Posthorn snail | The cleaner of pond water!

The posthorn snail, also called Planorbarius corneus, is a freshwater snail found in still or slow-flowing waters in Europe. It is a fairly small snail, usually no larger than 2 centimeters, with a distinctive cone-shaped shell that resembles an old-fashioned posthorn, hence the name.

All about the posthorn snail

• How does a posthorn snail get into the pond?
• Important to know
• What do posthorn snails eat?
• Where does the posthorn snail live?

How does a posthorn snail get into the pond?

A posthorn snail can enter a pond in several ways, for example:

1. Purchase: Posthorn snails are often sold in pet stores or on the Internet as additions to aquariums or ponds. 
2. Transmission by animals: Animals such as birds, pond fish, frogs and newts can transfer posthorn snails from one body of water to another. For example, if a bird eats a posthorn snail and then lands in the pond and its droppings end up in the water.
3. Transmission by aquatic plants: If you put aquatic plants in the pond, you may find small posthorn snails on the plants, which may end up in the pond.
4. Natural colonization: In some cases, posthorn snails may naturally colonize the pond, such as if there is a connection to a nearby pond where the snails already occur.

Important to know

It is important to know that not all snails are suitable for a pond. Some species can even damage the pond and the plants in it. However, the posthorn snail is generally a useful and harmless inhabitant for any type of pond.

Oxygen plants make water attractive to posthorn snails

Oxygen plants provide the water in the pond with oxygen, therefore the posthorn snails will feel very much at home in a pond with enough oxygen plants. For this reason, always choose pond plants when you want life in the pond. - Simon

What do posthorn snails eat?

The posthorn snail eats everything, including soft living aquatic plants and wilted parts of aquatic plants, so the little snail keeps the plants in your pond beautiful. But the thing that often appeals most to people with a pond is that the snail eats algae from the bottom of the pond. With this, the posthorn snail keeps your pond water clear and the water values stable!

Where does the posthorn snail live?

The posthorn snail is a freshwater snail found in still or slow-flowing waters in Europe. They can adapt to different water types, from acidic to calcareous water, but they prefer water with good water values and high oxygen concentration. Ponds with lots of oxygen plants are thus favored. Posthorn snails live on the bottom of the water and feed on algae and other small organisms, such as small water fleas. They are often found in large numbers together, especially near aquatic plants and other objects on which they can climb and feed. Posthorn snails are important as a food source for various animals, such as toads, fish and waterfowl. They also play an important role as cleaners of organic waste in the water, such as dead plants and leaves. This helps maintain a healthy ecosystem in the water in which they live.

Frequently asked questions about the posthorn snail