The Chinese mystery snail is an invasive species quickly taking over urban waters throughout the state. If you have snails or other animals in an aquarium and you no longer wish to care for them, you should euthanize the animals before disposing in the trash. How to Take Care of Mystery Snails Water Conditions. (map) Thanks to anecdotal reports, researchers in the Pacific Northwest believe that Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata (aka Viviparus malleatus), or the Chinese mystery snail, is more common than previously reported. Where did the Chinese mystery snail originally come from? Chris: The Chinese mystery snail is a invasive species found across America. This is not your average snail! Regulatory classification (agency): Chinese, Japanese, and other mystery snails (species in the genus Bellamya / Cipangopaludina) are regulated invasive species (DNR). These snails can die off in large numbers and wash up on shore. Missouri's Invasive Species Coordinator Tim Banek said the Niangua mystery snail report was the sixth confirmed infestation in Missouri. It seems like every day there are 10 more than yesterday. The most popular are the black or brown, gold and ivory variants. Mystery snails eat a variety of plants including lettuce , carrot tops , and broccli . Asked in Slugs and Snails Where did the Chinese mystery snail originally come from ? Chinese mystery snails occur in a number of Maine waterbodies, but the full distribution of this snail in Maine is unknown. It is very hard to control the Chinese Mystery snail. These colors will add a nice touch to your freshwater tank. Chinese mystery snails compete with our native snails for food and space. The mystery in mystery snails is that they will not reproduce under water! After reproducing in their fourth year, they die and their shells wash up on shore. These snails, which come in … The most amazing thing about the Chinese Mystery Snail is that they can be gold, black, and blue. The banded is an unlisted nonnative species. These Asian snails are popular with aquarium hobbyists, and some people appreciate them as food. Mystery snails of the Chinese and Japanese origin, also known as trapdoor snails (it does not have a lung) are usually black in color and moss-like dark green algae are seen covering their shell. Banded mystery snails (BMS) prey on fish embryos. Once in a body of water, the Chinese mystery snail may be transported, as adults or tiny juveniles, via bait buckets and water holding areas on boats. I don't like the idea of releasing the snails into your local water source - you are introducing a non-native species and it could wreak havoc on your eco-system. Me, I like the Trumpet snails, they burrow through the substrate and come out mostly at night. Their lifespan is about four years. If a mystery snail has not moved for more then 3 days, it is likely to be dead. Native to eastern Asia; Established on both coasts of the US by 1965; Found in the Great Lakes in the 1940s . Chinese (Cipangopaludina chinensis), Japanese (C. japonica), and banded mystery snails (Viviparus georgianus) can form dense populations and outcompete native species for food and habitat in lakes and streams. They are called “mystery” snails because females give birth to young, fully developed snails that suddenly and “mysteriously” appear. Chinese mystery snails can serve as vectors for the transmission of parasites and diseases to our native aquatic species. Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) currently manages a statewide database on reported sightings of C. chinensis malleatus . Learn to identify the Chinese mystery snail and other exotic snails. The Chinese mystery snail grazes on lake and river bottom material. The Ramshorn snails, I just crush and feed them back to my fish. That's right, you will not get more mystery snails in your tank under water. Chinese mystery snail is a species of freshwater aquatic snails known by the scientific name Bellamya chinensis, and is also known as the Japanese mystery snail.As their name implies, they are native to Asia, and are assigned to the Viviparidae family , which means it gives birth to live young.. First lets examine why people generally find snails to be a pest. Mystery Snail Appearance: Blue, Black, Gold and Purple. The Chinese Mystery Snail has been introduced to America by Via buckets. feeds non-selectively on organic and inorganic bottom material as well as benthic and epiphytic algae, mostly by scraping, but diatoms are probably the most nutritious food it ingests at sites in eastern North America (Jokinen 1982). Mystery snails are among the largest freshwater snails in the hobby, growing to a maximum diameter of 2 inches or more. DO Why is it a problem? They may also transmit diseases and parasites to fish and other wildlife. The historic range of the banded mystery snail (BMS) is the southeastern U.S., primarily in the Mississippi River system up to Illinois.