Care guide · Freshwater snails

Hercules snail

Brotia herculea

Shell study of Brotia herculea. Photo: H. Zell (Llez), CC BY-SA 3.0; resized and compressed. Photo: H. Zell (Wikimedia Commons username Llez) · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0Resized and compressed; no cropping or colour changes.

Brotia herculea is a large Southeast Asian freshwater snail with a tall, strongly ribbed shell. In the aquarium trade it is also sold as the Hercules snail or giant tower cap snail. Adults may reach about 10 cm. Provide a mature aquarium with extensive biofilm-grazing surfaces, oxygen-rich flowing water and adequate minerals. The aquarium ranges here come from husbandry profiles; they are not experimentally established tolerance limits. A stable supply of biofilm and a safe, non-toxic environment matter more than introducing the snail quickly into a new tank. Ask about provenance and the exact species identification before purchase.

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At a glance

Temperature: 22–25 °C
pH: 7.5–8.0
Diet: Omnivore, detritivore
Adult size: Up to 10 cm
Temperament: Peaceful

About this species

GBIF accepts Brotia herculea (A. A. Gould, 1846) in the family Pachychilidae. Historical combinations include Melania herculea and Melania (Melanoides) herculea; names such as Melania reevei and Melania balteata also appear in the taxonomic synonymy. Köhler and Glaubrecht’s 2006 systematic revision treats Southeast Asian Brotia species. A trade name alone does not prove that an animal has been identified correctly. The image on this page documents shells, not a live snail.

Natural habitat

Taxonomic and specialist records associate the species with rivers in Thailand and Myanmar. B-Aqua describes flowing, clear, oxygen-rich water; a retailer profile also mentions rocks, wood and mineral-rich conditions. Use these descriptions to guide a stable, well-circulated aquarium, not as evidence of precise physiological limits. Provide firm surfaces for biofilm growth. Never release aquarium animals, plants, water or substrate into natural waterways.

Aquarium and layout

Choose a spacious, fully established aquarium with generous floor area, rockwork and securely placed wood. This snail grows large and actively moves across surfaces; avoid narrow gaps where its long shell could become trapped or broken. Maintain steady circulation and oxygenation, with some calmer areas where detritus and plant matter remain available. B-Aqua recommends at least 100 litres and about 100 cm tank length. This is a husbandry recommendation, not a scientifically proven threshold. Also consider floor area, maturity, food supply and tankmates.

Water conditions

B-Aqua recommends 22–25 °C and pH 7.5–8.5; Aquatic Arts lists 22–28 °C and pH 7.0–8.2. This guide shows their conservative overlap: 22–25 °C and pH 7.5–8.0. These are aquarium-care recommendations, not established physiological limits. Both sources point to mineral-containing water. Keep pH and minerals stable and avoid persistent acidity or very soft water. We do not give a universal GH or KH target because the sources reviewed do not support one clearly. The species is associated with flowing habitats, making oxygen and circulation important considerations.

Behaviour and group size

Brotia herculea is described as peaceful and grazes on biofilm, soft algae and organic detritus. That does not make it a dependable algae-control solution; natural food production should be part of a mature aquarium. It may be kept singly; groups require more floor space and food. Avoid puffers, snail-eating loaches and other animals that attack snails. Even non-aggressive fish may disturb it if they forage on the bottom or repeatedly peck at it. Compatibility therefore depends on behaviour, space and water requirements together.

Feeding

In an established aquarium the snail grazes biofilm, soft algae and detritus. It may need varied supplementary sinking food containing both plant and animal ingredients; a retailer mentions blanched vegetables, but this is not a controlled feeding trial. Offer small portions and remove leftovers before they affect water quality. Check labels for copper compounds: copper-containing treatments are unsuitable for sensitive invertebrates. We checked the central product catalogue, but did not confirm a product with both a sufficiently clear ingredient profile and suitability for snails. No product is linked.

Breeding

B-Aqua and Aquatic Arts describe Brotia herculea as live-bearing. A female therefore does not leave obvious egg clutches like many aquarium snails. The sources reviewed do not reliably quantify sexing or reproductive output, so this guide gives no brood size, interval or guaranteed breeding method. Aquatic Arts says captive breeding is possible but not assured. Ask sellers about origin and request evidence of captive breeding. A trade label or an unsupported seller statement is not verification.

Keeping with fish

Neon tetra: discouraged as a default pairing. Typical neon tetra care often calls for softer, more acidic water than the mineral-containing, near-neutral conditions recommended for Brotia. This is an assessment of long-term water needs, not a claim that the animals attack one another and not a controlled pairing trial. Temperature overlap alone is not enough to establish suitability.

Keeping with other invertebrates

Java fern (Microsorum pteropus): conditional. In a mature aquarium it can provide surfaces for biofilm grazing. Sources differ on plant grazing: one care profile warns that soft plant tissue may be eaten when food is scarce, while the retailer says healthy plants are generally left alone. Keep the snail adequately fed and monitor the plant. This is a cautious setup suggestion, not an experimentally tested species pairing.

Exoskeleton, shell and minerals

A snail does not moult like a shrimp. Its shell grows gradually and may be damaged or eroded when water chemistry is unstable or minerals are lacking. Assess shell changes alongside pH, hardness, diet and possible exposure to copper-based medication. Do not add calcium products without knowing the water parameters and dose. A shell photograph shows shape features, not the health or provenance of a living aquarium animal.

Possible problems

Key risks include a new or overly clean aquarium with too little food, weak circulation or oxygenation, persistently acidic and mineral-poor water, trapping the tall shell, predatory tankmates and uncertain trade identity. Care sources recommend an established aquarium and ample grazing surfaces. Check foods for copper. Ask about provenance: at least one retailer reports collecting specimens from river systems. Do not buy based only on an unchecked name, and never release aquarium animals outdoors.

Sources & review

This care guide draws on several specialist sources and was last checked on 18 October 2026.

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