White wizard Snail (Filopaludina Martensi)

The white wizard snail (Filopaludina martensi) is a unique, peaceful freshwater snail known for its creamy white shell, dark blue face, and rare ability to filter-feed. Unlike many common pest snails, they do not overpopulate easily because they reproduce via live birth and require both a male and a female to breed.

Key Characteristics

Appearance: They feature a striking off-white conical shell with 6 to 7 swirls. Their body is yellow with brown spots, but they are most famous for their distinctive dark blue faces and tentacles.

Size & Lifespan: They grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) and can live between 2 to 5 years in captivity.

Behavior: They are very shy, slow-moving, and love to burrow into sandy substrate. They also have an operculum (trap-door) to lock themselves completely inside their shells when startled.

Diet and Feeding

White wizard snails are unique because they use their gills to filter-feed directly from the water column, alongside eating off the ground. They will not harm live plants. You should feed them:

Powdered foods or liquid algae meals for filter feeding

Algae wafers and sinking pelletsBlanched vegetables like zucchini, kale, and spinach

Calcium supplements (crucial for maintaining a strong, white shell)

Breeding Habits

These snails are viviparous, meaning they give birth to fully formed, live babies rather than laying eggs. They are not hermaphrodites; you need a distinct male and female to breed. You can spot a male by his right antenna, which is noticeably thicker than the left one. The mother carries the young inside her brood chamber and releases 5 to 15 dark, brownish babies at a time, which gradually turn white as they grow.