White Wizard Snail (Filopaludina martensi) | Live Freshwater Trapdoor Snail, Beginner

The White Wizard Snail (Filopaludina martensi) is a peaceful, plant-safe freshwater livebearer with a striking cream-white shell. Beginner-friendly, slow to reproduce, and 100% community safe — these filter-feeding trapdoor snails are an underrated alternative to the apple/mystery snails that are illegal in Georgia. Pairs well with live freshwater plants, Neocaridina shrimp, and peaceful community fish — browse all our freshwater invertebrates.

Important note for Georgia hobbyists: White Wizard Snails are Filopaludina martensi in the Viviparidae family — they are NOT apple snails or mystery snails (Pomacea, which are banned in Georgia). They're a totally legal alternative if you've been looking for a gentle, peaceful snail with that classic round-shell silhouette.

Care Guide

White Wizards are filter feeders — they use modified gills to extract micro-organisms from the water column, which makes them especially welcome in shrimp tanks where excess biofilm and detritus can be a nuisance. They also graze algae, biofilm, and detritus off rock and substrate, and will accept supplemental food like sinking pellets, algae wafers, and blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, kale).

Substrate matters. White Wizards burrow during the day and emerge at dusk. Provide soft sand or fine gravel — sharp or coarse substrate can damage their foot. They're nocturnal by nature, so don't worry if they hide in the daytime.

Plant safe. Unlike some "snail-eaters," White Wizards do not eat live plants under normal conditions. They graze biofilm off leaves and stems but won't shred your Anubias, Crypts, or Java Fern. Safe for planted tanks of any kind.

Reproduction: Livebearers — they give birth to fully-formed juveniles, with no egg clutches above waterline. Reproduction is slow (5–15 babies per ~30-day brood, requires a male AND female), so they will not overrun your tank like ramshorn or bladder snails. Add 2–3 if you want a chance at babies.

Health note: Sensitive to copper-based medications. Avoid copper in any tank that has White Wizards. Like all freshwater inverts, they need stable pH and steady GH/KH for shell development.

Specifications

Compatibility

Great with: Peaceful community fish (tetras, rasboras, corydoras, small barbs, livebearer fish), Neocaridina shrimp, Nerite snails, and most peaceful tankmates. Excellent in heavily planted tanks.

Use caution with: Goldfish, large barbs, and any fish that pick at snail antennae or operculum.

Avoid with: Cichlids (most), loaches, pufferfish, crayfish, and assassin snails — these will all eat or kill White Wizards. Also avoid copper-based medications in the tank.

White Wizard vs. Other Freshwater Snails We Carry

• White Wizard (this listing): Filter-feeder + grazer, peaceful, plant-safe, slow livebearer reproduction, ~2" max.
• Pink Lady Nerite Snail: Hardcore algae eater, won't reproduce in pure freshwater (no overpopulation risk). Best for diatom and film algae problems.
• Bumblebee Pagoda Snail: Striking spiked shell, peaceful, slow-growing — great display piece.
• Chopstick Snail: Sand-sifting substrate cleaner, burrows constantly. Excellent for tanks with deep sand beds.
• White Hercules Snail: Larger algae eater with striking white shell — bigger cousin of the Bumblebee.

Recommended Pairings

• Blue Diamond Shrimp — peaceful Neocaridina shrimp; the snail's filter feeding helps keep the water column clean for shrimp
• Rili Red Shrimp — another reef-safe-with-snails Neocaridina pick
• Live freshwater plants — Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, mosses; the snails will graze biofilm off leaves without damaging the plants
• Sinking foods — algae wafers, sinking pellets, blanched veggies for supplemental nutrition
• Browse all freshwater invertebrates

FAQ

Is this the same as a Mystery Snail?
No. Mystery Snails are Pomacea species (Ampullariidae family) and are illegal to sell in Georgia. White Wizard Snails are Filopaludina martensi (Viviparidae family) — a different genus and family — and are legal everywhere in the US. They have a similar round shell silhouette but are biologically distinct, including being livebearers instead of egg-layers.

Will they overpopulate my tank?
No. Unlike ramshorn or bladder snails, White Wizards are slow-reproducing livebearers that need a male AND female to breed, and produce only 5–15 babies per ~30-day brood. A single snail won't multiply on its own. Even with breeding pairs, populations grow slowly.

Will they eat my live plants?
No. White Wizards are plant-safe under normal conditions. They graze biofilm off leaves but won't damage Anubias, Crypts, Java Fern, mosses, or other typical aquarium plants. Even if food is scarce, they prefer to scavenge detritus rather than eat live plants.

How many should I keep?
One per 5–10 gallons is typical. They're slow-paced filter feeders, so a 20-gallon tank can comfortably support 2–3. If you want a chance at breeding, get at least 2–3 (mixed male and female).