Chopstick Snail - Substrate Cleaner

The Chopstick Snail (Stenomelania torulosa) is one of the most striking freshwater snails you can add to an aquarium — with its elongated, spiraled shell resembling an actual chopstick. These peaceful nocturnal scavengers serve as a dedicated cleanup crew, tirelessly turning over your substrate and consuming algae, biofilm, and detritus. Beginner-friendly and hardy, they're an excellent addition to planted tanks and community setups.

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• Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum
• Temperature: 75–80°F (24–27°C)
• pH: 7.0–8.0
• GH: 1–12 (harder water better for shell growth)
• Diet: Omnivore — algae, biofilm, detritus, leftover food; supplement with sinking pellets and blanched vegetables
• Temperament: Peaceful — safe with all community fish and inverts
• Max Size: 2–3 inches
• Copper Sensitivity: Yes — avoid all copper-based medications

Chopstick snails are entirely peaceful and are excellent community tank residents. A soft sand substrate is recommended because they love to burrow. They will not harm plants.

Good tank mates: Community tetras, rasboras, guppies, corydoras, shrimp, nerites, mystery snails, peaceful plecos.

Avoid: Snail-eating fish (loaches, pufferfish, most cichlids), aggressive species, and any tank using copper-based medications.

Will they overpopulate my tank?
No. Chopstick snails require brackish water to breed, so they will not multiply in a freshwater aquarium — making them perfect controlled cleanup crew members.

Are they safe with shrimp?
Yes, completely safe. They coexist peacefully with cherry shrimp, Amano shrimp, and all other inverts.

How many should I get?
1 snail per 5–10 gallons is a good ratio for substrate cleanup in a moderately stocked tank.

Why are they always burrowing?
This is totally normal behavior. Chopstick snails are substrate-burrowers by nature — they'll emerge at night and when feeding.

All invertebrates ship via USPS Priority or UPS Next Day. Inverts are individually bagged with insulated packaging and heat or cold packs as needed for safe transit.

Live Arrival Guarantee: We guarantee live arrival. If any invertebrate arrives DOA, contact us within 2 hours of delivery with a clear photo in the unopened bag. We will issue a full refund or replacement at our discretion.