Gyraulus parvus

Ash gyros often get a bad reputation as pests, however, when properly cared for they can be awesome little pets and can be a great indicator if you are overfeeding your tank as they will reproduce rapidly. Their lifespan can be up to 1 year and they can grow up to 5mm depending on water conditions and care level. They will not eat living plants unless provided no other food.

Ash gyros don't have a defensive operculum (trap door that seals the shell closed) which makes it easier for larger aquarium inhabitants to eat them and

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Identification​

They have a thin, transparent, either whitish, brown or black shell and measure 2.5 to 5mm wide.

They have 4 to 5 whorls with the upper side being concave and the lower side flat. They will usually

be present in large groups with new populations but left alone numbers should even out with

correct care.

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Tank Requirements

Ash gyros require a tank size of at least 10L for a small group. They can be kept with almost any friendly community fish and make a great addition to a nano tank with a single Pomacea diffusa. They must also be kept with caution if you have fish that can fit ash gyros in their mouth as they may try to eat them. They can also be sensitive to fish medications and salt and copper is toxic to them.

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Water Parameters

Always make sure your aquarium is cycled before adding any aquatic life and keep in mind adding too many at once could overload the cycle.

 

Temp: 21C (70f) to 25C (78f)

PH: 7 - 8

KH or Hardness: 12 - 18

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Calcium can be added to water to benefit shell health.

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Diet & Supplements

Ash gyros will consume algae, microbial biofilms and detritus, but to keep them healthy their diet should include added plant matter, calcium and protein.

Many prepared fish foods are good including vege wafers/pellets but they often do not contain enough calcium to sustain healthy growing shells in large groups, so it will most likely need to be added. One way to do this is to feed vegetables high in calcium.

They enjoy left over fish food, algae wafers or pellets and vegetables or a complete food like Snello.

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Anatomy

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Reproduction

Ash gyros are capable of self fertilisation meaning they are able to reproduce without a partner and they can do so in great numbers. Like their larger cousin planorbella duryi they lay eggs below the water line in clusters on any and all surfaces 

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Pros & Cons

+ Good at removing decomposing plants and animals

+ Biodiversity in your aquarium

+ Suitable for most aquariums

+ Easy to care for

+ Will not eat most live plants

+ They're Extremely hardy

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- Multiply rapidly if overfed

- Difficult to completely eradiate

- Can easily end up as a snack for larger fish

- They can produce young with or without a partner

- Shells can get lodged in some types of filtration