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Physa is a genus of small, left-handed or sinistral, air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Physinae of the family Physidae. [2] These snails eat algae, diatoms and detritus.
These snails eat dead plant and animal matter and various other detritus. Because Physella acuta forages mainly on epiphytic vegetation and on the macrophytes, whereas other gastropods (Planorbis planorbis, Radix ovata) exploit the algal cover or phytobentos on the bottom, competition between Physella acuta and other gastropods appears to be ...
This species eats aquatic plants, algae, dead fish and snails. Easily adaptable to captivity, this snail may invade and damage aquarium vegetation. [4] It is practically omnivorous, and feeds on animal and vegetal detritus. [4] This snail acts as a useful aquarium scavenger when it is not excessively numerous. [4]
These snails are sometimes viewed as pests in aquarium tanks with fish, because the snails create waste, reproduce very often, and are very hard to remove completely. However, some aquarium owners deliberately chose to add these freshwater pond snails to their tank because the snails will eat uneaten fish food, algae and waste, as well as ...
Like other snails, it has a herbivorous ecology, feeding on humus and detritus. By eating leaf mold, fallen leaves, or dead plants, it contributes to the nutrient cycle of the soil. Reproduction: As a type of snail, it is known to lay eggs, and egg masses can sometimes be found, especially in moist environments. Habitat and distribution
Although only a minority of these snails are infected (generally 2% or less in B. nyassanus), they do play an important role in the spread of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), a parasite that causes "snail fewer" in humans. [4] The snail-eating cichlid fish Trematocranus placodon has a preference for B. nyassanus. [5]
The related term Aufwuchs (German "surface growth" or "overgrowth", pronounced [ˈaʊ̯fˌvuːks] ⓘ) refers to the collection of small animals and plants that adhere to open surfaces in aquatic environments, such as parts of rooted plants. Periphyton serves as an important food source for invertebrates, tadpoles, and some fish.
Freshwater snails are commonly found in aquaria along with tropical fish. Species available vary in different parts of the world. In the United States, commonly available species include ramshorn snails such as Planorbella duryi , apple snails such as Pomacea bridgesii , the high-spired thiarid Malaysian trumpet snail , Melanoides tuberculata ...