We've been looking at some options to help with algae control (not too bad, but we miss spots when we clean). Not a huge fan on the options for bottom feeders that can go with goldies though.
We saw some large apple snails today at our lfs. About 3" diameter. They were just cruising around the tank they were in. Very neat to watch. I also saw some smaller snails that were some nice colors (blue, reds, etc), but don't recall now what they were named on the tank.

We have a lightly planted tank (and will be adding some more plants as we find out which ones our goldies don't have a taste for). It seems Pomacea Bridgesii are what we'd need for a snail in order to keep our plants as well.

I've seen these labeled online as apple or mystery snails. Is that true? Are all apple snails Pomacea Bridgesii's? Are all apple snails the type that won't chow down our plants?
When at the store, how can you tell which ones are the Pomacea Bridgesii's?

Ok, just answered one of my own questions...
not all apple snails are Pomacea Bridgesii's

So I guess that means I really only need to know how to figure out how to tell which ones are Pomacea Bridgesii's when labeled just "apple snail" at a fish store?

The term "apple snail" can actually refer to anything in the Ampullariidae family, which contains abundant numbers of plant-eating species.

Telling the species apart is not always simple. I've been doing it for a long time and still get duped every now and then usually by little gold snails. The trick is to look at the suture shape...on bridgesii it should be a 90-degree angle with a whitened area/stripe wrapping around the spire. There should not be an accute groove. If you want to be safe and not bother with shell shape technicalities, get one of the color varieties that does not occur outside the Pomacea bridgesii species:
- any kind of purple
- blue
- ivory

Thanks
Found a blue one today who seems to be camping out on some driftwood now

How bout Neritina natalensis or reclivata? Planted-tank enthusiasts use them even for delicate plant species. Although you'd have to look hard for these...