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No federal permit to keepSpike-topped apple snail (mystery snail)
Pomacea diffusa
Invertebrates › Apple and mystery snails (Architaenioglossa) › Ampullariidae (Apple and mystery snails)
Pomacea diffusa, common name the spike-topped apple snail or Mystery Snail, is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 70–78 degF Current keeper recommendation for mystery snails. | 388 |
| Water pH minimum | 7.2 pH Keeper lower bound; mineral content matters separately. | 388 |
| Water gh minimum | 150 ppm as CaCO3; above this value Source also rounds to 8 dGH; exact conversion is approximately 8.4 dGH. | 388 |
| Adult shell diameter | 5 cm approximately Shell diameter, not extended animal length. | 388 |
| Lifespan | 1–2 years Keeper average range dependent on temperature, not maximum longevity. | 388 |
Care guide
Apple and mystery snails
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Tropical ponds and rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Provide a secure lid, access to atmospheric air and space above water for the egg clutches of common mystery snails. Maintain suitable pH and hardness for shell growth; distinguish Pomacea diffusa from larger plant-eating apple snails.
Diet
- Algae wafers, vegetables and calcium.
Health watch
- Channeled apple snails are serious invasive pests and are banned in many states.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Pomacea diffusa, common name the spike-topped apple snail or Mystery Snail, is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | The type locality of Pomacea diffusa is in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, although the species is widespread throughout the Amazon Basin. Non-indigenous distribution of Pomacea diffusa include: * Thompson recorded this species (as Pomacea bridgesii) in Florida in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Pinellas Counties. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Appearance and size | Pomacea diffusa is known as the spike-topped apple snail, because of its relatively raised spire. It lacks a channeled suture, and overlaps in size with the Pomacea paludosa. The egg masses have an irregular honeycombed appearance, like those of Pomacea haustrum, but are smaller and have a tan to salmon color, although they are white when freshly laid. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| History and naming | Pomacea diffusa was originally described as a subspecies of Pomacea bridgesii. Pain (1960) argued that Pomacea bridgesii was a larger form with a restricted range, with the smaller Pomacea bridgesii diffusa being the common form throughout the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia). — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 85°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 49°F (down to 45°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 68–76°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 69–69% on average (driest month about 64%) |
| Rainfall | about 1274 mm a year |
Measured at 53 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
Profile
Profile
Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.
History
Pomacea diffusa was originally described as a subspecies of Pomacea bridgesii. Pain (1960) argued that Pomacea bridgesii was a larger form with a restricted range, with the smaller Pomacea bridgesii diffusa being the common form throughout the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia).
Sources for this sheet
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Aquarium Co-Op: Care Guide for Mystery Snails Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- University of Florida IFAS: Pomacea insularum and Pomacea canaliculata Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.