Melanoides tuberculata

The Melanoides tuberculata is a fresh water gastropod present in the tropical waters of Africa and South-East Asia. The shell, with elongated spiral, reaches the 15 mm. It is a viviparous and parthenogenetic species, the females hence give birth to children without being fecundated. The result is that many populations do not have males or these are few and sterile. This mollusc is mainly active by night, of great help for the good balance of the tropical aquaria of fresh water as it nourishes of debris and so contributes to the cleaning of the pool. Furthermore it does not stand the pollution and when by day rises to the surface to get air is for sure an alarm bell © Giuseppe Mazza