They have a HUGE golden apple snail in my aquatic centre and I'd just love to have him. He's fantastic. My daughter wants to call him Big Burt. BUT, will he eat all the plants? I have quite a lot of cabomba, some eel grass and some small fernie ones at the front.

If "huge" means bigger than 2"...odds are that yup, it will eat your plants and is probably Pomacea canaliculata.

Yep,we're talking "Plant Terminator's " when it comes to the Big Boys!

Yup, he's pretty big - maybe 1 3/4 inches. Quel disappointment! I guess I'll just have to get another tank at some later date - without plants. How do you guys keep them? With fish? Alone? I'd love to see pic's.

This is Chewy She's mine & my daughter Heather's. We time share her! Anyway, Chewy is kind of famous around these parts.She is the reason that many people on this forum got into Apple Snails to begin with.She has babies all over and even out of the country now. She's actually bigger than these pics now. I had some ph problems,and unfortunately,her shell is looking pathetic right now.We've had her for almost 2 years which is pretty good for a snail. Chewy is a Cana Apple Snail,and will strip the best of planted tank of plants overnight!

I do have to add that Chewy's got some new growth that's looking way better than she does now.She's in the Snaily Rubbermaid with alot of Brigs,and kind of looks like King Kong! That tank stays stable with the ph,so hopefully she'll be looking much better,real soon.

Well, thank you for the amazing pics. I have never seen such a mighty snail! Now, this make 'Big Burt' look something of a midget.
I have just read about the Bridgesii variety which I gather don't go after the plants but can still get quite big -4-5cm. What do you think about that as a possibility? Also, I think you said on one of the other posts somewhere that snails are about as dirty as GF. How much would one use in the gallonage of a tank? Mine is 180litres and I was planning on 4 fancies. Thoughts?
PS I forgot to add that we are on a time difference as I am living in London, England right now.

Don't worry about the time difference for I'm on here all hours! I'm tired,but I'm guessing that 180 litres is what?,about 46-47 US gallons? I think technically they recommend about 2-2.5 gals. per snail.I personally go by size /amount of fish, what type & the strength of filter I have etc... This is a pair of the biggest my Brigs ever got. Compare to a large walnut.

Ooo I always wondered how big my brigs had potential to grow!! Thanks for sharing!

Well hang on--at less than 2" then it could still be either Pomacea bridgesii or Pomacea canaliculata, so it may or may not eat plants. You could always get him and then see if he eats plants, if he does then take him back...or do the suture check. If the spire looks like a stickybun (strong groove around the spire or very curvey sides to each whorl with a small indentation running along the spire) then it's a plant-eater, if the spire has more of a stair-step look (90 degree angle), then it's Pomacea bridgesii.

WHOA DEVS!!!!!! *bows to the big Chewy*

That is one super huge and super cute snail. Did you have to "open" her like that in the first pic or is she so used to you she just willingly poses like that.

OK. Inspired by the great pics and Donyas suggestion, I'm a goin' back to the store to persevere. I figure I'll have enough space as four goldies in a 45-47 (US) gal tank leaves a little space for Big Burt.
Only thing is, I'm still waiting for the nitrite-trace to finish cycling and the wait is driving me NUTS. Wanted to have someone installed by Xmas.

Amy,Chewy is very tame,and has no problem whatsoever coming out to say hello.I have alot of tame snails,but Chewy (takes )eats the cake!

hello ive learned something intersting coldwater snails are ilegial in claiforia they banned them some time in the last few weeks you cant sell or have them in california pretty stupid huh

hmmm... that's interesting... because i find snails around here (claremont) all the time!!! about 9 out of 10 pet stores have them and i am in so cal... very interesting!