outside of its natural range in large part through the activities of aquarists. These snails were imported to the United States by the aquarium trade as early as the 1930s. Established populations exist from Florida to Texas, and the species may still be expanding its range in the West and Northeast. Some of these exotic populations have become very large, with densities of being reported from the St. Johns River in Florida. In some cases red-rimmed melanias are believed to have a negative impact on native snail populations. The nonindigenous distribution includes the United States: Arizona; San Francisco Bay, California; Colorado; Florida; Hawai'i; Louisiana; Montana; North Carolina; Nevada; Oregon; Utah; Texas, and Fall River County in South Dakota, (unconfirmed in Virginia, and Wyoming.) Ecology This is primarily a burrowing species that tends to be most active at night. Habitat Although normally a freshwater snail, this species is very tolerant of brackish water, and has been recorded in waters with a salinity of 32.5 ppt (1,024 specific gravity salinity). It is however a warm-climate species. It appears to prefer a temperature range of or of . Research has been conducted to determine the snail's lethal high water temperature, which is about . This information is helpful in the disinfection of fishing gear and research equipment, which otherwise may inadvertently spread the snails to uninfested waters. This species is resistant to low oxygen levels. The pollution tolerance value is 3 (on scale 0–10; 0 is the best water quality, 10 is the worst water quality). Feeding habits This snail feeds primarily on algae (microalgae). Life cycle Red-rimmed melania females are both parthenogenic and ovoviviparous. Females can be recognized by their greenish coloured gonads while males have reddish gonads. Under good conditions, females will produce fertilised eggs that are transferred to a brood pouch where they remain until they hatch (parthenogenesis and viviparity). Melanoides tuberculata has 1–64 embryos in its brood pouch. Snails will begin reproducing at a size as small as or in length and broods may contain over seventy offspring (iteroparity). The size of the shell of the parent at peak release of juveniles is . The size of juveniles at birth is . Melanoides tuberculata grows to a similar size as Tarebia granifera, are similar in size at first birth and juvenile output. It is a r-strategist species. Parasites Melanoides tuberculata is known to carry certain parasites which can be