Marisa cornuarietis
A much larger ramshorn-shape relative of the apple snail family. The yellow-and-brown banded shell can reach 5 cm. Will graze live plants aggressively — best in hardscape-only tanks or with tough plants like Anubias and Bolbitis. Used in some regions for biological control of disease-carrying pond snails.
Colombian Ramshorn (Marisa cornuarietis) is an aquarium snail in family Ampullariidae, native to Northern South America. Adults reach 3–5 cm; minimum tank 75 L. Target 20–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.5, 8–20 dGH, 4–12 dKH. Shell calcium demand: high. Diet: omnivore (heavy plant-eater), Algae wafer, blanched zucchini and lettuce, sinking pellet. Will defoliate live aquatic plants if underfed. Breeding: Lays jelly egg clutches under the waterline. Population grows quickly under good feeding. Algae-eating rating: 3/5. Plant-safe: No (eats most aquatic plants). Tank mates: Peaceful community fish and shrimp. Avoid assassin snails, large loaches, and crayfish.
Care at a glance
A much larger ramshorn-shape relative of the apple snail family. The yellow-and-brown banded shell can reach 5 cm. Will graze live plants aggressively — best in hardscape-only tanks or with tough plants like Anubias and Bolbitis. Used in some regions for biological control of disease-carrying pond snails.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete planted-aquarium guide.
The parameters that decide whether colombian ramshorn fits in your tank.
Ampullariidae
Omnivore (heavy plant-eater)
Algae wafer, blanched zucchini and lettuce, sinking pellet. Will defoliate live aquatic plants if underfed.
Lays jelly egg clutches under the waterline. Population grows quickly under good feeding.
2–4 yrs
High
No (eats most aquatic plants)
Northern South America
Northern South America
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Minimum tank: 75 L. Colombian Ramshorn (Marisa cornuarietis) reach 3–5 cm as adults.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.5, 8–20 dGH, and 4–12 dKH. Shell calcium demand is high, supplement with cuttlebone or a mineral stone if your water is soft.
Plant safety: No (eats most aquatic plants). Colombian Ramshorn are omnivore (heavy plant-eater), Algae wafer, blanched zucchini and lettuce, sinking pellet. Will defoliate live aquatic plants if underfed.
Tank mates: Peaceful community fish and shrimp. Avoid assassin snails, large loaches, and crayfish.
Algae-eating rating: 3/5. Algae wafer, blanched zucchini and lettuce, sinking pellet. Will defoliate live aquatic plants if underfed.
Lays jelly egg clutches under the waterline. Population grows quickly under good feeding.
Typical lifespan: 2–4 years in a stable, well-maintained tank.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this snail with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
