{"product_id":"japanese-trapdoor-snail-viviparus-malleattus-freshwater","title":"Japanese Trapdoor Snail (Viviparus malleattus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background: #E3F2FD; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding: 10px 14px; margin: 0 0 14px; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Japanese Trapdoor Snail (\u003cem\u003eViviparus malleattus\u003c\/em\u003e) is the workhorse cleaner of ponds and unheated aquariums. Cold tolerant, completely plant safe, and armed with a hinged trapdoor that seals it inside its shell, it grazes algae and detritus year round in conditions most tropical snails cannot touch. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-invertebrates\"\u003efreshwater invertebrates\u003c\/a\u003e for more cleanup crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease note:\u003c\/strong\u003e pricing is per snail, and shell color ranges from olive green to brown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrapdoor snails are nearly maintenance free. In a pond they live happily through winter, hunkering down below the ice line; in an aquarium they take anything from the 50s up to about 80°F. Give them hard, alkaline-leaning water for strong shells and let them work the bottom, where they plow gently through substrate eating algae, leftover food, and decaying plant matter. They are livebearers that produce a few well-developed young at a time, so they will never carpet a pond the way pest snails do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImportant:\u003c\/strong\u003e never dose copper-based medications in a tank or pond with snails or other invertebrates. Copper is lethal to them even at low levels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; margin: 8px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eCompletely peaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 2 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e5 gallons, or any size pond\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e50 to 80°F, winters over in ponds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e7.0 to 8.4, harder water preferred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eAlgae, detritus, leftover food, sinking wafers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReproduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eLivebearer, slow, will not overrun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #BBDEFB; padding: 6px 10px;\"\u003eYes, completely\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect with goldfish, koi (large koi may mouth small snails), and every peaceful community fish, shrimp, and snail. Avoid dedicated snail eaters like loaches and puffers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eRecommended Tankmates \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/striped-wizard-snail-filopaludina-sumatrensis-freshwater\"\u003eStriped Wizard Snail\u003c\/a\u003e, a tropical cousin from the same trapdoor family\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/fritzpond-clarifier\"\u003eFritzPond Clarifier\u003c\/a\u003e to pair with your pond cleanup crew\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOur full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/freshwater-invertebrates\"\u003efreshwater invertebrate\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fish\"\u003elive fish\u003c\/a\u003e collections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin: 14px 0 4px; font-size: 1.05em; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.25; border-left: 4px solid #1E88E5; padding-left: 8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan they really live outdoors year round?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. In an established pond they ride out winter dormant near the bottom and resume grazing in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill they overrun my pond?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. They are slow livebearers, not egg-laying pest snails, so numbers stay manageable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy has my snail not moved in days?\u003c\/strong\u003e Sealing the trapdoor and resting is normal, especially in cool water. Give it time before worrying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre they safe with pond plants?\u003c\/strong\u003e Completely. They clean leaves without eating them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48865941815515,"sku":"8644460","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/Japanese-Trapdoor-Snail-Small-3.webp?v=1781187949","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/japanese-trapdoor-snail-viviparus-malleattus-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}