synthetic plants
Diet: Omnivore detritivore — algae, biofilm, blanched vegetables, sinking pellets; won't touch healthy plant tissue
Compatibility: Peaceful; safe with shrimp and community fish; avoid species that nip snail antennae
Husbandry note: Unlike most freshwater snails, Tylomelania prefer warmer water on the higher end of the tropical range. In cooler tanks (below 75°F) they become sluggish and rarely reproduce. Keep them warm and they're active grazers.