They are a great addition to help keep uneaten food and algae at a minimum in community and planted aquariums. This peaceful snail will not bother other snails, fish or plants. The Mystery Snail does not have a very long-life span and they will have to be replaced often. Some defining characteristics of this snail is that they have gill and lung function so they can survive out of water, and an operculum. The operculum is a piece of shell that fits over the opening where the snails body extrudes from the shell. The snail can withdraw into its shell and protect itself by closing this "trapdoor" and sealing itself off from the outside world. This snail mostly relies of on detritus and algae as their food source, but if that becomes scarce be sure to supplement their diet with sinking pellets.