Description
Subulina octona, commonly referred to by hobbyists as the Octona Sublina or Unicorn Snail—a small, delicate land snail with a slender, translucent shell and a pointy, awl-like shape.
Size & Appearance
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Grows up to roughly 1.5–2 cm in shell length, occasionally reported up to around 3 cm in some sources.
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Shell is narrow, elongated, glossy, and transparent to pale yellow-brown, often with 8–11 gently rounded whorls and deep sutures.
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Sometimes nicknamed the “Unicorn Snail” due to its distinctive pointed, horn-like shell shape.
Habitat & Distribution
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Native to tropical America—especially the Caribbean, including Cuba and Venezuela.
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Now globally widespread, found in regions like Africa, Asia, Australia, various Pacific islands, and even temperate zones within greenhouses (e.g., Great Britain, Czech Republic, Tanzania).
Behavior & Ecology
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Lives in moist environments, such as leaf litter, under stones or moss—and can thrive in tropical terraria or hothouses.
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Diet includes decaying plant material, leafy vegetables, fruit, fish flakes, fungi, and occasionally mould—which it can tolerate and even feed on.
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Reproductive: Hermaphroditic. Lays pinhead-sized eggs and is easy to breed in captivity. Under certain lab conditions, parthenogenesis (virgin births) has been observed.
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Lifespan: Can live up to around 4 years under optimal conditions.
Care in Captivity
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Terrarium-friendly, especially for “nano” setups due to small size. Recommended temp ranges often fall between 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).
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Preferably high humidity (around 80–90%), with a substrate of moist soil or peat and added moss for decoration and moisture retention.
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Minimal space requirements—small containers (even jars) can easily house colonies. Ensure ventilation holes are small enough to prevent escape of babies.
