Product Details

Blueberry Snail – Viviparus sp.

Overview:

The Blueberry Snail is a rare and unusual freshwater snail with a rounded shell and a striking dark blue, purple to slate-coloured body that gives it its popular trade name. Currently sold as Viviparus sp., and sometimes listed as Notopala sp. Blueberry, this peaceful livebearing snail is best suited to mature tropical aquariums with stable, mineral-rich water and plenty of natural grazing surfaces. It is attractive, slow-moving and safe with many calm community fish, but it should not be added to brand-new tanks or treated as a simple algae-cleaning tool.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Blueberry Snail
Other Names: Blue Berry Snail, Blueberry River Snail, Papua Blueberry Snail, Blueberry Livebearing Snail, Notopala Blueberry Snail
Scientific Name: Viviparus sp.
Invertebrate Type: Freshwater Snail / Livebearing River Snail
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Blueberry Snail is reported in the aquarium trade from Papua, Indonesia, where it is associated with freshwater river or stream habitats. As a livebearing operculate snail, it is likely to spend much of its time grazing on biofilm, algae, soft detritus and natural microbial growth on submerged surfaces.

In the aquarium, this means it should be given a mature setup with sand or smooth substrate, plants, wood, rocks and established grazing areas. A sterile new aquarium with little biofilm is not suitable.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Blueberry Snails have a rounded, trapdoor-type shell that may appear brown, reddish-brown, dark olive or pinkish-brown depending on age and condition. The body is the standout feature, often showing deep blue, purple, grey-blue or dark slate tones, sometimes with lighter speckling. As with many snails, shell wear, colour and growth lines can vary naturally between individuals.

Adults usually reach around 2.5–5 cm, with some trade sources listing approximately 1–2 inches for adult size.

Aquarium Suitability:

This snail is suitable for peaceful planted aquariums, shrimp tanks with compatible water, calm community aquariums and specialist invertebrate setups. It does best in tanks with soft sand, plants, porous rocks, wood and surfaces where algae and biofilm can develop.

It is not suitable for copper-treated aquariums, very soft acidic water, unstable new tanks or systems containing snail-eating fish. Filter intakes should be protected, especially for smaller individuals and juveniles.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 40–50 litres for a small group, with larger aquariums preferred where more natural grazing is available. Although some sellers list smaller tank sizes, a more mature, stable aquarium gives much better long-term conditions for this rare snail.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 7.2–8.5
Hardness: Moderately hard to hard preferred
Additional Notes: Stable mineral content is important for shell health. Avoid soft acidic water, sudden parameter swings, ammonia, nitrite and copper-based medications. Trade care sources commonly recommend alkaline water with GH around 6–22 dGH and KH around 3–15 dKH for Blueberry Snails.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Invertebrate

Blueberry Snails are peaceful and safe with calm fish and many shrimp species where water conditions match. Suitable tank mates include small rasboras, peaceful tetras, Otocinclus, Cory-type catfish in compatible water, bristlenose plecs, small rainbowfish, peaceful livebearers and dwarf shrimp that tolerate harder water.

Avoid pufferfish, loaches that eat snails, large cichlids, crayfish, aggressive crabs and fish that may nip the snail’s body or antennae. They can be kept singly, but small groups are more interesting and allow natural social and breeding behaviour.

Feeding:

Blueberry Snails graze on biofilm, algae, soft detritus and leftover fine foods, but they should be fed directly in clean aquariums. Offer algae wafers, spirulina tablets, sinking invertebrate foods, powdered shrimp/snail foods, blanched courgette, spinach, green beans and calcium-rich snail foods.

Do not rely on natural algae alone. Remove uneaten vegetables before they spoil, and make sure food reaches the snails if kept with active fish or shrimp.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is a slow, peaceful grazing snail that spends much of its time moving over sand, glass, wood, plants and rocks. It has an operculum, or “trapdoor”, which allows it to close itself into the shell when disturbed. Blueberry Snails are livebearers rather than egg-layers, with females producing single well-developed young at a slow rate, so they are unlikely to overrun an aquarium like pest snails. Retail sources describe females producing young periodically rather than laying egg clutches.

Care Notes:

Add only to a mature, fully cycled aquarium with stable water quality. Avoid copper, snail-killing treatments and sudden changes in temperature or hardness. Provide calcium through mineral-rich water, specialist snail foods or safe calcium supplements where needed. Poor shell growth, pitting or erosion usually indicates unsuitable water chemistry, lack of minerals or poor diet. Acclimate slowly, as imported snails can be sensitive to rapid changes. Never release unwanted snails outdoors.

Recommended For:

Intermediate

Availability:

Rare / Specialist import / Occasionally captive-bred or home-bred

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the snail you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, shell colour, body colour, shell wear and markings can occur between individual snails.