I haven't been looking for any snails for a while, and my two striped ones are doing fine. Today I went into a store which I just had found, and he had all kinds of blues, golden and striped mystery snails. What catched my eye - or rather I was missing them - that I didn't seem to see those HUGE apple snails anymore. And not for quite some time, it dawns on me. I asked the guy in the store, and he said they were banned or something?? Anybody heard about that?

I used to have 3-4 or those huge ones, and I always enjoyed them very much. Are they really banned?

They're not banned. Not yet at least. About a year and a half ago the USDA made it illegal to ship Canas, Marissas and Haustrums across state lines. Pretty much the only snails that can be legally shipped are brigs...and even then you need a USDA permit that you have to jump through hoops to get. If you do apply for a brig permit you pretty much can't own any other type of snail because if the USDA comes looking and finds other types they'll assume you've been illegally shipping those. The climate in the snail world is a bit uneasy over these new restrictions.

Thanks, Nichjake! So, if I want an apple snail here in GA, my local pet store could order only from breeders here in GA?
I got 3 golden mystery snails today from a town just 10 miles north of the FL/GA state line, and the pet store owner pointed to a warning that the snails can not be carried over any state lines.

They could get brigs from any state if the breeders have the proper permit...but a lot of stores don't want to mess with the whole permit system so they're only buying from local breeders. Its sad really, all because some people were irresponsible and let their snails go in the wild. I'm afraid the plant eating apples are eventually going to go the way of GALS and be banned completely.

that is so sad to see that they are banned. about 20 years ago when I had tons of those, they brought me such joy!

I was looking for some of those the other day for my 55 gallon tank, and all i found in the stores were the different color mystery snails. I guess its good to know why i dont see them anymore. Are there any other type of snail that get large like that?


20 years ago In another thread you said you were 11.

petco has them

Petco has brigs...they don't carry canas, haustrums or marisas. I don't think they ever have except for the odd one now and then got somehow got mixed in with the brigs during shipping. If you're lucky they might have marisas...but probably 99% of them don't.

How do you know if a snail is banned. I've looked on the internet and haven't found anythings about any snails being banned. Some sellers on aquabid have those snails. One seller says "*It's the buyers responsibility to know if apple snails are banned or legel in your state*" But how are you suppose to know if it's legel or not if there is no information on the interenet about any snail bans.

Brigs are OK because they don't eat live vegetation. But the big ones like Canas and Haustrums can strip vegetation at an alarming rate and are therefore a threat to the eco balance if released into the wild.

I'm not sure if the big apples on aquabid are Canas because they didn't give the scientific name but there are Haustrums on aquabid.

If there are bans on some snails how do you find out about it. I did a search on the internet and couldn't find anything about any ban.