Quilted Melania Snail (Tarebia granifera) – Efficient Burrowing Cleanup Crew for Aquariums, Algae Control & Substrate Aeration
Bring beauty, balance, and natural efficiency to your freshwater aquarium with the Quilted Melania Snail (Tarebia granifera), a hardy, attractive, and incredibly useful cleanup crew snail. With its textured, quilt-patterned shell and tireless scavenging habits, this species is ideal for improving tank cleanliness, aerating substrate, and maintaining long-term aquarium health.
Tarebia granifera is particularly loved for its burrowing behavior, which gently turns the substrate, prevents anaerobic pockets, and supports plant root health. Unlike some pest snails, the Quilted Melania grows at a manageable rate and thrives only under stable, well-maintained conditions, making it a great choice for aquarists who want beauty AND functionality without endless population explosions. Their shells often display eye-catching patterns and tones, from earthy browns to speckled ridges, bringing a natural aesthetic to community tanks, planted aquascapes, and breeding setups.
✨ Key Features
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Distinctive quilted, granulated shell with beautiful natural texture
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Excellent algae consumer, eating soft algae and biofilm
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Top-tier scavenger that breaks down leftover food and organic waste
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Active burrower that naturally aerates the substrate
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Beneficial for planted tanks, aiding root oxygenation
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Hardy and beginner-friendly, tolerant of diverse conditions
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Peaceful and community-safe
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Does not overpopulate rapidly, offering controlled, steady reproduction
🪸 Ideal For
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Planted tanks & aquascapes
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Community aquariums
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Shrimp colonies (Neocaridina & Caridina)
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Breeding tanks
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Nano setups (5+ gallons)
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High-biofilm tanks needing cleanup
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Aquarists wanting a snail that improves tank health naturally
🌱 Behavior & Benefits
The Quilted Melania Snail is one of the best utility snails you can keep. Their natural behaviors offer a range of benefits:
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Burrowing aeration: Helps prevent compacted substrate and supports beneficial bacteria
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Surface cleaning: Constantly grazes on glass, plants, wood, rocks & filters
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Eco-balance: Reduces leftover food and waste buildup
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No plant damage: They don’t eat healthy plants
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Night & day activity: Works around the clock to keep your tank clean
Because they spend time both above and below the substrate, they maintain a balanced ecosystem that benefits every tank inhabitant.
🌊 Care Requirements
Tank Size: 5 gallons and up
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 70–83°F
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pH: 7.0–8.3
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GH: 6–20 dGH
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KH: Moderate to high
To maintain strong shell growth, ensure adequate minerals. If your water is soft, consider:
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Crushed coral
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Mineral blocks
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Calcium-rich foods
🐌 Diet
While they clean algae and biofilm naturally, Quilted Melania Snails enjoy supplemental foods:
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Algae wafers
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Bottom feeder pellets
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Spirulina flakes
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Blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, kale)
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Snail calcium chips or cuttlebone
Their flexible diet supports steady growth and shell health while preventing starvation in ultra-clean tanks.
🧬 Reproduction
Tarebia granifera is a livebearing snail, producing small broods at a manageable rate. Reproduction depends on:
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Stable water parameters
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Mineral availability
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Consistent food sources
This makes population levels easier to control compared to pest snails like bladder or pond snails.
🤝 Tank Mates
Compatible with nearly all peaceful aquarium species, including:
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Tetras, rasboras, danios
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Livebearers
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Corydoras & loaches (non-snail-eating types)
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Shrimp colonies
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Mystery, nerite & other peaceful snails
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Nano fish species
Avoid with:
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Pufferfish
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Clown loaches
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Other snail-eaters
🧪 Aquarium Role
Quilted Melania Snails contribute significantly to tank stability:
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Natural substrate aeration
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Reduction of detritus & leftover food
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Control of biofilm & algae buildup
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Enhancement of beneficial bacteria zones
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Support of plant root systems
They function as a living maintenance crew, improving overall tank resilience.