Care
There are over 30 different species of aquatic snail native to the UK, and the majority are suitable for keeping in the garden pond. The most commonly traded pond snails are the air-breathing Lymnaea and Planorbis species, the latter commonly referred to as Ramshorn Snails. Some top out at just a few millimetres, with the largest species being the Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) which attains 6cm (2.4"). Even if you don't add snails to the pond yourself, they often turn up of their own accord, with the adhesive eggs hitching a ride on aquatic plants, or perhaps transported via amphibians and the feet of birds. Whilst some species are considered more desirable than others, in general, pond snails can play an important beneficial role in your pond"™s ecosystem. However, it is essential to strike the right balance, being careful not to let numbers get out of hand; most pond snails are hermaphroditic and can reproduce quickly. Depending on the species, pond snails will consume various types of algae and decaying organic matter, and will aid in stirring up the sediment at the bottom of the pond (in turn helping to avoid stagnation), but many will also graze on soft-leaved aquatic plants if other foodstuffs become scarce. In larger, heavily planted ponds, aquatic snails are unlikely to cause major damage to your prized flora, but they can have a deleterious impact in smaller quarters with fewer plants if overpopulation occurs. Having said this, given a choice, most aquatic snails prefer soft nuisance algae, detritus, and decaying leaves over healthy aquatic vegetation, so for the most part they tend to consume those first. In smaller ponds with fewer plants, or in those with very little natural algae, you will need to ensure snail populations are kept in check, as otherwise their numbers will overwhelm the foliage and the plants may be unable to recover. Supplementing the diet with occasional feedings of green leafy vegetables (which some fish also enjoy) may also help to mitigate the problem, but do be sure to remove any uneaten food within a sensible timeframe so as not to foul the water. As wild snails are sometimes known to act as an intermediate host for various parasites that can be passed on to fish, we would always advise purchasing them from a reputable aquatic dealer/breeder, as this will significantly reduce the chances of them carrying parasites. Pictured above is a Ramshorn Snail (Planorbis sp.).
Feeding
Pond snails will graze on various types of soft algae, detritus, decaying organic matter, and some soft-leaved plants. They will also feed on any leftover fish food that makes it to the bottom of the pond, as well as enjoying green leafy vegetables when offered occasionally.
Breeding
Most of the air-breathing (pulmonate) species are hermaphroditic, whereas the gill-breathing (operculate) species tend to have separate sexes. In the case of the pulmonates, hermaphroditism brings about much faster rates of reproduction, with each individual snail able to fertilise and be fertilised by another of its own kind.
