Mystery Snail

Official lists name this animal or its close relatives. Rules differ by place, so check the rules where you live before you buy or keep one.

• Spain

  Spain's catalogue of invasive alien species lists the whole apple snail family (Ampullariidae), which includes this snail's genus, Pomacea. The listing covers all of Spain, and it brings a general ban on keeping, transporting and selling live animals.

  Source: Real Decreto 630/2013, consolidated text (BOE); Real Decreto 630/2013, consolidated text (BOE), article 7

• European Union

  EU plant health rules name the whole genus Pomacea as a quarantine pest, at every life stage. The same rules say a quarantine pest may not be brought in, moved, kept, bred or released in the EU. They name the genus rather than this one species.

  Source: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2013 (Official Journal copy on BOE); Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, article 5 (Official Journal copy on BOE)

• United States

  A US Fish and Wildlife Service summary quotes the US Department of Agriculture saying this species, Pomacea diffusa (formerly bridgesii), may move between states without a permit. A 2006 federal notice says other Pomacea species were unlikely to get permits. We could not read the department's own current page, so check before moving snails.

  Source: Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Giant Applesnail (US Fish and Wildlife Service); Aquatic Snails; Permit Requirements, Federal Register, 5 April 2006

• Alabama

  Alabama's wildlife rules ban keeping, selling or bringing into the state any apple snail in the genus Pomacea, which includes this snail.

  Source: Alabama Administrative Code, rule 220-2-.26

• Georgia

  Georgia's wild animal rules require a wild animal license for every apple snail in the genus Pomacea, and they say these snails are licensed only for scientific purposes.

  Source: Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, rule 391-4-8-.05 (Secretary of State); Rules of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, rule 391-4-8-.05 (Secretary of State)

• Idaho

  Idaho's invasive species rules list apple snails (Pomacea). Nobody may keep, bring in or move a listed invasive species in Idaho without a permit.

  Source: IDAPA 02.06.09, Rules Governing Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds; IDAPA 02.06.09, Rules Governing Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds

• Nevada

  Nevada's wildlife rules ban bringing in, moving or keeping any apple snail in the genus Pomacea.

  Source: Nevada Administrative Code, NAC 503.110

• North Carolina

  North Carolina's rule on possessing certain fishes names every apple snail in the genus Pomacea, and the state's wildlife commission says keeping anything on that list is unlawful. The official copy of the rule is not served over a secure connection, so we link the commission's page.

  Source: Nongame possession and collection (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission)

• Texas

  Texas bans every apple snail in the genus Pomacea except Pomacea bridgesii. The mystery snail sold in shops, Pomacea diffusa, was long sold as Pomacea bridgesii, and the list does not name Pomacea diffusa, so it is unclear whether the exception covers it. Ask Texas Parks and Wildlife before you buy one.

  Source: Prohibited Exotic Species: Fish, Shellfish and Aquatic Plants (Texas Parks and Wildlife)

Never release aquarium animals or plants into the wild, including into ponds, rivers or drains.

This is general information, not legal advice. We last checked these lists on 4 November 2026, and the US state lists on 8 November 2026. Our US state aquarium rules table shows every state, including the ones whose lists we could not read. We did not check Spanish regional rules, and other countries have their own.